First Victim of John Brown Raid

Practically neglected and gradually merging into the characterless undulations of the Old Colored Cemetery in this city, is a grave that the colored people should especially honor. Over its apparently neglected surface they should raise some sort of testimonial, as beneath the disappearing mound sleeps Hayward Shepherd, the first victim of the John Brown raid, and hence one of the minor characters in the great chain of events leading up to one of the deadliest conflicts in the world’s history, when this fair land was bathed in the blood of thousands of her noblest sons, while the world looked on aghast as the terrible struggle waged from Bull Run to the final scene at Appomattox.

Hayward Shepherd was a colored resident of Winchester and was in the employ of the old Winchester and Potomac Railroad at Harpers Ferry. On Sunday night, October 16, 1859, he was aroused by a commotion at the bridge at Harpers Ferry. The Brown raid was in its incipiency and two of his men had made a prisoner of Patrick Higgins, who had gone to relieve the watchman at the bridge.

Pat had awaited his opportunity and succeeded in breaking away from his captors, after knocking one of them down. Shepherd hearing the scuffle went to investigate, and the two raiders, furious at the escape of their first prisoner, called on him to halt, but Shepherd fled, only to receive a bullet that laid him low. Thus the first victim of these ruffians who claimed to have the sacred obligation of liberating the negroes, was one of the very race they professed to have a desire to save.

Shepherd’s corpse was brought to this city and buried in the colored cemetery. The ceremony made a profound impression and his remains were highly honored. His death was not long being avenged, for on December 2, the same year, Brown was hanged, and subsequently his companions in crime also died upon the gallows.

Shepherd, the unconscious martyr, sleeps silently. Four long and terrible years of war swept over his head and close by his grave marched the tens of thousands of armed men. Nearly forty years have passed and his people are now enjoying the privileges of the free born, but his grave remains solitary and impoverished and neglected. [Winchester Star.