24 The American Civil War
Without shedding of blood there is no remission [of
sin]' was John Brown's favonte biblical passage. It inspired
him to seize the Federal Armory and Arsenal at Harpers
Ferry, Virginia in mid-October 1859 and to launch a
massive slave insurrection. The attempt failed and Brown
met his fate on the gallows on 2 December in Charles
Town, Virginia. (Ann Ronan Picture Library)