John Brown & His Raid at Harpers Ferry by Bill Hallett

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On the night of October 16, 1859 (160 years ago), John Brown and his band of anti-slavery men entered Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) with the goal of raiding the armory there to supply slaves and anti-slavery men for a revolution or uprising.
The plan fell apart fast and Brown and his men faced angry townsfolk and then the U.S. Marines. Blood was spilled. Already a wanted man, Brown was a villain to some and a hero to others. His quick trial exposed the tensions in the country.

But this event is a pivotal episode in beginning the Civil War. Southerners were fearful that more northern men might come down and raid their town and arm their slaves. It caused them to ramp up their militias and in less than 18 months, a southern army was formed and war was begun!
Come listen to Bill Hallett for this piece on John Brown's life and the Raid itself.


Bill Hallett is a former radio announcer, now voice over artist, with a passion for history. He's been a reenactor/living historian for 25 years and is the author of the book, Newburyport and the Civil War. He's past president of the Civil War Roundtable of New Hampshire and is currently also a board member of the Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack.