Details
BROWN, JOHN, 1800-1859, Radical Abolitionist. Autograph letter signed ("John Brown") to Mr. Henry Thompson at North Elba, N.Y. ("Dear Children"), Akron, Ohio, 24 August 1854. 1 1/2 pages, folio, integral address leaf with original circular postmark, seal hole (affecting one word of text).
"OLD OSAWATOMIE BROWN" ARRANGES HIS AFFAIRS, WHILE TROUBLE BREWS IN THE KANSAS TERRITORY OVER SLAVERY
A unusually long letter (probably to a free black resident of the North Elba community) written three months after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act had ignited violent conflicts between slavery and anti-slavery advocates. Brown describes their situation: "...This part of the country is suffering the most dreadful drought ever experienced during this Nineteenth Century. We have been much more highly favoured than most of our Neighbours; in that we were enabled to secure a most excellent Hay crop whilst many others did not get theirs saved in time, & lost it; notwithstanding the dry weather, our Oats are no better than those of our Neighbours, but we have a few. We shall probably have some Corn; while others to a great extent will have none...Our Cattle (of which we have 33 head) we are able to keep in excellent condition on the little feed that grows on the moist grounds...We have had two light Frosts in August...but have had more extreme hot weather...than ever known...I [am] now standing in the shade at [11:00] P.M., at 93 [degrees]...I am thinking that it may be best for us to dispose of all the cattle we want to sell, & of all our Winter feed, & move a few choice cattle to North Elba [New York], this fall provided we can there buy Hay & other stuff considerably cheaper...I want you to keep writing me often..."
In the Spring of 1855 five of Brown's sons went to Kansas to defend the free soil settlers; in August, old Brown himself joined them at Osawatomie with an arsenal. The level of violence escalated rapidly, and in May, he and his local militia murdered five pro-slavery settlers. In 1859 Brown masterminded the Harper's Ferry rebellion, which ended when U.S. Marines, commanded by Robert E. Lee, overpowered Brown and his followers. Brown was hanged for treason on 2 December 1859.
"OLD OSAWATOMIE BROWN" ARRANGES HIS AFFAIRS, WHILE TROUBLE BREWS IN THE KANSAS TERRITORY OVER SLAVERY
A unusually long letter (probably to a free black resident of the North Elba community) written three months after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act had ignited violent conflicts between slavery and anti-slavery advocates. Brown describes their situation: "...This part of the country is suffering the most dreadful drought ever experienced during this Nineteenth Century. We have been much more highly favoured than most of our Neighbours; in that we were enabled to secure a most excellent Hay crop whilst many others did not get theirs saved in time, & lost it; notwithstanding the dry weather, our Oats are no better than those of our Neighbours, but we have a few. We shall probably have some Corn; while others to a great extent will have none...Our Cattle (of which we have 33 head) we are able to keep in excellent condition on the little feed that grows on the moist grounds...We have had two light Frosts in August...but have had more extreme hot weather...than ever known...I [am] now standing in the shade at [11:00] P.M., at 93 [degrees]...I am thinking that it may be best for us to dispose of all the cattle we want to sell, & of all our Winter feed, & move a few choice cattle to North Elba [New York], this fall provided we can there buy Hay & other stuff considerably cheaper...I want you to keep writing me often..."
In the Spring of 1855 five of Brown's sons went to Kansas to defend the free soil settlers; in August, old Brown himself joined them at Osawatomie with an arsenal. The level of violence escalated rapidly, and in May, he and his local militia murdered five pro-slavery settlers. In 1859 Brown masterminded the Harper's Ferry rebellion, which ended when U.S. Marines, commanded by Robert E. Lee, overpowered Brown and his followers. Brown was hanged for treason on 2 December 1859.