Library

Invasion of Harper’s Ferry– dangers and duties of the South

by Clement Claiborne Clay, William McKendree Gwin,

Published 1859 • 32pgs.

ISBN: Not Registered

The Capture of Harper’s Ferry

by Austin A. Jones, Mrs. A. J. Ellis,

Published 1922 • 3pgs.

ISBN: Not Registered

A first hand account a North Carolina Soldier of the capture of Harpers Ferry by Stonewall Jackson. The transcriber notes that history books and “the boys who were actually there” accounts differ tremendously.

Transcribed by Mrs. A.J. Ellis, August 10th, 1922 for “Austin A. Jones, Company G. 7th North Carolina Regiment”.

John Brown Speaks: Letters and Statements from Charlestown

by Louis DeCaro, Jr.,

Published 2015 • 244pgs.

ISBN: 1442236701

This collection of writings by John Brown in the fateful days after his raid on Harper’s Ferry showcase the depth of conviction of Brown’s character. Paired with Louis DeCaro’s narrative of the aftermath, trial, and execution of John Brown in Freedom’s Dawn: The Last Days of John Brown in Virginia, this book preserves the first-hand experience of Brown as he gave his life for the abolitionist cause.

West Virginia and the Civil War: Mountaineers Are Always Free (Civil War Series)

by Mark A. Snell,

Published 2011 • 256pgs.

ISBN: 159629888X

The only state born as a result of the Civil War, West Virginia was the most divided state in the nation. About forty thousand of its residents served in the combatant forces about twenty thousand on each side. The Mountain State also saw its fair share of battles, skirmishes, raids and guerrilla warfare, with places like Harpers Ferry, Philippi and Rich Mountain becoming household names in 1861. When the Commonwealth of Virginia seceded from the Union on April 17, 1861, leaders primarily from the northwestern region of the state began the political process that eventually led to the creation of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. Renowned Civil War historian Mark A. Snell has written the first thorough history of these West Virginians and their civil war in more than fifty years.

Military Operations in Jefferson County (Virginia & West Virginia) 1861-1865 (Containing Eyewitness Accounts of Civil War Skirmishes in the Lower Shenandoah Valley)

by Charles S. Aadams,

Published 1999

ISBN: 1888256001

An update of the 1996 edition of military operations in the lower Shenandoah Valley, the book offers brief, often eyewitness accounts of the skirmishes in the four years of the Civil War. Jefferson County today is proud of its heritage, though it is still somewhat divided in its loyalties even at this time. While clearly with the Union, there seems to be sympathies that lean heavily to the cause of the South.

The Life, trial, and execution of Captain John Brown, known as “Old Brown of Ossawatomie,” with a full account of the attempted insurrection at Harper’s Ferry

by Robert M. Dewitt,

Published 1859 • 124pgs.

ISBN: 1429729104

The life, trial and execution of Captain John Brown: Capt. John Brown ; His personal appearance ; John Brown’s business engagements ; John Brown as a farmer ; John Brown in Kansas — Facts and rumors concerning John Brown: John Brown’s moral character ; John Brown’s politics ; An introduction to John Brown ; John Brown’s camp ; John Brown’s first fight ; The battle of Ossawatomie ; The battle of the Spurs ; John Brown’s later history ; John Brown’s practical nature ; How John Brown got money — Notices of the other insurgents: My first introduction to Cook ; Charley Lenhart’s camp ; Cook quiet for a while ; Cook’s recent history ; John Kagi ; Edwin Coppie ; Realf ; The Browns of Kansas.

The insurrection at Harper’s Ferry, Sunday night, Oct 16, 1859: The first active movement ; Arrest of Colonel Washington and others ; The stoppage of the railroad train ; The state of affairs at daybreak ; Early casualties ; Arrival of troops-fist fightings ; Rescue of the workmen ; Later casualties ; The night scenes ; Negotiations next morning ; The building stormed ; Appearance of the prisoners ; Brown’s conversation ; Capture of arms ; Treatment of Brown’s prisoners ; Brown’s papers and stores ; The names of the insurgents.

Facts and incidents: Statement of Col. John A. Washington ; Military official account ; A conversation with Brown ; Meeting of the Court-charge to the Grand Jury ; John Brown’s idea of government — The trial: First examination of the prisoners ; The trial of John Brown ; Witnesses called ; Testimony renewed ; The defense ; Speech and sentence of Brown — Notices of Negro insurrections: The Negro insurrection in 1831 ; The Negro insurrection of 1856 — The execution of John Brown — John E. Cook’s confession — John Brown’s last letter to his family — John Brown’s will.

John Brown was tried in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County for treason, for conspiring with slaves to produce insurrection, and for murder.

Harpers Ferry Under Fire: A Border Town in the American Civil War

by Dennis E. Frye,

Published 2012 • 200pgs.

ISBN: 1578647169

Harpers Ferry experienced the Civil War like no other place and was a case study of repeated invasions, military operations, martial law, and endless danger. Journey into the Civil War with stories from those who lived, worked, fought, and died in a border town. This narrative is complemented by full color and black-and-white illustrations, photographs, and maps. Paperback, 200 pages. Dennis E. Frye is the Chief Historian at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Writer, lecturer, guide, and preservationist, Dennis is a prominent Civil War historian. Dennis has numerous appearances on PBS, The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, and A&E as a guest historian, and he helped produce award-winning television features on the Battle of Antietam and abolitionist John Brown. Dennis served as an Associate Producer for the Civil War movie Gods and Generals, during which he recruited and coordinated nearly 3,000 re-enactors for the film. Dennis also is one of the nation’s leading Civil War battlefield preservationists. He is co-founder and first president of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation, and he is co-founder and a former president of today’s Civil War Preservation Trust, where he helped save battlefields in twelve states. Dennis is a tour guide in demand, leading tours for organizations such as the Smithsonian, National Geographic, numerous colleges and universities, and Civil War Round Tables.

Thunder at Harper’s Ferry

by Allan Keller,

Published 1958 • 282pgs.

ISBN: B0000CK0CY

Notes: Illustrated with drawings, news photographs, etc.

The Raid Of John Brown At Harpers Ferry As I Saw It

by Samuel Vanderlip Leech,

Published 1909 • 28pgs.

ISBN: 1161688447

A first-hand account of John Brown’s Raid.

The ‘Colored Hero’ of Harper’s Ferry: John Anthony Copeland and the War against Slavery

by Steven Lubet,

Published 2015 • 282pgs.

ISBN: 1107076021

On the night of Sunday, October 16, 1859, hoping to bring about the eventual end of slavery, radical abolitionist John Brown launched an armed attack at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Among his troops, there were only five black men, who have largely been treated as little more than “spear carriers” by Brown’s many biographers and other historians of the antebellum era. This book brings one such man, John Anthony Copeland, directly to center stage. Copeland played a leading role in the momentous Oberlin slave rescue, and he successfully escorted a fugitive to Canada, making him an ideal recruit for Brown’s invasion of Virginia. He fought bravely at Harpers Ferry, only to be captured and charged with murder and treason. With his trademark lively prose and compelling narrative style, Steven Lubet paints a vivid portrait of this young black man who gave his life for freedom.