Posted on 08/20/2019 5:17:02 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts
First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.
Posting history, in reverse order
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.
CINCINNATI, August 20.
SIR, — I have lately received information of a movement of so great importance, that I feel it my duty to impart it to you without delay. I have discovered the existence of a secret association, having for its object the liberation of the slaves at the South by a general insurrection. The leader of the movement is "old John Brown," late of Kansas. He has been in Canada during the winter, drilling the negroes there, and they are only waiting his word to start for the South to assist the slaves. They have one of their leading men (a white man) in an armory in Maryland, — where it is situated I have not been able to learn. As soon as everything is ready, those of their number who are in the Northern States and Canada are to come in small companies to their rendezvous, which is in the mountains in Virginia. They will pass down through Pennsylvania and Maryland, and enter Virginia at Harper's Ferry. Brown left the North about three or four weeks ago, and will arm the negroes and strike the blow in a few weeks; so that whatever is done must be done at once. They have a large quantity of arms at their rendezvous, and are probably distributing them already. As I am not fully in their confidence, this is all the information I can give you. I dare not sign my name to this, but trust that you will not disregard the warning on that account.1
1 The envelope is directed, “Hon. Mr. Floyd, Secretary of War, Washington,” marked “private,” and postmarked Cincinnati, August 23, 1859. Although the information sent to Floyd was very exact, and one would have supposed a Virginian specially sensitive to such intelligence, it does not appear that he gave the matter more than a passing thought. He received the letter at a Virginian watering-place, but did not read it twice, although he laid it away at first as a paper of some moment. It has never been ascertained who wrote it, but perhaps a young man then connected with a Cincinnati newspaper. This person had become acquainted with a Hungarian refugee, formerly in the suite of Kossuth, then living in Kansas, and who, had fought on the side of the North, possibly under Brown, and had learned in some detail the plan of the Virginia campaign. This it is believed he communicated in an unguarded moment to the Cincinnati reporter, who could not contain the secret, but sat down at once and wrote to the Secretary of War. It is possible that the information came indirectly from Cook, who talked too freely. See p. 471.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 543-4
LANCASTER, O., Aug. 20,1859.
DEAR SIR: I wrote you a few days ago, in part answer to your very kind note addressed me at Lancaster. I am now in possession of your more full letter sent by way of Leavenworth, and shall receive to-day the printed reports to which you referred.
These will in great measure answer the manifold questions propounded by me. When in full possession of these I will again write you, and when I know you are at Washington, I may come there to meet you, and to make those preliminary arrangements as to furnishing the building, selecting text books, etc., all of which will no doubt have to be approved by the Board of Education in Louisiana.
I can easily secure from West Point the most complete information on all the details of the management and economy of that institution. Then, being in possession of similar data from the Virginia Institution, we can easily lay a simple foundation, on which to erect, as time progresses, a practical system of physical and mental education, adapted to the circumstances of Louisiana. I shall not take my family south this winter, and shall hold myself prepared to meet you at Alexandria, or elsewhere, at the earliest date you think best. I feel deeply moved by your friendly interest in me, and both socially and in the new field hereby opened to me I will endeavor to reciprocate your personal interest and justify your choice of a superintendent.
I have seen a good deal of the practical world, and have acquired considerable knowledge, but it may be desultory, and may require some time to reduce it to system, and therefore I feel inclined to see the Board of Education1 select a good series of practical books as textbooks.
If this has already been done, I will be the better pleased; if this devolve on the professors it will require some judgment to adjust them, lest each professor should attempt too much, and give preference to textbooks not intimately connected with the other classes. The adjustment of the course of studies, the selection of the kind and distribution of physical, muscular education, and how far instruction in infantry, sword and even artillery practice shall be introduced are all important points, but fortunately we have a wide field of choice, and the benefit of the experience of others. As soon as I learn you are in Washington, and as soon as I know all that has been done, I will give my thoughts and action to provide in advance the knowledge out of which the Board of Education may choose the remainder.
1 Board of Supervisors of the Seminary. — ED.
SOURCE: Walter L. Flemming, Editor, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 33-4
I want a Remington gun cane.
Anyone else think it is an interesting coincidence that Gov. Wise (pp 22-23) and Sec. Floyd (reply 3) both appear today?
Rifle or shot?
Hi.
“He has been in Canada during the winter, drilling the negroes there, and they are only waiting his word to start for the South to assist the slaves. They have one of their “
I wonder what the queen thought about that?
5.56mm
CLEVELAND, Aug. 22, ‘59.
MY DEAR J. HENRIE:
I wrote you immediately on recept of your last letter, then went up to Oberlin to see Leary. I saw Smith, Davis, and Mitchell; they all promised and that’s all. Leary wants to provide for his family, Mitchell to lay his crop by; and all make such excuses until I am disgusted with myself and the whole negro set, GOD-DAM EM!
If you was here your influence would do something, but the moment you are gone all my speaking don’t amount to anything.
I will speak to Smith to-day. I know that Mitchell hasn’t got the money, and I have tried to sell my farm, and everything else, to raise money, but have — yet raised a cent. Charlie Langston says “it is too bad”; but what he will do, if anything, I don’t know. I wish you would write to him, for I believe he can do more good than I. Please write to him immediately, and I will give up the thing to him. I think, however, nothing will inspire them with sufficient confidence unless you come. I will, however, do all I can.
Charlie goes to see Leary to-day.
SOURCES: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 541; Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts from January 1, 1836 to April 15, 1869; Preserved in the Capitol at Richmond, Volume 11, p. 334-5; Governor's Message and Reports of the Public Officers of the State, of the Board of Directors, and the Superintendents, and Other Agents of Public Institutions or Interests of Virginia, Part 1, p. 140; William Cheek & Aimee Lee Cheek, John Mercer Langston and the Fight for Black Freedom, 1829-65, p. 377, note 12.
Wrote Charles Blair.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 520
Charles Blair manufactured 954 John Brown pikes. intended for arming the slaves freed during the planned rebellion.
Do John Brown Pikes have an official historical marker like Joe Brown Pikes used to arm the home guard like in the War of Northern Aggression?
https://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/white/joe-brown-pikes
No idea, since I never heard of either one before yesterday. I wonder if there was such a thing as a Jim Brown Pike.
DEAR FRIEND, — I begin the investment with fifty dollars, and will try to do more through friends. Our friend from Concord1 called with your note.
DOCTOR.
1 Franklin B. Sanborn.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 534
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