~ THE JOHN BROWN BELL ~
Sources
The John Brown Bell Story by John A Rawlins Post 43 G.A.R.
National Archives Web SiteResearched and Compiled by - John Buczek
The story of the John Brown Bell was written about 1910 by direction of the John A Rawlins Post 43 of the G.A.R.. The following is but a brief synopsis of that story. It must be clearly understood, that what I put here does not do justice to those words and statements of the survivors of this raid put down in the booklet written. To better understand the significance of this bell, one must take time to investigate who John Brown was and the relationship he and the men from Marlborough had with Harpers Ferry.
John Brown was an American abolitionist, born in Connecticut and raised in Ohio. He felt passionately and violently that he must personally fight to end slavery. In 1856, in retaliation for the sack of Lawrence, he led the murder of five pro-slavery men on the banks of the Pottawatamie River. He stated that he was an instrument in the hand of God. Brown did not end there. On Oct. 16, 1859, Brown and 21 followers captured the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Brown planned the takeover as the first step in his liberation of the slaves, but it was taken the next morning by Robert E. Lee.
John Brown - 1857
John Brown began to amass arms and make battle plans in earnest for a full-fledged invasion of the South. This plan was to culminate in the raid on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. On the evening of Sunday, 16 October 1859, John Brown and twenty-one followers, including three of his sons and five black men, launched their attack on the Harpers Ferry arsenal and armory. Both sites and the principal transportation lines in and out of the small valley community were in the raiders' hands by the following dawn. Brown sent a small party into the countryside to liberate slaves, but only twelve were brought back and none voluntarily joined the insurrection. By the following evening, local militia units and armed townsmen had cut off Brown's party from all potential escape routes to the surrounding mountains. A detachment of United States Marines arrived by train from Washington, and by noon on Tuesday Brown and six surviving raiders were captured. In the two days of fighting, Brown's insurgents killed five men, including one marine, and lost ten of their own numbers. Brown was quickly brought to trial for treason and sentenced to death on November 2nd. Virginia Governor Henry A. Wise rejected all pleas for clemency, and Brown was executed one month later on December 2nd. The other captured raiders were also speedily tried and executed
John Brown's Speech before the Court
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: of a design on my part to free slaves . . . Had I interfered in the matter which I admit, and which I admit has been fairly proved . . . had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, or the so-called great . . . and suffered and sacrificed, what I have in this interference, it would have been all right. Every man in this Court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment. I see a book kissed which I suppose to be the Bible, or at least the New Testament, which teaches me that all things whatsoever I would that men should do unto me, I should do even so to them. It teaches me further to remember them that are in bonds as bound with them. I endeavored to act up to that instruction. I say that I am yet too young to understand that God is any respecter of persons. I believe that to have interfered as I have done, as I have always freely admitted I have done in behalf of His despised poor, I did no wrong, but right. Now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice and mingle
my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel and unjust enactment's, I say, let it be done.After John Brown was hung in Charleston on Dec.2, 1859, his body was returned to the Adirondacks to be interred on the Brown farm according to his wishes. Later the bodies of his sons and the bodies of ten of his associates who were killed at Harper's Ferry were also brought to the farm for burial.
Below is the memorial to John Brown
The Civil War had a profound and disastrous effect on Harpers Ferry, leaving a path of destruction that wrecked the town's economy and forced many residents to depart forever. Because of the town's strategic location on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, Union and Confederate troops moved through Harpers Ferry frequently. The town changed hands eight times between 1861 and 1865.
Harpers Ferry is a small town located on the edge of the convergence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers on the West Virginia's side. The image to the left shows Harpers Ferry looking towards the Maryland side of the river before the devastation
On April 18, 1861, less than 24 hours after Virginia seceded from the Union, Federal soldiers set fire to the Armory and Arsenal to keep them out of Confederate hands. The Arsenal and 15,000 weapons were destroyed, but the Armory flames were extinguished and the weapons-making equipment was shipped south. When the Confederates abandoned the town two months later, they burned most of the factory buildings and blew up the railroad bridge.
Federal forces re-occupied Harpers Ferry in 1862. During the Confederacy's first invasion of the North, on September 15, 1862, Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson surrounded and captured the 12,500-man Union garrison stationed here. When the Federal troops returned to Harpers Ferry after the Battle of Antietam, they began transforming the surrounding heights into fortified encampments to protect both the town and the railroad. In 1864, Union General Philip H. Sheridan used Harpers Ferry as his base of operations against Confederate troops in the Shenandoah Valley.
The image to the left, taken from the Maryland side, shows the devestation after the fighting and the demolishment of the railroad bridge.
The following is a transcription of “The Story of the Bell” as told by Lysander P. Parker and sworn under oath before Justice of the Peace John S. Fay, December, 1909 in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The “Bell”, upon coming to Marlborough, was mounted on the G.A.R. Building on Main Street Marlborough. The image below shows the bell hanging after its dedication.
Lysander P. ParkerMedal from Paul Polewacyk's Collection
Our Company tendered their services to the U. S. Government May 20th, 1861 and was ordered to report to Fort Independence, Boston Harbor June 29th and became Company I of the 13th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
We were mustered into the U. S. service July 16th and left Boston for the front on the 29th. On the 23rd of August, we went into camp two miles from the Potomac, and about six miles from Harpers Ferry. On the same date, Companies I, K and C and a section of the Rhode Island artillery under the command of Maj. Gould, were detailed to go to the river and guard the fords which connected Harpers Ferry with the Maryland side. While there we received orders to go to Harpers Ferry, and take everything of the value to the Government and remove it across the river where it was to be shipped direct to the War Department. We immediately pressed into service two scows, lashed them together, then stretched a rope diagonally across the river, the highest point being on the opposite shore. Another line was there made fast, with the other end passing through a pulley on board the scows. With this device, we easily pulled the boats across the river, and although heavily laden on the return, with the assistance of the current and the use of poles, we landed our freight on the Maryland side. From the Arsenal and Hall's Rifle Works, we took a large quantity of minerals. Also fifteen thousand stands of arms and various other things of less importance. Being on historic grounds, our thoughts naturally turned toward the engine house, for there "twas here that John Brown fought his last fight for the liberation of the slaves. Again in imagination, we could see the Old Spartan as "he felt the pulse of his dying son with one hand and grasped his rifle with the other.".
In vain we searched for something to take with us as a souvenir, for others had been there before us, and appropriated everything of value. We finally decided to take the bell and send it home for the Fire Department, as the Hook & Ladder Co. had none. Brown had planned to use this bell to sound the signals for the slaves to rally and flee to the mountains of Virginia, and there make a stand and fight for their freedom. The question was how should we remove it from the belfry. We were equal to the occasion as the sequel proved.
Map of Harpers Ferry
Drawn September 14th 1861
The Plan
Click on image for full sized map
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 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.
Realizing that our treasure was the property of Uncle Sam, we thought best to consult proper authority before proceeding further, and immediately through Major Gould, Provost Marshall of the13th at Sandy Hook, we made direct application to the Government for it and in due season received permission from the War Department to appropriate the bell. It was then boxed by Levi Taylor and Algeron S. Smith and placed on board the canal boat. "Charles McCardell". This boat was used during the time we were there for the officers quarters and there it remained until we joined our Regiment.
On the 31st of October, we received orders to return to our Regiment, which was stationed at Williamsport. The canal boat accompanied us and the bell was landed at Williamsport Lock.
Our Regiment remained at this place during the winter. While there, we made the acquaintance of William Ensminger, who with his wife, owned and managed two or three canal boats. Mrs. Ensminger , being an excellent cool, we engaged her to bake bread for our company while we remained.
Opinions there as well as at Harpers Ferry concerning the War, were about equally divided. The Union and Confederate Armies were constantly being recruited from both sides. The war spirit was in the air and some thing must be done with the bell. Unlike the ark of the covenant, it was to heavy to carry in our wanderings. Our salaries, eleven dollars per month, were barely sufficient to enable us to ship the bell to Marlborough, and at the same time meet the demands of the sutler when pay day came around. We finally made a trade with Mr. Ensminger to care for the bell until called for. We also left with him our regimental hats, a very gaudy affair, with a big black feather on one side and the American Eagle on the other. During the winter we
accumulated an extra quantity of clothing, which being to cumbersome to carry on the march, was left in the care of the same party.On the first day of the march, 1862, we were ordered across the river into the enemy's country. Bidding farewell to our new found friends, we marched away and the bell for sometime was forgotten There it remained for thirty years. Our regiment in the meantime, having passed through the furnace of the war, had returned with depleted ranks. Of the number who were interested, but nine were left; seven having been killed in the various battles in which we were engaged.
When we left Williamsport, no one had an idea that the war would last so long, and not having kept in touch with our friends there, we naturally concluded that the bell had been disposed of during the long interval.
Nothing further was done, however, until the National Encampment was held at Washington, D.C. in 1892, when a party of us went to Williamsport to see if any of our old friends were still living. We found Mrs. Ensminger alive, but married again to a man by the name of Snyder.
There were six of us in the party. We arrived at the hotel about eleven o'clock at night, but the landlord, not being a reconstructed Rebel, refused to put us up, so we mounted the coach and started out to find our lady. We soon found the house, woke her up and told her who we were. She said she would put us all up, she "was so glad to see her boys again".
In the morning, says Gleason, "I was up early down in the kitchen inquiring about the people we knew when we were there, and then asked her about the bell; and to my supprise she said "I have kept it for you". She then took me into her back yard and there it was. I was not long calling the boys to see it, and I tell you we felt good to know we had such a valuable relic.
We asked her what she wanted for keeping it so long for us. She said she wouldn't ask much for that, but thought she ought to have $150.00 as a reimbursement for money paid out. In explanation we would say, her charge was not for the care of the bell. When we were in winter quarters the year after leaving Williamsport, she had sent all our boxes to us and paid the express, and there in an old book, yellow with age, were entries like the following: James M. Gleason, Box 50 cts; and in like manner were written nearly all the names of our company. The reader can readily see that the interest on the money she had paid out for us would amount to much more than what she asked. This being satisfactory, Comrade W. A. Alley drew up a paper closing the
bargain. In justice to the Company, I, would say that we never received the boxes and knew nothing of them until we returned home; and even then were not aware that Mrs. Snyder had been so kind as to forward them to us. Doubtless some of those in authority who had the handling of the boxes appropriated them for their own use as such things occurred frequently in the army. On our return to Marlborough, the citizens of the town (friends of the Grand Army) contributed the necessary funds to meet the expense, and Comrade Gleason returned to Williamsport for the bell."It was a very pleasant trip for me " says Gleason, "and I was very careful not to tell my business to any one there, for fear I might have trouble in securing the bell". I soon had it boxed and loaded on a freight car and saw the train leave the station for Massachusetts. Then I felt easy and began to talk about it to the people there. Be it remembered, that up to this time, no one in Williamsport had been informed as to the identity of the bell, they having the impression that it was taken from one church in Virginia. They were much surprised and did a lot of thinking. The station agent, where the bell was shipped, said he was glad it was gone, "for" said he "as long as I can remember, every time the Democrats had a victory, that old bell has rung from here to Hagertown and back, all night celebrating."
The people there were much chagrined when they found they had been so easily outwitted by the Yankees; for they now realized what a treasure they had lost. The second day after the bell was shipped, I took a trip to Gettysburg. On my way back I overheard some old gentlemen conversing on the train. One asked who I was. Another answered "He's from Massachusetts and he has come down to get the John Brown Bell" "And did he get it" asked the other "Yes he got it and it's gone" was the answer.
I went to Harpers ferry to see the old place once more, and while in a drug store one evening talking with some ex-Confederates about the engine house, one of them said he helped "take it down when it was sold for the World's Fair in Chicago, for ten thousand dollars. "Just think of it" he said " a little building that wouldn't cost more than five hundred dollars, sold for ten thousand because it was the John Brown engine house. I asked him if there wasn't a bell on the house before the war. He said "There was, but it was taken off at the commencement of the war, and they thought it went south. I wish I had it now", he said; "I could get ten thousand for that"
Well this bell, this great relic reached it's destination in due season. The Fire Department in the meantime having been supplied, the bell was placed where now it hangs, just above the entrance to the Grand Army Hall.
To oft in the days gone by has it tolled the knell of some departed comrade, but more frequently its glad tones have floated upon the evening breeze as the battle scarred veterans marched to the banquet hall for festive occasions.
Much credit is due Mrs. Snyder for her loyalty to the Union cause, to the boys of Company I, and for the faithful manner in which she discharged her duty as custodian of the bell.
Lysander P. Parker
Personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Lysander P. Parker and made oath that the forgoing statement subscribed by him is true to the best of his knowledge and belief.
Sworn to me before this 8th day of December, 1909.
John S. Fay
Justice of the Peace.There in lies the story of the "Bell"
BUT… that is not the end of the story. In 1963 on September 2, the "Bell" was situated in it's now permanent location in the "John Brown Bell Tower Memorial" located in the Common on Main Street and rededicated. This was necessary as the G.A.R. Building was demolished. It no longer " tolls the knell of some departed comrade", for what ever reason. Some day, maybe, with the agreement of those who own the "Bell", it may once again toll the passing of our War Hero's… hero's of all wars…..
"Where the Bell has hung"
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