Midnight Rising

Chapter 7 explores the preparations and challenges faced by Brown and his followers in the months leading up to their historic raid on Harpers Ferry in October 1859. The chapter portrays the array of covert operations, personal sacrifices, and the ideological fervor that propelled Brown and his small army toward their fateful confrontation with enslavement.

The narrative begins with John Brown, under the guise of “Smith,” establishing a base at the Kennedy farm near Harpers Ferry. This strategic move was part of Brown’s broader scheme to launch a direct attack on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, with the aim of inciting an uprising. The Kennedy farm served as a staging ground for Brown’s diverse forces, which included his sons, other committed abolitionists, and a few Black recruits.

As the summer of 1859 progressed, the group faced various logistical and operational challenges, from securing weapons and funds to maintaining secrecy amid growing suspicions from neighbors. Some of the recruits, such as Shields Green and Dangerfield Newby, were Black and therefore at greater risk if the mission was discovered.

The chapter also explores the tensions within Brown’s group, which centered on the raid’s strategy and concerns about its feasibility.