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John Brown
While in Chatham, Brown sent out the following form letter to a select
group of individuals:
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Chatham, Canada West
April 29th, 1858
Dear Sir
You are earnestly requested to meet quite a number of the friends
of freedom...and bring with you any others that you know to be
absolutely true to the cause...There are already so many collected
here that it has been decided to make this the point for a most
quiet convention....
Very respectfully your Friends
Charles L. Redmond Esqr.
John Brown
M.R. Delaney
J.M. Bell
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Source: The Collector No. 2 (1960), Stanley Smith Collection,
Regional Room, University of Western Ontario.
At that meeting Brown outlined his plans to attack Harpers Ferry in West
Virginia, arm his followers and march south to smash slavery. At further
meetings in Chatham the "Provisional Constitution and Ordinances for the
People of the United States" was adopted and officers were elected to
serve in a provisional government.
One Canadian Black, Osborne Anderson, took part in the disastrous raid
on Harpers Ferry. Of the 21 men who fought with Brown, 10 died,
6 escaped (of whom 5 reached Canada and freedom) and 5, including Brown,
were later hanged. The Harpers Ferry raid made a big impression in
Canada and many felt Brown was a hero.
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