Midnight Rising

In Chapter 4 the narrative recounts Brown’s arrival in Kansas during a period of escalating tension and violence between pro-enslavement and anti-enslavement settlers. Initially drawn by his sons’ descriptions of the land’s beauty and potential, Brown found a reality marked by sickness, harsh weather, and looming conflict upon his arrival in October 1855. Despite these challenges, Brown was determined to fight against enslavement, believing it to be his divine mission.

The chapter outlines the extreme laws enacted by the pro-enslavement legislature in Kansas, which criminalized anti-enslavement expression and actions, prompting Brown to arm himself and his followers. Brown’s first opportunity for armed conflict arose shortly after his arrival but resulted in no engagement with pro-enslavement forces. However, Brown’s resolve hardened, and by spring 1856, Kansas was a powder keg of tension, with Brown and his family at the heart of the free-state resistance.

The Pottawatomie Massacre in May 1856 is detailed as a brutal response to pro-enslavement aggression, where Brown and his group killed five pro-enslavement settlers in a night of violence. This act, while aiming to deter pro-enslavement forces, instead intensified the conflict in Kansas, leading to a period known as “Bleeding Kansas.” Brown’s actions at Pottawatomie and subsequent engagements, including the Battle of Black Jack and the defense of Osawatomie, cemented his reputation as a fearless and committed abolitionist leader, albeit at great personal and familial cost.

Chapter 5 charts Brown’s transition from a combative figure in Kansas to a strategic planner on a national stage. After a grueling year of guerrilla warfare in Kansas, which solidified his reputation as a fierce abolitionist, Brown, plagued by illness and financial woes, departed for the East to muster support for a more audacious undertaking against enslavement.

Upon reaching Ohio, Brown shifted his focus from battling pro-enslavement forces in Kansas to preparing for a significant strike against enslavement in the Southern states, specifically Virginia. His journey eastward involved strategic stops to gather resources and allies. In Massachusetts, he connected with influential abolitionists, including Franklin Sanborn, who became a key ally in navigating the abolitionist networks of New England. Sanborn introduced Brown to the elite circles of the anti-enslavement movement, helping him gain the financial and logistical support necessary for his plans.

Brown’s speaking engagements and private meetings with influential abolitionists and activists, such as Frederick Douglass, reflect his shift toward a more covert and grandiose strategy. He meticulously planned the logistics of his envisioned uprising, drafting a constitution for a revolutionary state and selecting Harpers Ferry, Virginia, as the focal point for his attack because seizing a federal armory could help arm the rebellion he hoped to initiate.

The formation of the Secret Six, a group of wealthy and influential abolitionists, was a critical juncture in Brown’s campaign, providing him with the financial backing and moral support needed for his venture. Despite reservations about the feasibility and morality of his plan, the Secret Six were compelled by Brown’s unwavering commitment and the chance to strike a significant blow against the institution of enslavement.

As Brown prepared to return to the battlefield, now with a clear target in Virginia, the narrative highlights the complexities of his character and mission, including his unwavering belief in divine providence, his willingness to engage in violent rebellion, and his ability to inspire and mobilize a dedicated group of followers. The chapter underscores the tension between Brown’s radical methods and the broader abolitionist movement.

Chapter 6 follows Brown’s intricate planning and mobilization efforts for his attack on Harpers Ferry. In April 1858, after scouting Canada as a potential rallying point for his mission, Brown reconvened with his recruits in Iowa. Despite the small size of his group, he remained determined to move forward, orchestrating a secret convention in Chatham, Canada, to draft a “Provisional Constitution” for a new society. The constitution articulated a vision for a society free from enslavement and outlined the structure of its government, with Brown as the commander-in-chief.

The convention, attended by Black delegates and a few white delegates, including Brown, culminated in the adoption of this constitution. However, enthusiasm for immediate action was tempered by practical considerations, and key positions within this provisional government remained unfilled.

Despite this, Brown’s mission in Missouri to free enslaved people and his audacious journey to bring them to freedom in Canada reinvigorated his cause, drawing admiration and renewed support from the Secret Six, a group of influential abolitionist backers. The book underscores Brown’s capacity for leadership and his symbolic role as a modern-day Moses, leading the oppressed to freedom. Yet, it also reveals the complexities of his character and the divergent perceptions of his mental state among those close to him.

As Brown prepared for the final phase of his mission, he encountered logistical and financial hurdles, including a disgruntled associate threatening to expose the plan, which forced Brown to temporarily postpone the Harpers Ferry attack. This setback drove Brown back to Kansas, where he engaged in further acts of resistance against enslavement but remained focused on his goal.

The chapter concludes with Brown’s return to the East to secure the final elements needed for the Harpers Ferry raid, including the completion of the pikes initially ordered for use in Kansas. His visit to his family in North Elba and the subsequent journey to Harpers Ferry, under the alias “I. Smith,” mark the final preparations for the attack.