On the night of Oct. 16, 1859, Brown, accompanied by 18 members of his 21-man “army,” surprised and captured the armory and arsenal. His intent was to incite the slaves to insurrection and arm them from the government stores. After considerable bloodshed, the raiders were captured by U.S. Marines under Col. Robert E. Lee. Brown and six of his followers were tried for treason, convicted and hanged at Charles Town.
During the Civil War, Harpers Ferry was regarded by the Union command as a key to the safety of Washington, D.C. In 1861 the small federal garrison abandoned the town before a force of Virginians, but destroyed the arsenal before leaving. It was never rebuilt. The following year Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson captured the federal garrison after a terrific bombardment, taking 12,500 Union soldiers as prisoners before moving on to join Lee at Antietam.
The Appalachian Trail passes nearby, and the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers offer opportunities for fishing, canoeing and rafting.
Visitor Centers
Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau 37 Washington Ct. Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. Phone:(304)535-2627 or (866)435-5698
Things to Do
John Brown Wax Museum
Recreational Activities
White-water Rafting
River Riders Inc.