The Execution

There were sixteen casualties on both sides of the raid; ten were Brown’s men. Many of the men were captured and killed or mortally wounded during the battle.  Though injured, Brown was escorted to jail in Charlestown, Virginia. His trial took place on November 2, 1859.  He was convicted of murder, slave insurrection, and treason against the state of Virginia. Judge Andrew Parker  sentenced him to death by hanging.

Following Brown’s capture, trial, and sentencing, Mary Ann Brown, his wife, visited him frequently at the city jail. Brown communicated through letters to his wife and children that they should not grieve on his behalf because he will have died fighting for his beliefs.

On December 2, 1859 John H. Brown was publicly executed in Charlestown. There were mixed opinions on Brown’s execution; some believed justice was served, while others felt he took appropriate actions to convey his beliefs.

People of the North admired his courage and passion, whereas citizens in the South feared the ending of slavery. Since the South had roughly 3.1 million slaves working on plantations, many slave owners relied heavily on slavery as the main workforce in their  fields. Without slavery, many white southerners would lose a tremendous amount of income.  ​​​​​​