December 2, 1859----

Old John Brown was hanged today. The South has gotten 
what it has been screaming for for weeks... the blood 
of the raiders.  It was not enough that one old man
should die. The people wanted the blood of all the
raiders. Even thought most of what was left fled and
probably will never be seen in this part of the country
again. No plea for the misguided youth that was
captured with him would be heard. There was not one
ounce of humanity was felt for the raides. Gov. Henry
Wise worked hard to keep the furor going. He saw the 
whole affair as a stepping stone to the White House.
(fool) I never thought Brown right. I have always
thought he suffered deeply from the wrongs of the
slaves.

John Brown was an abolitionist.  On October 16,1859 he 
and a band of 20 men marched into Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. 
His plan was to seize the Federal Arsenal, and supply the 
slaves with arms and ammunition. Although he had only 20 men 
he was confident that slaves from all over Virginia would 
come to his aid.  He was wrong. By the 17th he was pinned 
down in a firehouse by residents of Harper’s Ferry and the 
Virginia militia.  By the 18th he was surounded by the U. S. 
Marines under the command of Col. Robert E. Lee.  

Lee sent Lt. J.E.B. Stuart to tell Brown to surrender or face 
the consequences. Brown refused, and the Marines charged the 
building. When it was over, half of Brown's men lay dead or 
dying, others fled. Four civilians and one Marine were also 
killed in the confrontation.