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Honoring the Past, Honoring the Present
Visit to Harpers Ferry Brings Civil War Era Alive
By Ruthe Fortenbaugh Craley; Photos by Bill Schintz
Meet Me
in Gettysburg
At left is the Engine House where John Brown and his men were holed up after the Raid on Harpers Ferry.
Those of us who live in southcentral
Pennsylvania are often so absorbed
in our own local history that we
sometimes forget what is “just across
the road.” Often we forget how close
we are to the sites of other major and
significant events. This was certainly in
mind on a recent field trip to Harpers
Ferry National Historic Park in nearby
West Virginia.
Harpers Ferry, located at the
confluence of the Potomac and
Shenandoah Rivers at the point
where Pennsylvania, Maryland and
West Virginia borders meet, was the
scene of a raid by John Brown and
his self-styled “army of liberation” of
twenty-two men, including three of
his sons, in October of 1859. Brown
anticipated capturing the Federal
Arsenal there with its 100,000 weapons
and that this success would begin a
slave insurrection.
However, there was no success and,
within a short time, Brown and his
men were trapped in an engine house
that has since been restored as John
Brown’s Fort. They were captured by
Confederate troops led by Robert E.
Lee and J.E.B. Stuart. Brown was tried
and hanged in Charlestown within a
few weeks. Most of his men were killed
but a few escaped. One even returned
to Harpers Ferry many years later,
according to local newspaper reports.
Another escaped through the forests,
used the network of Underground
Railroad stations and was given refuge
in York by William Goodridge as he
made his way to Canada and safety.
John Brown considered a madman
and terrorist by many and a God-driven
hero by others devoted his entire life
and that of his substantial family (22
children) to the slavery issue. His past
record outraged most of the South, and
yet he found financial support among
many prominent abolitionists in the
North. The shots fired during this event
are regarded by many historians as the
first of the Civil War.
The buildings that make up the John
Brown story are concentrated in the
Lower Town area and include several
films, many museums, displays and
exhibits pertaining to the Raid. Parking
is at the Visitor Center, where bus
transportation is available. A fee of $6 per
automobile is collected at that point.
Shops and food venues are scattered
throughout the hills of Lower Town
within easy walking. An excellent
bookstore is available, and restrooms
are conveniently situated on the “main
street.” There are spectacular views of
the mountains and rivers here, the
Appalachian Trail crosses the scenic
river bridge at this point and notations
about Thomas Jefferson’s visit in the
late 1700s identify this place as one of
the most beautiful in America.
Many programs have been scheduled
in October to recognize the significance
of this compelling event, and notably, on
October 9, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., there
will be living history and special programs
entitled “Election Day 1860.” On October
16 (the day of the Raid) there will be
living history presentations entitled “At
All Times Ready: The U.S. Marines” from
11 a.m. until 4 p.m. These programs are
free with the park admission.
It’s an easy drive to Harpers Ferry
from almost anywhere in the region
and if you head out Route 30, the
Lincoln Highway, between York and
Gettysburg, follow Route 15 South,
you’ll be there before you know it.
Contact information is available at
www.nps.gov/hafe or by calling 304-
525-6029. The mailing address is P.O.
Box 65, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.
The Shenandoah River meets the Potomac at Harpers Ferry.
The main street in Harpers Ferry showing the bookstore at far left.
ShowcaseNow! Volume 7 Issue 8 11