HARPER'S FERRY There now occurred another strange event which, if it had been specially designed as a climax for the series of great political sensations since 1852, could scarcely have been more dramatic.

This was John Brown's invasion of Harper's Ferry in order to create a slave insurrection.

We can only understand the transaction as far as we can understand the man, and both remain somewhat enigmatical.
Of Puritan descent, John Brown was born in Connecticut in the year 1800.

When he was five years old, the family moved to Ohio, at that time a comparative wilderness.

Here he grew up a strong, vigorous boy of the woods.