Led by an arrogant egocentric, this raid may well have been known in advance by both the pro- and con- abolitionists. Both may have let it happen for their own reasons. Taken in isolation, it was a fiasco, with Brown dithering, unable to act with any sense. The key event here is his trial and execution, which did more to solidify the abolitionist movement, and convinced the slaveholders that the North was determined on their destruction.

Brown's raid was a militaristic failure. . .but it was, in the words of Douglas, the "Meteor" that foreshadowed the Civil War. . .Brown is a polarizing historical figure- and a fascinating one. . .

Today is October 16. On this day in history, in 1859, John Brown raided the U. S. Arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, now West Virginia. He intended to seize the weapons, arm the slaves and have them rise against their masters.

After seizing several buildings, local troops and militia drove Brown and his followers into a fire station next to the arsenal. U. S. Marines came by train from the Washington Navy Yard and under the command of Robert E. Lee stormed the building killing many of the raiders and capturing the rest.

Brown was tried for treason against the State of Virginia, convicted and hanged at nearby Charles Town.

Many historians hold that this raid increased the tensions and hurried the downward slide into the Civil War. Both sides, on the issue of slavery, hardened their positions after the raid.

John Brown wasn't going to kill women or children when he and his group came to the ferry. John Brown was rioting against slavery. He was a civil war abolitionist who wanted people free, but didn't massacre innocent people to do it.