Suspicion might easily have been aroused by the assembling of numerous boxes of arms from the West and the thousand pikes from Connecticut.

Late in August, Floyd, Secretary of War, received an anonymous letter emanating from Springdale, Iowa, giving information which, if acted upon, would have led to an investigation and stopped the enterprise.
The 24th of October was the day appointed for taking possession of Harper's Ferry, but fear of exposure led to a change of plan and the move was begun on the 16th of October.

Six of the party who would have been present at the later date were absent.

The march from Kennedy farm began about eight o'clock Sunday evening.

Before midnight the bridges, the town, and the arsenal were in the hands of the invaders without a gun having been fired.