Midnight Rising

Chapter 11 recounts the final phase of Brown’s life and the fate of his followers after their failed raid on Harpers Ferry. As Brown wrote to his wife about the arrangements for his body, his fellow raiders learned their own fates in court. Not all shared Brown’s readiness for martyrdom; Edwin Coppock and John Copeland claimed to have been misled about the raid’s intentions, believing it aimed merely to help enslaved people escape to a free state. Their trials revealed complexities and contradictions in the American legal system, particularly around the issue of treason and the status of Black individuals following the Dred Scott decision.

The chapter also investigates the broader societal impacts of the raid and its aftermath. It highlights the fear and paranoia that swept through Virginia, with enslavers doubting the loyalty of enslaved people and fearing further insurrection. The response from the white community included heightened security measures and a general atmosphere of suspicion.

As Brown prepared for his execution, he engaged with visitors, including soldiers and journalists, and reflected on his life and cause. Despite his circumstances, Brown found a sense of peace and purpose, using his remaining time to articulate his beliefs and to confront death with a clear conscience.

Chapter 12 covers the execution of Brown following his failed raid on Harpers Ferry. As Brown awaits his execution, he reflects on his inevitable failure, attributing it to his compassionate nature and a strategic misjudgment in holding the engine house rather than the Potomac bridge. Despite the mission’s failure, Brown saw a divine plan in the outcome, comparing himself to the biblical figure Samson, who, in his final act, brought down the temple on the Philistines and himself. Brown believed that his death, like Samson’s, could serve a greater purpose in the fight against enslavement.

Authorities carefully planned Brown’s execution in such a way as to avoid turning him into a martyr. However, his calm demeanor and acceptance of his fate impressed even those who opposed him, including Virginia’s fire-eater Edmund Ruffin and actor John Wilkes Booth, who would later assassinate President Lincoln. Brown’s final written statement predicted that the crimes of the land would only be purged with blood, a prophetic declaration of the Civil War to come.

The chapter details Brown’s last interactions with his family, particularly his wife, and his fellow prisoners. Brown’s execution, observed by a mix of military personnel and civilians from a distance, was conducted with a level of security that underscored the fear of his becoming a rallying figure. Despite the efforts to diminish his legacy, Brown’s final prophecy and his dignified end left a lasting impression, suggesting that his death might indeed spark the greater conflict he envisioned for the abolition of enslavement.

Chapter 13 details the aftermath of Brown’s execution and the widespread reaction it elicited across the United States. In the North, Brown was venerated as a martyr for the abolitionist cause, inspiring poetry and admiration from figures like Bronson Alcott and Herman Melville, the latter of whom penned “The Portent (1859)” to underscore the ominous implications of Brown’s death for the nation. Public sentiment in the North ranged from solemn commemorations in cities like Boston and Hartford to personal pilgrimages to Brown’s birthplace.

Despite their initial reservations about Brown’s methods, even those opposed to violence, like William Lloyd Garrison, rallied to his cause, acknowledging the righteousness of enslaved people’s insurrections. Brown’s execution became a rallying cry for the abolitionist movement, further polarizing the nation. The procession of Brown’s body back to his family in North Elba became a symbol of Northern solidarity against enslavement, drawing large crowds and emotional responses.

Meanwhile, in the South, some, like Jefferson Davis, saw Brown’s raid and subsequent glorification in the North as proof of an irreconcilable divide, while others organized “Union meetings” to denounce Brown and assert loyalty to the South. The chapter also covers the trials and executions of Brown’s remaining followers, noting the contrasting treatments of white and Black insurgents and the continued efforts of supporters to mitigate their sentences or honor their memories posthumously.

The narrative concludes with the burial of two of Brown’s men, Aaron Stevens and Albert Hazlett, in North Elba at the end of the 19th century. Stevens and Hazlett, who had been executed after the raid, were exhumed from their original resting place in 1899 and interred alongside Brown in recognition of their sacrifice.

The Epilogue reflects on the enduring legacy of Brown and his raid on Harpers Ferry. His actions and the subsequent national turmoil underscored the deep divisions over enslavement that led to the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln’s transformation from opposing Brown’s methods to embracing the cause of emancipation highlights this shift. Lincoln, initially a moderate, became a symbol of the Union’s moral and strategic pivot toward ending enslavement, especially with his Emancipation Proclamation.

The narrative also explores the aftermath for Brown’s family, particularly his daughter Annie, who outlived all direct participants of the raid. Her life, marked by personal tragedy and a commitment to her father’s cause, illustrates the personal toll of the fight against enslavement. The town of Harpers Ferry itself, transformed by the war and its role in the civil rights struggle, serves as a testament to the raid’s lasting impact on American society.

The Epilogue touches on the broader implications of Brown’s raid and the Civil War, emphasizing the struggle for racial equality and civil rights that continued long after. The burial of Brown’s men in North Elba and the recognition of their sacrifice highlight the nation’s reconciliation with their legacy. The story of Lewis Leary, one of the raiders, and his connection to Langston Hughes connects the raid to the Harlem Renaissance, showing the raid’s influence on subsequent generations fighting for racial justice.