John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry

At 11 pm on this day in 1859 abolitionist John Brown and 21 others began their raid on Harper's Ferry in an attempt to seize arms and initiate a widespread slave revolt. Brown was aided by important anti-slavery leaders such as Harriet Tubman and Mary Ellen Pleasant. Although ultimately defeated, the uprising is considered an important cause of the Civil War and thus did lead to the abolition of the institution of slavery. In addition to seizing the armory they also freed nearby enslaved peoples, including slaves of Lewis Washington (descendant of George Washington). Osborne Anderson was the only Black member involved who survived. His memoir remembers the liberations : "
The Sunday evening of the outbreak, when we visited the plantations and acquainted the slaves with our purpose to effect their liberation, the greatest enthusiasm was manifested by them—joy and hilarity beamed from every countenance. One old mother, white-haired from age, and borne down with the labors of many years in bonds, when told of the work in hand, replied: "God bless you! God bless you! " She then kissed the party at her house, and requested all to kneel, which we did, and she offered prayer to God for His blessing on the enterprise, and our success. At the slaves' quarters, there was apparently a general jubilee, and they stepped forward manfully, without impressing or coaxing. "