In a well-orchestrated plan, John Brown, an ardent abolitionist, gathered a group of 21 men, including his sons and a few freedmen, to seize the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown believed that by capturing the arms stored there, he could supply enslaved people in the region and spark a wider rebellion against slavery. On the night of October 16, Brown and his followers stealthily approached Harpers Ferry, taking control of the armory by dawn. They also captured key hostages, including a prominent local farmer and several townspeople.

However, the raid faced immediate challenges. Local militia began to mobilize in response to the unrest, and within hours, Brown's forces found themselves surrounded. As fighting broke out, casualties occurred on both sides, and Brown's plans quickly unraveled under the pressure of local and federal responses. The United States Marines, led by then-Colonel Robert E. Lee, were dispatched to quell the rebellion. By the evening of October 18, after a two-day standoff, Brown and his remaining supporters were captured, leading to his trial for treason.

The aftermath of the raid had significant implications, increasing sectional tensions between the North and South. Supporters viewed Brown as a martyr for the abolitionist cause, while others condemned his methods as extremism. His trial became a national spectacle, drawing attention to the moral debates surrounding slavery. Brown was ultimately executed in December, but his actions left an indelible impression on the American landscape, hastening the events that would lead to the Civil War.