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A Voice from Harper's Ferry
A unique book from the 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry, this firsthand account of the only black combatant to survive the raid details the story of this turning point in the struggle against slavery and refutes the notion that African American people did take on the cause for their freedom.
125 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1861
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 27, 2025
”There was no milk and water sentimentality — no offensive contempt for the Negro while working in his cause; the pulsation of each and every heart beat in harmony for the suffering and pleading slave. In John Brown’s house, and in John Brown’s presence, men from widely different parts of the continent met and united into one company, wherein no hateful prejudice dared intrude its ugly self — no ghost of a distinction found space to enter.”
What a fitting way to conclude my John Brown January reading project! A Voice From Harpers Ferry is a first hand account of that famous raid, written by the only Black man to escape it alive. Anderson’s personal account of his experience there, his descriptions of John Brown and his other brothers in arms, is absolutely invaluable to anyone interested in John Brown and the Harpers Ferry raid that sparked the Civil War.
Osborne P. Anderson was a free born Black man. He attended Oberlin College before removing to Chatham, Ontario, where he opened an abolitionist print shop. It was there, in May of 1858, that he met John Brown, learned of his revolutionary plans, and joined his cause when Brown was forming his provisional congress in Chatham’s Free Black community. Anderson became recording secretary and member of that provisional congress, and later left Canada to join Brown at Harpers Ferry.
Much of the first hand detail we have of the Harpers Ferry operation comes from Anderson’s book. He describes the difficulties of living hidden in cramped quarters at the Kennedy farm before the raid. He tells of the orders and assignments that were given the night the raid launched. Anderson was assigned to the group who were capturing important hostages (including Col. Lewis Washington, grandson of George Washington) and rounding up what slaves were willing to join the raid. Brown himself order Anderson to be the man to whom Col. Washington must surrender his grandfather’s ceremonial sword, because of the symbolic significance of Washington’s sword being surrendered to a Black man:
”The Colonel cried heartily when he found he must submit, and appeared taken aback when, on delivering up the famous sword formerly presented by Frederic to his illustrious kinsman, George Washington, Captain Stevens told me to step forward and take it.”
This book is a unique document detailing a pivotal incident of American history. Anderson prose is clear, well written, and displays the passion and absolute commitment he had to the cause. Anyone interested in John Brown and his famous raid should consider this book a must read.
What a fitting way to conclude my John Brown January reading project! A Voice From Harpers Ferry is a first hand account of that famous raid, written by the only Black man to escape it alive. Anderson’s personal account of his experience there, his descriptions of John Brown and his other brothers in arms, is absolutely invaluable to anyone interested in John Brown and the Harpers Ferry raid that sparked the Civil War.
Osborne P. Anderson was a free born Black man. He attended Oberlin College before removing to Chatham, Ontario, where he opened an abolitionist print shop. It was there, in May of 1858, that he met John Brown, learned of his revolutionary plans, and joined his cause when Brown was forming his provisional congress in Chatham’s Free Black community. Anderson became recording secretary and member of that provisional congress, and later left Canada to join Brown at Harpers Ferry.
Much of the first hand detail we have of the Harpers Ferry operation comes from Anderson’s book. He describes the difficulties of living hidden in cramped quarters at the Kennedy farm before the raid. He tells of the orders and assignments that were given the night the raid launched. Anderson was assigned to the group who were capturing important hostages (including Col. Lewis Washington, grandson of George Washington) and rounding up what slaves were willing to join the raid. Brown himself order Anderson to be the man to whom Col. Washington must surrender his grandfather’s ceremonial sword, because of the symbolic significance of Washington’s sword being surrendered to a Black man:
”The Colonel cried heartily when he found he must submit, and appeared taken aback when, on delivering up the famous sword formerly presented by Frederic to his illustrious kinsman, George Washington, Captain Stevens told me to step forward and take it.”
This book is a unique document detailing a pivotal incident of American history. Anderson prose is clear, well written, and displays the passion and absolute commitment he had to the cause. Anyone interested in John Brown and his famous raid should consider this book a must read.
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July 31, 2011Fascinating account of John Brown's offensive against American slavery by one of his African-American lieutenants. The first-person narrative demonstrates just how ready and waiting the average slave was to violently rebel against their oppressors. Anderson compellingly argues that if Brown had not been overcome by sentimental pity for his prisoners at Harper's Ferry, and had instead done away with the slaveowners, the band might well have escaped the authorties with the liberated slaves, and spread their insurrection to other towns throughout the South, amassing a larger and larger army. Perhaps Brown's humanism spoiled what might have been a real from-the-bottom revolution in the slave states, one unencumbered by the compromises of the Northern industrialists that characterized the Civil War and the Reconstruction.
August 14, 2014
Absolutely fascinating. Well-written and lucid. I'm embarrassed that it has taken me this long to find this book, it is the best description of the raid possible. After all, he was there.
April 8, 2019
Fantastic account of the raid on Harpers Ferry told by Osborne Anderson, the only Black member of Brown’s army to survive the events.
December 5, 2019
An incredible, firsthand account of what truly transpired at the revolutionary raid on Harper's Ferry. Many have read historians who simply go off of what slaveholders and capitalist, racist politicians said. This is a complete upheaval of those narratives.
No one denies the fact that John Brown's militant brigade lost and were executed, but what IS exaggerated is how hard they fought -- while some sources indicate that only 7 or 8 Confederate forces were killed, this firsthand account asserts that no less than 30 were killed, and perhaps as many as 70. This isn't someone who asked someone who was there, this is someone who was fighting, someone who disarmed the great-nephew of racist slaveholder George Washington; who barely escaped with his own life.
Sources indicate that many slaves were resista to the raid, and many fled when it started, but Anderson asserts that dozens and dozens of slaves joined them and took up arms. John Brown fought until the very end, as did Osborne Anderson and all of their comrades.
You want a true, historical account of Harper's Ferry? Read this.
No one denies the fact that John Brown's militant brigade lost and were executed, but what IS exaggerated is how hard they fought -- while some sources indicate that only 7 or 8 Confederate forces were killed, this firsthand account asserts that no less than 30 were killed, and perhaps as many as 70. This isn't someone who asked someone who was there, this is someone who was fighting, someone who disarmed the great-nephew of racist slaveholder George Washington; who barely escaped with his own life.
Sources indicate that many slaves were resista to the raid, and many fled when it started, but Anderson asserts that dozens and dozens of slaves joined them and took up arms. John Brown fought until the very end, as did Osborne Anderson and all of their comrades.
You want a true, historical account of Harper's Ferry? Read this.
December 2, 2021
This was a wonderful read which really helps fill in gaps in the historical record surrounding John Brown’s raid into Harper’s Ferry. Anderson’s writing is a gift, for there are so few eyes and ears which were privy to such events which survived, and Anderson provides us his recounting of the tale, which will last into perpetuity. The essays at the beginning of this work get closer to 3.5 or 4 stars, in my opinion, but Anderson’s narrative gives the book as a whole it’s 5 star rating. It isn’t lost upon me that I finished this book on December 2, the 162nd anniversary of John Brown’s execution, which though it killed his body, could not kill his soul.
February 4, 2021
The book is quite convoluted and hard to follow, but the prefaces are EXTREMELY GOOD and concise in giving a rundown of conditions leading up to a following the civil war (spoiler alert: they appease murderous racists in the name of "unity") The account itself, though inscrutable in many places, is helpful in terms of tangibly thinking about the practicalities and limitations of abolitionists and mere abolitionism both then and now.
March 14, 2021
Good book
I love the passion that the people has who participated in this
It’s unfortunate that the leader John brown kept them at harpers ferry too long rather than just completing the mission
Many lives could have been saved
I love the passion that the people has who participated in this
It’s unfortunate that the leader John brown kept them at harpers ferry too long rather than just completing the mission
Many lives could have been saved
November 15, 2024
Anderson Antics #1
Somewhat interesting bio is quite dated in style and difficult to maintain interest, but is of benefit to at a minimum remember or you may repeat evil history - oops too late I think the USA forgot....
Somewhat interesting bio is quite dated in style and difficult to maintain interest, but is of benefit to at a minimum remember or you may repeat evil history - oops too late I think the USA forgot....
April 7, 2020
"Straight from the horse's mouth". What better way to learn about the raid on Harper's Ferry than from one of the brave men that was a part of it!
January 5, 2025
Eyewitness account of the Raid on Harpers Ferry on October 16, 1859 by one of John Brown's Raiders.
June 30, 2019
(NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).
An eye witness account of John Brown's raid of Harper's Ferry. Worth reading but not as interesting as I expected.
An eye witness account of John Brown's raid of Harper's Ferry. Worth reading but not as interesting as I expected.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews