Robert E. Lee's Demand for the Surrender of John Brown and his Party [at Harper's Ferry]
10/18/1859
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The destruction of slavery in the United States was the driving ambition of abolitionist John Brown. He came to believe that it would take bloodshed to root out the evil of slavery, and by the mid-1850's he dedicated himself to an all-out war for slave liberation. On October 16, 1859, he and his "army" of some 20 men seized the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). By the morning of October 18, Marines under the command of Bvt. Col. Robert E. Lee, stormed the building and captured Brown and the survivors of his party. When Brown refused to unconditionally accept the terms of this note, Lee gave this order to storm the building.
Transcript
HdQrs. Harpers Ferry18th Oct 1859
Colonel Lee U.S.A. Commdr the troops sent by the President of the U.S. to suppress the insurrection at this place, demands the surrender of the persons in the Army buildings.
If they will peaceably surrender themselves & restore the pillaged property, they shall be kept in safety to await the orders of the President.
Col Lee represents to them in all frankness that it is impossible for them to escape, that the Armoury is surrounded on all sides by troops & that if he is Compelled to take them by force he Cannot answer for their safety.
R E Lee
Col Commdr
U.S. Troops
List of Insurgents
John Brown. of N.Y. Commd in Chief Badly wounded Prisoner
Aaron C. Stevens. Conn. Captain Badly wounded Prisoner
Edwin Copper. Iowa. Lieutenant unhurt Prisoner
Oliver Brown. N.Y. Captain Killed
Watson Brown. N.Y. Captain Killed
Albert Hazlett Penn. Lieut. Killed
Wm. Seman. Maine Lieut. Killed
Stuart Taylor. Canada. Private Killed
Chas. P. Tidd. Maine. Private Killed
Wm. Thompson N.Y. Private Killed
Adolph Thompson N.Y. Private Killed
John Kagi Ohio Private Killed
Jeremiah Anderson Ind. Private Killed
14th, John E. Cook Conn. Captain Escaped
Negros
Dangerfield Newly Ohio Killed
Louis Seary Ohio, Oberlin Killed
Green Shields (alias Emperor) N.Y. Unhurt Prisoner
Copeland Ohio, Oberlin Prisoner
5 O.P. Anderson Penn. unaccounted for.
List of killed & wounded by the Insurgents
Fontaine Beckham. R.R. Agent, Mayor of Harpers Ferry
G.W. Turner. Jefferson Co. Virg.
Thos. Boerley Harpers Ferry
- Heywood Shepherd Negro R.R. Porter
- Private Quinn Marine Corps killed
“ Young “
“ Richardson “
“ Hammond “
“ McCabe “
“ Dorsy “
“ Hooper “
“ Woollet “
- Private Rupert Marine Corps. wounded
This primary source comes from the Records of the Adjutant General's Office.
National Archives Identifier: 300373
Full Citation: Robert E. Lee's Demand for the Surrender of John Brown and his Party [at Harper's Ferry]; 10/18/1859; Letters Received, 1805–1889; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, Record Group 94; National Archives Building, Washington, DC . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/robert-e-lees-demand-for-the-surrender-of-john-brown-and-his-party-[at-harpers-ferry], May 8, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.