Prepared and presented by Paul Brodeur and Alan Chamberlain for the Marlborough Historical Society on September 26, 2011, the 150 Anniversary of the Taking of the John Brown Bell from the Engine House at Harpers Ferry. The fascinating account of the men and motives that led to the taking of the John Brown Bell from Harpers Ferry by a group of men from Co. I, 13th Mass Infantry during the Civil War. And the equally fascinating account of the completion of John Brown's task by these same soldiers.

1. Abolition, The War, The Bell An account of the dynamics in the town of Marlborough that led 16 soldiers to take the John Brown Bell and help to complete the object of John Brown’s Raid

2. Presented by Paul Brodeur and Alan Chamberlain For the The Marlborough Historical Society With the aid of Students from Marlborough High School Monday, September 26, 2011 The 150 Anniversary of the Taking of the John Brown Bell

3. Our Special Thanks to the Following Sources for Making This Presentation Possible

4. 13 th Mass Website at www.13thmass.org Copyright 2008 Brad Forbush And especially for all the personal assistance from Brad Forbush

6. Cyrus Felton's two volumes of local history: Four Hundred Fifty Events Six Hundred Events Charles Hudson History of Marlborough Ella Bigelow Historical Reminiscences View the Hudson and Bigelow books, as well as other histories of Marlborough online at the Histories of Marlborough .

8. John Buczek's History of Marlboro Website at http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~historyofmarlborough/contents.htm#Fire containing Paul Polewacyk's History of the Marlborough Fire Department

9. On Fast Day, which occurred Sept 26, 1861, Lieut. David L. Brown and fifteen others of the Company I crossed the river and procured a rope at a store nearby, then climbed to the roof of the engine house, disconnected the bell from the belfry and proceeded to lower it. Just as it reached the edge of the roof, the rope parted and the bell dropped striking on the flagstone, chipped off a few pieces from the flange, but not enough however to injure the tone of the bell. We then loaded it on the scows and took it across the river. Lysander Parker, under oath, 1909

10. 1. Absolutely Abolitionist Marlboro 2. The Motivation of the Fire Department 3. The Subject of John Brown's Raid 4. Marlboro Mirror, November 10, 1860 5. The Decision Makers

11. 6. The Start of War 7. The Taking of the Bell 8. Marching South 9. The Aftermath 10. The Object of John Brown's Raid 11. Timeline of the Bell

12. Absolutely Abolitionist Marlborough

15. Timeline 1848: Marlborough Free Soil Meeting 800 in attendance (Cyrus Felton) 1848: Harpers Ferry firehouse is built to house the equipment and fire bell for the National Armory (National Park Service)

16. Timeline Sept 18, 1850: The Fugitive Slave Act is passed, requiring any Federal Marshall or other official to aid in the return of slaves to their rightful owners. This begins the acceleration in the Underground Railroad throughout the country. A number of houses in Marlborough and Feltonville are converted to assist in the conveyance of slaves to Canada.

17. Timeline Nov 11 1850: The Substance of Resolutions passed this day in Marlborough Town Meeting. (Cyrus Felton) “ Massachusetts cannot become the hunting ground for slaves.” “ We most decidedly disapprove of the Fugitive Slave Law, and will not aid, but will in all suitable and proper ways resist its execution.” But very few voted nay.

18. Timeline April 12 th 1851 the East Meeting house bell tolled 75 times because Thomas Sims, a colored person was taken from Boston back to Georgia as a slave. It was 75 years since Independence had been declared. (Cyrus Felton)

19. The West Village of Marlboro, centered around the Second Parish Church (Unitarian), was a hotbed of Abolitionism led by Rev. Horatio Alger, father of noted Rags to Riches author Horatio Alger Jr. Within 20 years the West Village would become home to many French Canadians who had experienced abolition in Canada since 1833 and tended to vote Republican. Was this pure coincidence?

22. The State Disunion Convention held at Worcester, Mass. in January of 1857 was a unique exercise in northern secessionist thought.

24. (Gathered) for the purpose of considering the “practicability, probability, and expediency of a separation of the Free and Slave States”. Organizer: Rev. T. W. Higginson (Member of John Brown’s Secret Six) Among the six Vice Presidents: William Lloyd Garrison, Boston (publisher of The Liberator) Charles Brigham, Marlboro

25. “ Uncle Charles Brigham, ... a great temperance laborer and anti-slavery man, very public spirited and one of the founders and leading men of the Unitarian Church (Feltonville).” Ella Bigelow Historical Reminiscences of the Early Times in Marlborough

26. “ If the Union cannot stand the practical working of the truths enunciated in the Declaration of American Independence, it seems to me its value has been calculated. I am not, however, prepared to believe that the triumph of freedom requires the dissolution of the Union.” O.W. Albee Letter to the Worcester Disunion Convention

27. The Motivation of The Marlborough Fire Department

30. In 1850 Marlboro there were three villages, each distinct enclaves of small factories and closely packed multi story houses surrounding small commercial areas and a central main Church. All areas between the villages remained farmland with sparse housing.

31. The Villages of Marlborough 1856

32. The black circle shows the area between the present Mechanic St and Bolton St. There were no residences except the Howe house at the top of the circle. The white area shows that there were no homes between Fairmount Hill and the present Howe St. It was a swamp. The red line shows that there were no buildings between the present Monument Sq. and the present City Hall. Washington St. was a direct path through a field from the East Village Church to the cemetery. By the mid 1860’s these areas were substantially filled in.

34. This was the answer. An 1849 model hand tub pumper from the Howard & Davis Co. Boston. This is the actual pumper from the Marlboro East Village Torrent Company.

37. Marlborough Firefighters and the Fireman's Muster July 4, 1849, the first fireman's hand engine muster was held in Bath, Maine. Marlborough that year received three new engines and two years later were contestants for the first time. Since that time Marlborough's engines have been prominent in most musters held in New England where they originated. Several of the largest, and best, were held in Marlborough". H.H Esterbrook, Westboro, circa 1922 Quoted in Paul Polewacyk's history of the Marlboro Fire Department on John Buczek's Marlboro History Website

39. The Subject of John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

41. An overhead view of Harpers Ferry. The Potomac River descends from the north and the Shenandoah comes in from the west. The white arrow is the relative position of the Engine House and the Red arrow is the substructure of the railroad bridge destroyed by the Confederates in the summer of 1861.

42. The bridge from the Maryland side looking at Harpers Ferry. The buildings left of center are the Wager Hotel buildings and just to the right a small water tower. Behind the tower sits the Engine House (not visible). Historic Photo Collection, National Historic Parks

43. These overhead street maps are from The Business Enterprises and Commercial Development of Harpers Ferry Lower Town Area, 1803-1861 by Charles W. Snell The circled area is the water tower. The Potomac River is to the right.

44. The Wager House Hotel complex including the Potomac Restaurant/Hotel was at times run as separate hotels but mostly as a single unit. The slaves of our story all would have worked in this area.

45. The Engine House where John Brown was isolated sat behind a fence and gate within the Armory complex and stood throughout the Civil War although all the buildings around it were totally destroyed.

47. Born a Slave But Made His Escape to Freedom Exciting Days In the Life of a Marlboro Barber “ Young (William) Geary was one of those who carried the breakfasts to the imprisoned men and in this way he had the opportunity of meeting John Brown.” Marlboro Daily Enterprise Wednesday, June 5, 1901

49. from the Marlboro Enterprise – Monday, 30 May 1914 Mrs. Fanny Stanley, Who Died Saturday, Knew John Brown Personally “….when he was hung, she saw him go to his death on the scaffold. She was in a hotel at the time. She knew that he was to go to his death on that day and climbing to the topmost part of the hotel she saw the enactment of a tragedy that has gone down the ages. Mrs. Stanley said that when the drop was pulled, his face turned toward the north, prophetic of future development.”

50. There were no known, provable connections between the John Brown Raiders and Marlboro except perhaps the depth of their hatred of slavery.

51. Items from the Marlboro Mirror November 10, 1860

53. Items From the Marlboro Mirror November 10, 1860 Anti-Slavery Lecture Mr. H. Ford Douglas, of Chicago, will lecture in Town Hall next Wednesday evening, Nov. 14 th at 7 o'clock. He will also lecture in the Baptist Church in Feltonville, on Thursday evening, 15 th at 7 o'clock.

54. H. Ford Douglas was a prominent Black Lecturer from Lincoln’s home state of Illinois. It is uncertain what words he spoke those two days in Marlboro, but it is likely that it reflected his disdain for the popular Lincoln as in this speech he gave in Framingham earlier that year.

56. Douglas was correct. Although Lincoln was against slavery, his strategy was always to preserve the Union at whatever cost.

57. The Decision Makers Concerning the Bell The following men from Co. I, 13 th Regiment were among the older men from Marlboro who were either involved in the taking of the John Brown Bell or part of the chain of command. There were likely others who were probably killed during the war.

61. The Middlesex House Hotel was once the Thayer Tavern built in the early 1800’s. It was demolished in the 1980’s. Rowe’s Funeral Home is to the left.

63. Russell’s advertisement in the Marlboro Mirror. O.W.Albee listed as a reference.

64. The Start of War The following slides were prepared and presented by Alan Chamberlain. Alan is a Civil War reenactor representing the 22 nd Mass. Regiment.

66. On May 25 th the Boston-based 4 th Battalion Rifles militia unit formed Companies A, B, C & D of the 13 th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (MVI) with the Roxbury Rifles forming Company E – reported to Fort Independence, Boston Harbor By late-June five “suburban-based” companies completed the Regiment – 2 from Marlborough, Companies F & I – the 3 others from Stoneham (G), Natick (H) & Westboro (K) July 16 th the Regiment was mustered in with Samuel H. Leonard, former commander of the 4 th Battalion Rifles, as its Colonel July 29 th the 13 th MVI left Boston for the seat of war, arriving in Hagerstown, MD by August 1 st 2 Col. Samuel H. Leonard

67. 1861 August-September From Harrisburg, PA Aug. 1 st Aug. 5 th Aug. 23 rd Sept. 5 th Darnestown, MD Sharpsburg, MD Hagerstown, MD Sandy Hook, MD Washington, DC Baltimore, MD Potomac River Potomac River Shenandoah Valley August 1 st : Regiment attached to Gen. Banks’ division, Army of the Potomac - assigned to patrol & outpost duty on the upper Potomac River protecting the Union right flank 13 th MVI Fighting Strength: Full Regimental 1,000+ 10 days earlier (July 21 st ) Union forces had been routed at the 1 st Battle of Bull Run about 30 miles from Washington, DC – CSA Gen. Thomas J. Jackson earns his nickname, “Stonewall” July 21 st 1 st Battle of Bull Run 3

68. 1861 August-September From Harrisburg, PA Darnestown, MD Sharpsburg, MD Hagerstown, MD Sandy Hook, MD Washington, DC Baltimore, MD Potomac River Potomac River Shenandoah Valley September 1 st : Companies I & K detached to (opposite) Harper’s Ferry – Co. C detached to Monocacy Jct. – remaining 7 companies at Darnestown Monocacy Jct., MD Harper’s Ferry, VA Sept. 1 st Sept. 1 st 4

69. View of Harper's Ferry in 1859. The railroad bridge was destroyed by Confederates June 14 th 1861. Lock 33 of the Chesapeake & Ohio canal, where Companies I & K head-quartered, is visible across the river to the left side of the bridge. (Historic Photo Collection, Harper's Ferry NHP). 5

70. Harper’s Ferry, VA Sandy Hook, MD 1861 Battle of Bolivar Heights Oct. 16 th Pritchard’s Mill Sept. 15 th Skirmish at Beller’s Mill Sept. 2 nd Engagements of Companies I & K in Harper’s Ferry Vicinity Potomac River Shenandoah River Potomac River Harper’s Ferry, VA Sept 1 st -Oct 31 st “ John Brown Bell” Action Sept. 26 th Sept. 30 th : Co. C moves to Harper’s Ferry to reinforce Co.’s I & K Oct. 16 th : Battle of Bolivar Heights – Union grain stores defended at Herr’s Mill Oct. 31 st : Co’s C, I & K take canal boats up-river to rejoin Regiment at Williamsport, MD Pvt John L Spencer becomes 1 st man of Regiment killed by enemy fire Sept. 2 nd : Minor skirmish at Beller’s Mill just up-river from Harper’s Ferry Sept. 15 th : Scouting party led by Lt. David Brown, Co. I attacked at Pritchard’s Mill Sept. 26 th : Co. I contingent visits Harper’s Ferry Armory in the “John Brown Bell” action 6

71. Hancock, MD Hagerstown, MD Baltimore, MD Sharpsburg, MD Harper’s Ferry, VA Washington, DC Sandy Hook, MD Darnestown, MD Williamsport, MD 1861 October 1861-March 1862: Winter Camp at Williamsport, MD October ‘61-March ‘62 November-December: Skirmishes by detached companies at Hancock, MD 7

72. The Taking of the John Brown Bell

75. The map is drawn from the Maryland side with possible targets listed with reference numbers. The Engine House is number 7 and there is a prominent star beneath its position. (See next slide)

77. Map signed L.H. Russell CE (Civil Engineer)

83. Marching South The following slides were prepared and presented by Alan Chamberlain

84. 1862 March Cross Potomac into Martinsburg, VA March 1 st Occupation of Winchester March 12 th -18 th March 1 st : Advance with Gen. Banks’ Corps across Potomac River into VA to counter CSA Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson’s operations in the Shenandoah Valley – 13 th MVI at vanguard entering Martinsburg, VA Potomac River Potomac River Shenandoah Valley Williamsport, MD Martinsburg, VA Winchester, VA Baltimore, MD Washington, DC March 12 th : Winchester, VA occupied 8

85. Williamsport, MD Martinsburg, VA Winchester, VA Baltimore, MD Washington, DC Berryville, VA Aldie, VA Centreville, VA Manassas, VA Catlett’s Sta., VA 1862 March-May March 21 st May 4 th Shenandoah Valley Spring 1862: 13 th MVI supports actions in the Shenandoah Valley – then diverted over the Blue Ridge Mtns. to Warrenton Jct. & Catlett’s Station, VA Potomac River Potomac River 9

86. Baltimore, MD Washington, DC Manassas, VA Catlett’s Sta., VA Warrenton, VA Alexandria, VA Falmouth, VA 1862 May-June May 13 th May 27 th May 25 th May 10 th : Join Gen. Irvin McDowell’s division – move to Falmouth, VA to join Gen. George McClellan’s forces which were about to launch the Peninsula Campaign May 10 th May 13 th : Re-directed back north to reinforce actions against CSA Gen. Jackson in his Shenandoah Valley campaign Potomac River 10

87. Baltimore, MD Washington, DC Manassas, VA Warrenton, VA Front Royal, VA Gainesville, VA Culpeper, VA 1862 June-August Battle of Cedar Mtn. August 9 th June 4 th -16 th July 5 th -21 st August 5 th Major-Gen John Pope’s Northern VA Campaign June 26 th -September 2 nd June 26 th : 13 th MVI joins Gen. John Pope’s Northern VA Campaign – offensive in Culpeper County August 9 th : Battle of Cedar Mountain – 13 th MVI fully ready to support, but not placed into action May 25 th -June 4 th : Move to Front Royal to pursue CSA Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson, but don’t participate in pursuit; held in reserve June 17 th : CSA Gen. Jackson sent south to defend Richmond June 13 th 13 th MVI Fighting Strength: 600 Potomac River 11

88. Washington, DC Warrenton, VA Gainesville, VA Culpeper, VA Cedar Mtn. Thoroughfare Gap Chantilly, VA Hall’s Hill, VA 1862 August-September Skirmishes August 28 th Second Battle of Bull Run August 30 th Aug. 9 th Sept. 2 nd -7 th August 30 th : Second Battle of Bull Run – CSA victory – 13 th MVI’s 1 st major engagement – 38 killed, dozens wounded or captured – Capt. Moses P. Palmer & 1 st Sgt. William Barnes, Co. I among wounded – Sgt. Barnes later loses leg August: Gen. Pope withdraws north – CSA Gen. Jackson out-flanks him & moves north as well August 28 th : Skirmishes at Thoroughfare Gap – 13 th MVI suffers 2 killed, 2 wounded 13 th MVI Fighting Strength: ~ 500 of 580 available Major-Gen John Pope’s Northern VA Campaign June 26 th -September 2 nd Potomac River 12

89. Baltimore, MD Washington, DC Sharpsburg, MD Boonesboro, MD Frederick, MD 1862 Battle of South Mtn. Sept. 14 th September Battle of Antietam Sept. 16 th & 17 th Major-Gen George McClellan’s Maryland Campaign Sept. 12 th -22 nd Sept. 7 th : Support Gen. McClellan’s Maryland Campaign to counter CSA Gen. Robert E. Lee Sept. 14 th : Battle of South Mountain – 13 th MVI engaged without loss Sept. 17 th : Battle of Antietam – 13 th MVI suffers heavy losses at Miller Cornfield (26 killed, 110 wounded or captured) – Pvt. Benjamin F. Russell, Co. I among wounded; dies Oct. 25 th – battle inconclusive – considered by some a Union strategic victory – CSA Gen. Lee withdraws south Sept. 7 th September 17 th 13 th MVI Fighting Strength: 301 men in  165 men out (45% casualties) Potomac River 13

90. Baltimore, MD Washington, DC Sharpsburg, MD Boonesboro, MD Bloomfield, VA Warrenton, VA Morrisville, VA Fletcher’s Chapel, VA 1862 September-December Mid-Nov. Battle of Fredericksburg Dec. 12 th -15 th Winter Camp at Fletcher’s Chapel Dec. 19 th -Jan. 19, 1863 Sept. 18 th -Oct. 26 th December 12 th -15 th : Battle of Fredericksburg – 13 th MVI occupied exposed position on Confederate right without severe losses (4 killed, 12 wounded) – another CSA victory Sept. 18 th -Oct. 26 th : 13 th MVI on duty around Sharpsburg, MD Oct. 27 th -Nov. 20 th : March back towards Falmouth, VA again in pursuit of CSA Gen. Lee December 4 th 13 th MVI Fighting Strength: ~ 300 men Potomac River 14

91. Falmouth, VA Fredericksburg, VA Fitzhugh’s Crossing Fletcher’s Chapel Battle of Chancellorsville May 2 nd -5 th 1863 January-May January 20 th -24 th : Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s failed “Mud March” near Fredericksburg Apr. 29 th -30 th : Fitzhugh’s Crossing – 2 killed – Pvt. John S. Fay, Co. F severely wounded, right arm & right leg amputated to save his life, is captured & sent to CSA Libby Prison May 2 nd -5 th : Battle of Chancellorsville – another CSA victory – 13 th MVI 1 killed, 8 wounded – “Stonewall” Jackson is wounded by “friendly fire”, loses left arm & dies from pneumonia (May 10 th ) – serious blow to CSA leadership & morale Chancellorsville Campaign January 1 st 13 th MVI Fighting Strength: < 350 men Rappahannock River Jan. 26 th -Apr. 27 th : 13 th MVI on duty in vicinity of Falmouth,VA 15

92. Emmitsburg, MD Jefferson, MD Baltimore, MD Barnesville, MD Washington, DC Guilford Sta., VA Bealton Sta., VA Deep Run White Oak Church Manassas, VA 1863 June-July Battle of Gettysburg July 1 st -3 rd Shadowing/Pursuit of CSA Gen. Robert E. Lee June 12 th -July 1 st June 12 th June 12 th -July 1 st : CSA Gen. Robert E. Lee launches campaign to invade North, draw Union into major battle & possibly attack Washington, DC – 13 th MVI with 1 st Corps marches 160 miles from Rappahannock River to Gettysburg, PA to pursue/shadow Lee’s advance July 1 st : 13 th MVI heavily engaged on Gettysburg’s 1 st Day … Gettysburg Campaign 16

93. Peach Orchard Lutheran Seminary Cemetery Hill 1863 Battle of Gettysburg July 1 st -3 rd Oak Hill July 1 st Noon July 1 st 4 PM Afternoon/Evening July 2 nd July 3 rd 3 PM 1 st Corps Morning July 1 st July 1 st 11 AM 11 th Corps July 1 st , 11 AM: 13 th MVI arrives at Lutheran Seminary – construct earthworks July 1 st , Noon: Advance to near Mummasburg Rd. & heavily engage enemy July 1 st , 4 PM: Withdraw through town to Cemetery Hill – 90 taken prisoner, ~ 70 make it through 13 th MVI’s July 1 st losses: 24 killed, 63 wounded, 98 captured – Pvt. John M. Russell, Co. I killed; Capt. Moses P. Palmer, Co. I wounded again July 2 nd -3 rd : Held in reserve Mummasburg Rd Emmitsburg Rd 17

94. Emmitsburg, MD Baltimore, MD Washington, DC Gettysburg, PA Boonesboro, MD Burkittsville, MD Middleburg, VA Warrenton, VA Rappahannock Sta. Mitchell’s Sta. Potomac River 1863 July-December July 6 th July 16 th July 27 th July 4 th Winter Camp at Mitchell’s Sta. Dec. 26 th -Apr 26 th 1864 Pursuit of retreating CSA Gen. Robert E. Lee July 4 th -24 th July 4 th -24 th : Pursuit of retreating CSA Gen. Robert E. Lee July 27 th -Oct. 9 th : Picket duty on Rappahannock & Rapidan Rivers July 23 rd Nov. 26 th -Dec. 2 nd : Mine Run Campaign – planned charge suspended Dec. 26 th -Apr. 26 th 1864: Winter Camp – picket duty guarding Orange & Alexandria Railroad July 10 th 13 th MVI Fighting Strength: ~ 78 men 18

95. Washington, DC Rappahannock Sta. Wilderness Richmond, VA 1864 May-July Battle of the Wilderness May 5 th -7 th Heavy skirmishing (4 killed, 9 wounded) Grant’s Overland Campaign March 1864: Gen. Ulysses S. Grant takes command of the Union Army – 13 th MVI’s severely depleted 1 st Corps consolidated into 5 th Corps May 4 th : Gen. Grant launches his Overland Campaign towards Richmond, VA – CSA Gen. Lee moves to counter Grant’s advances May 5 th -7 th : Battle of the Wilderness – 13 th MVI suffers 4 killed, 9 wounded in heavy skirmishing May 6 th 13 th MVI Fighting Strength: 169 men 19

96. Rappahannock Sta. Wilderness Spotsylvania C.H. Richmond, VA 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania May 8 th -12 th Considerable losses from 3 long charges (12 killed, 12 wounded) Grant’s Overland Campaign May-July May 10 th 13 th MVI Fighting Strength: 107 men Washington, DC May 8 th -12 th : Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 13 th MVI involved in three ½-mile charges – suffers 12 killed, including 1 st Lt. Charles W. Whitcomb, Co. A, and 12 wounded 20

97. Rappahannock Sta. Wilderness Spotsylvania C.H. North Anna River Richmond, VA 1864 Battle of North Anna River May 23 rd -26 th Repulsed Confederate attack (5 wounded) Grant’s Overland Campaign May-July Washington, DC May 23 rd -26 th : Battle of North Anna River – 13 th MVI repulses attack by CSA Gen. A.P. Hill – 5 wounded 21

98. Rappahannock Sta. Wilderness Spotsylvania C.H. North Anna River Cold Harbor Richmond, VA 1864 Battle of Cold Harbor June 1 st -12 th Held in reserve (2 killed, 6 wounded at Bethesda Church June 3 rd ) Grant’s Overland Campaign May-July Washington, DC June 1 st -12 th : Battle of Cold Harbor – 13 th MVI held in reserve except June 3 rd – 2 killed, 6 wounded at Bethesda Church 22

99. Rappahannock Sta. Wilderness Spotsylvania C.H. North Anna River Cold Harbor Richmond, VA White Oak Swamp 1864 Battle of White Oak Swamp June 13 th Heavy skirmishing (1 wounded) Grant’s Overland Campaign May-July Washington, DC June 13 th : Battle of White Oak Swamp – 13 th MVI has 1 wounded in heavy skirmishing 23

100. Rappahannock Sta. Wilderness Spotsylvania C.H. North Anna River Cold Harbor Richmond, VA Petersburg, VA White Oak Swamp 1864 Siege of Petersburg June 16 th -July 14 th (5 killed) Grant’s Overland Campaign July 21 st : 13 th MVI reaches Boston with 17 officers & 265 men – mustered out August 1 st on Boston Common after 3 long years of valiant service! May-July June 16 th : 13 th MVI moves to join on-going Siege of Petersburg – 5 killed over 3-4 weeks July 14 th : 13 th MVI’s term of service ends – recent recruits & re-enlistments transferred to 39 th MVI July 18 th : 3-year veteran Cpl. William F. Brigham, Co. F dies in Washington, DC Washington, DC 24

103. The Aftermath

108. Of the sixteen men who took the John Brown Bell seven died during the war and one shortly after. We can conclude that the men responsible for the taking of the Bell were men of heroic stature. Men who fought and died or were horribly wounded. To these men as to so many others we owe the preservation of the Union.

109. The Object of John Brown's Raid The Slaves of Harpers Ferry

110. “ I have, may it please the Court, a few words to say. In the first place, I deny everything but what I have all along admitted, the design on my part to free the slaves. I intended certainly to have made a clean thing of that matter, as I did last winter, when I went into Missouri and there took slaves without the snapping of a gun on either side, moved them through the country, and finally left them in Canada. I designed to have done the same thing again, on a larger scale. That was all I intended. I never did intend murder, or treason, or the destruction of property, or to excite or incite slaves to rebellion, or to make insurrection.” John Brown’s final speech.

111. The following individuals were the object of John Brown’s Raid. Slaves who lived in Harpers Ferry and at one time or another worked as slaves in the Wager Hotel complex.

113. This photo was taken at Williamsport, MD, probably by George L.Crosby a photographer and artist from Marlboro who had signed up with Co. F and brought his equipment with him. The camp follower slaves were known as ‘contraband’. There is every possibility that the two women to the right are Arenia and Fanny Geary, though without pictures to compare there is no way of knowing for sure. (enlargement following slide)

126. While Marlboro had little to do with the Subject of John Brown or his raid on Harpers Ferry, it had everthing to do with the Object of the raid, which was to bring the slaves of Harpers Ferry to the safety of the North. In Marlboro, they found housing, employment, education and a place in the community.

127. Timeline of the Bell In Marlboro

134. The Ringing of the John Brown Bell in Marlboro on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of John Brown’s Raid October 16, 2009

135. The Funeral of Fannie Geary Stanley Baptist Church, Monument Sq. 1914 There is an image in my mind that best summarizes the topics of this evening. It is a canvas that depicts the funeral of Fannie Geary Stanley at the Baptist Church at Monument Sq. in 1914. The image is drawn from about the position of the entrance to Granger Blvd with a wide angle so as to include both the Baptist Church to the left and the corner of Rawlins Ave. to the right. On that corner stands the old GAR building, since demolished, and below it, on the street stand two men, rope in hand, pulling to ring the bell above. They are wearing firemen’s hats of the day. Just below the bell a plaque that reads “The John Brown Bell”. The Bell sits about the same relative distance from the Baptist Church as it did from the Wager Hotel in Harpers Ferry. In the center of the image stands the Civil War monument, and on it the names of some of the men who Fannie Geary might have met and spoken to in Williamsport, MD, before they went south to the battles in which they died, and Fannie went north to her freedom in Marlboro. She surely would have known that all the men inscribed on that monument had died to purchase that freedom.

136. To the left of the image stand two people in front of the Baptist Church. One is an old soldier, dressed in his best uniform, by the name of Lysander Parker. The other is a beautiful young black woman in a flowing dress. Her name is Fannie Geary Stanley. The soldier is holding her hand gently and tipping his ornamental hat as if to say, “Glad you could come, ma’am, I hope you enjoyed your stay. Godspeed”. The Bell that sits at the Union Common is a National Treasure with national symbolism. But in Marlboro the symbolic freedom it represents is embellished with other values of equal importance. The values of self-sacrifice, of loyalty to one’s word, and, as depicted in the scene at the Monument, of charity and hospitality to strangers met along the way. We hope you’ve enjoyed our presentation tonight. We in Marlboro are not only stewards of the Bell, but stewards of the ideals that it represents. Our hope is that we are somehow led to celebrate these ideals and values in various ways in our community life.

137. From the Cutting Room Floor The following slides are of interesting figures of Marlboro History that played a part in that period of time but were not directly involved in the story of the Bell.

141. Charles Hudson, In Memoriam by Henry M. Smith

142. Charles Hudson, In Memoriam by Henry M. Smith Speeches: Discriminating Duties, 1841; The Annexation of Texas; The Tariff, 1846; The Wheat Trade of the Country, 1846; The Mexican War; The President’s Message on the War with Mexico, 1846; The Three Million Appropriation Bill, 1847; The Cost of the Mexican War, and the Finances of the Country, 1848; The Constitutional power of Congress over the Territories and the Right of Excluding Slavery Therefrom, 1848.

143. Charles Hudson, In Memoriam by Henry M. Smith

149. We wish to thank the following students of Marlboro High School for their contributions to our celebration

150. Readers Eleni Kisty Samantha Perlman Michael LeBlanc Jonathan Dell Isola

151. Poster Design and Artwork Aidan Steadman Thais Valadares

152. Members of the Marlboro High School Accapella Choir Bruce Bausk Cairo Marden Mendes Jay Maenhout Sarah Symes Eva Kotsopoulos Katie Hermann Ali Russo Jon Van Lingen

153. We also thank the following members of the Marlboro High School Faculty and Staff for their coordination and support Ms Maureen Greulich Ms Julie Baker Mr. Bruce Kurth Ms. Shannon Phypers Mr. Jonathan Rosenthal