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John Brown Martyr for Freedom

John Brown, born May 9, 1800. Died by hanging December 2, 1859. He believed he was an instrument of God. He was an exponent of violence in the American abolitionist movement. -Wikipedia

Hd-qrs: Harpers Ferry
18th Oct 1859

Colonel Sec U.S.A. command the troops sent by the President of the U.S. to suppress the insurrection at this place; demands the surrender of the persons in the Armoury buildings.

If they will peaceably surrender themselves & restore the pillaged property; they shall be kept in safety to await the orders of the President.

Col Sec represents to them in all frankness that it is impossible for them to escape, that the armoury is surrounded on all sides by troops; & that if he is compelled to take them by force he cannot answer for their safety.

(Signed) R E Lee
Col Command
U.S. Troops

John Brown, cerca 1846-1847, photo by Augustus Washington

See video below for a reenactment of John Brown's final statement at his trial for treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia.

John Brown's last words before his execution

I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.

Pause here to reflect on the estimated 618,222 soldiers' lives lost during the American Civil War. Brothers, cousins, fathers, sons, grandsons, uncles and nephews. Reflect further on the fact that 3.9 million slaves were eventually freed. Slavery was a crime against humanity. 1.8 million people died in the Atlantic Slave Trade.

"Truth is marching...Let us die to make men free." -The Battle Hymn of the Republic