John Brown's Raid: Harpers Ferry and the Coming of the Civil War, October 16-18, 1859

The first shot of the American Civil War was fired on October 16, 1859, in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, by John Brown and his men. The raid failed, and Brown was captured, leading to further division between the North and South on the issue of slavery. The nation split apart one year later, and Brown's actions were celebrated by Southerners and observed with reverence by Northerners.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2024
Publisher: Savas Beatie

The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, in Charleston, South Carolina, with the firing of the first shot. However, former slave turned abolitionist Frederick Douglass claimed that the first shot actually occurred on October 16, 1859, in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. This event, known as John Brown's Raid, involved a group of nineteen men led by John Brown, a notorious fighter on the Kansas plains and an abolitionist who opposed slavery. Their goal was to launch a war to end slavery in the United States by targeting the Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. However, the raid failed after 36 hours, and Brown himself was captured by the state of Virginia. His subsequent trial further divided the nation on the issue of slavery, with Southerners celebrating his death and Northerners viewing it with reverence. The nation's dividing line had been drawn, and Brown's actions played a significant role in the ensuing conflict. Herman Melville and Walt Whitman praised Brown as a meteor of the war, and the event marked the beginning of the nation's division. Roughly one year after Brown and his men attacked slavery in Virginia, the nation split apart, fueled by Brown's fiery actions. Today, visitors can walk in the footsteps of Brown's Raid by taking a driving or walking tour of the sites related to the event. The tour includes maps and images to help visitors understand the significance of this historical event.

Weight: 318g
Dimension: 227 x 153 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781611215977