Bride, D. W. (b. 1800) to David Strother

Genl D H Strother Post Office
Berkley Springs W. Va Sparta Wis. Dec 27/ 69

My Dear Sir Your esteemed favor of the 17 inst [came] to hand Last Week but a pressure of business has prevented My complying with Your request until now, While the same cause may prevent me from giving you as full information on many points of J Browns previous history and career as I might do if I had more time for reflection but may before Long think of other items that may be usefull, and shall take pleasure in communicating them -
There seems, as you Remark, an apparent Providence in all that pertains to John Browns history, that will yet be appreciated by all [those] patriots and friends of "Freedom for all Men" - That will go far to establish the fact that he was truly the origin and first [Marytr] [sic] in the Great War for Liberty and right against oppression and Slavery, and probably not fully conscious of the fact, was an instrument of God in bringing it about, though for many reasons, I think he was [impressed], many years before he commenced the work, he felt himself an instrument in Gods hands to do some great Work, and was willing to engage in it at all hazzard to Life or suffering.
Capt John Brown was Born in the Year 1800 at Torrington Connecticut, and was a Lineal decendant of Peter Brown One of the Pilgrim Fathers who landed on our shores in the Mayflower in 1620 - He was therefore of the Puritan stock and clearly showed his blood from his earliest youth until he died - At five Years of age he emigrated with his Father and a Large family from New England to the Western Wilds - Landing at the town of Hudson on the Western Reserve Ohio - At the time they arrived there was but Three heads of families in the township, the Western part of the Reserve was but sparsely settled except by the Indians - It was covered by a dense forests of heavy [2] timber filled with game of various Kinds, and of course the Early Pioneers suffered much hardship and danger for many years, His father being but in Moderate circumstances, the entire family had to early in life, take their part in those hardships and sufferings and young John commenced at ten years a Life of roaming and hunting for game - He remained with his father until he was twenty two, engaged generally in working at the business of tanning - princaply [sic] the skins of game, himself and father, and a few of the neighbors had killed which they carried on their backs about a hundred Miles to Fort Pitt (Pittsburg Pa) to trade for nessessaries [sic] for the family - At twenty three he Married his first Wife, and in course of years they had Five sons and one Daughter - John Brown Jr Jason Brown, Owen Brown, Watson Brown and Salmon Brown. The daughter was named Ruth, and was afterwards the Wife of Thompson who was Killed at or on the Bridge at Harpers Ferry during the siege, as was also two of [struck: his] [inserted: Browns] sons - His first wife died about 1835 and he was soon after married to his second wife of whom he had six more children - Just before he was of age he went East to the state of Newyork and while there during a year or more he Learned surveying believing that it would be usefull in the West and while there become acquainted with Gerrit Smith the Great Land holder and Philanthropist and from him Learned the first rudimints of Opposition to Slavery which made a deep and lasting impression on his naturally [impulsive], but truly kind and benevolent mind which increased and strengthened with his Life -
Before Leaving NY Mr Smith gave him a Commission to survey a Large tract of 50 or 60,000 acres he then owned in the Vicinity of the exterior Range of Mountains Leading West from Harpers Ferry towards the Ohio River. During the accomplishment of this Work, Sometime between 1825 and 30 He often went down into the Settlements [3] and at one time wittnessed some acts of great cruelty by a slave driver or overseer, which he at once severly Rebuked, for which he was severely punished by the overseer, which stirred up his whole soul, and from that day he resolved to hate slavery and all who sympathised with it, and ever afterwards allways availed himself of all opportunities to aid in the freedom of Slaves, mostly through what was then and up to the commencement of the Late War Known as the Under Ground Rail Way -
I first became aquainted with Mr Brown in 1835 who was then engaged in tanning on a Large Scale in Company with his father who had become an independent man in means and property -

About [inserted: two] years afterwards he Removed to the town where I resided named Franklin about ten Miles from Hudson, where I became intimate with him and from him became strongly imbued with Anti Slavery sentiments and became somewhat a confidant of his views and feelings, and ocasionally [sic] when fugitives from Slavery came into the neighborhood, aided him in helping them on their perilous journey towards Canada, to them the Land of liberty but often of Great Suffering - We had frequent private conversations on the subject in which he allways avowed his intention to at Some day in the future become Anti Slavery in practice as well as in principle - He was an Old School Presbyterian and believed fully in predestination, and often said he believed that God had a Work for him to do in freeing slaves from bondage, but when this work was to begin in earnest he had then no intimation, as he expressed it, but he did not doubt but God would enlighten on the timing and manner of beginning the Work. He was a man of high standing and character in Community, and though somewhat visionary in business, and of a spectacular turn of mind, he often got involved financially and met with [seven] [illegible] of property, but still he was regarded as a strictly [4] honest man and it was a Kind of [Proverb] in the neighborhood that John Browns word was as good as his note or Bond - During the Year 1839 He [struck: went] [inserted: entered] into a heavy Contract to Construct a Section of Canal which was then building through some Land he owned, but the business being entirely out of his Line he urged me to take charge of the Work and he would furnish the means. For this purpose I removed my family into his House a Large building on the Line of the Work. During the year thus engaged, our Confidence became more earnest and mutual and we had frequent conferences in regard to his future opperatives [sic] in what he esteemed his great Work, of which he appeared to have clear conceptions in all except as to time but as he said that will be shown me in good time and he would Keep holding himself in readiness until informed - He was an exceedingly reticent, [clear] man about all his business and of course would be peculiarly so as to this. In conversing with him one day in Regard to my past Life. I had mentioned to him casually, that [struck: at] I had, when quite young, about 19 years of age, I had occasion to travel for about a year for my health, which was then delicate, and most of my journey was through the Western part of Maryland and Virginia, that I had from earliest youth a Kind of peachant for Wild Mountain scenery, that I had traveled much in the South and North Range of Mountains enclosing the place my birth, near Carlisle Pa - And stated that I had visited most of [inserted: the] interesting portions of both those states in 1820 and 1821 and spoke of Harpers Ferry as being the most romantic sigh that I had seen, having staid at that Locality for several weeks - He at once became interested and asked me if I had ever passed along the ridge West from the Ferry - I replied that I had but to no [5] great extent, that I had spent most of my time in admiring the sublimity of Jeffersons Rock and the mighty rush of waters through the awfull gorge - Well says he, I have spent some time at that wonderfull place while I was engaged in Surveying out West but I spent most of my time in examining the ranges of the mountains Leading from it for another object than mere curiosity - I asked what purpose he had in view. When he at once replied in an earnest [inserted: confidential] manner - I wanted to find out a Secure route for fugitives from Oppression, when the proper time comes. He then [enjoined] silence on my part and went on to disclose what his views and intentions were in the future when he could carry on his work, as he called it, in safety and with certainty. He then stated that he had traced a Route of excellent character from the Ferry most of the Way to the Ohio, and that any number of fugitives could readily find their way to the River and a thousand men in the Mountains could not recapture them. At the time I Looked upon the scheme as Wild an Visionary an from my Knowledge of slaveholders in that vicinity would be eminently hazzardous and that he engaged in the business on such an extreme [Zeale] he would most certainly be caught and [struck: would] doubtless Lose his Life - but he replied that his Life was in the hands of God and if this is the work he wishes me to do, he will take care of me. My mind is fully made up and I shall go into it at the call of God with cheerfulness and perfect Confidence, but says he, I cannot now say that my work will begin there or elsewhere. Nearly a year after this he found his speculation in Cannaling a failure, and he Left Franklin Ohio [6] and soon after went into partnership with a gentleman of Means, in raising sheep and selling Wool. In this he was successfull and in a year or two went to England to sell his wool, but as usual this business [became] a failure with him, and after spending spending [sic] sometime in clearly examining different fortifications and studying this strategy of War in England and France he returned - But I know nothing of his history in the meantime until about the year 1856 when trouble began in the new Territory of Kansas between the Antislavery Men, who had went there in great numbers to rescue, as they said, this Virgin soil from slavery. that was pressing into it from the neighboring state of Missouri -
The ever active, and patriotic Lover of Freedom for All Men, Soon became interested Deeply in [these] benevolent efforts to free Kansas from Slavery and [inserted: strikeout] John Brown, who until this period had eschewed all Military titles and had often paid his fine, rather [the] [countenance] military trainings - sent two of his oldest sons into the new Territory, and as soon as he could assemble a few true hearts, sent them forward and followed after with some arms, ammunition camp equipage &c. But after several offers of prompt and efficient assistance, from Capt J Brown, he had on his arrival been appointed by his men, Captain of all the Men that went [strikeout] to Kansas through his influence numbering about 120 as brave hearts as ever stood on the Battle field, this efficient aid was sternly rejected by the cowardly pro-slavery New Gov of Kansas Wilson Shannon from Ohio, and the brave Capt. Brown and his Gallant men [7] Maintained the struggle on his own hook for nearly two years having had Several severe encounters with the Missourians on the Ossawatama Kansas in which he has always triumphed though always at [inserted: great] disadvantage from want of provisions clothing camp equippage &c. for nearly an entire year he and his followers lived in the Woods without even a tent to cover them during inclement weather - Occasionally his friends from Ohio, and at the East, would send him provisions and clothing but this was mostly Given to the numerous fugitive slaves who had Left Missoura and gone to his camp, which he fed and clothed and then Sent them East towards a Land of Freedom - Finally he got tired of this War in behalf of the Kansas - emigrants, who generally did not appreciate Capt Browns efforts, nor did they generaly symathise with the spirit of Liberty for the oppressed, which was his ruling motive - and determined to carry the War into Africa, not so much by the [power] of Arms, as by strategy - And while Leaving a Large portion of his men in their [inserted: fortified] camp on the Ossawatama - He to use his words said "Now has My Holy Mission commenced - He Girded up his loins and went forth to the work of his Master - His one Special order to the Men he left in camp, was Shed no blood but in pure self defense, but if attacted [sic], do not hesitate to Kill, and be sure you aim well and Waste no ammunition -

Capt J Brown with a few of his most trusted men - after receiving from him special instructions as to the object of his expedition and how they should act under [inserted: the] different circumstances in which they might be placed - took up his Line of March towards the [Missoura] Line. They then separated into small squads of two and three, and at once went into the field of opperations. [8] I removed from Ohio in 1857 to Wisconsin, and heard but Little from Capt Browns work but occasionaly Learned that he had made several successfull raids in Missoura and had sent several [inserted: hundred] colored men women and children towards the Land of freedom and had roused the energy and indignation of the entire northren part of the state by his successfull inroads into Slaveland. Sometime Late in 57 or 58 I now cannot reccolect which I had business in Chicago Ills and while there I Learned that the famed Capt Brown was in the city with a [draw] of darkies as they were termed. I made it my business at once to look him up, and soon found him, but he was just on the eve of starting to the East with a motly Looking caravan of colored humanity with ponies, mules, &c to carry their Luggage and their children - We had but a few minutes interview as he was fearfull that proslavery men would stop him and he was exceeding anxious to proceed north with his [trophies] of victory - At parting he merely remarked that he was engaged in his Mission of Mercy, and you will soon hear from Me in another field. I had forgotten his declarations of 1839 or at Least they did not come to mind at the moment, and then had no idea of the field of opperations he alluded to - We parted with mutual feelings of friendship, when he set out on his Journey. He was greatly altered in his appearence from the past ten years - His face that he had always prided in Keeping cleanly shaved without even the smallest Whisker, was now completely covered with Long bushy hair considerable of which was was silvered over as if from premature old age but he still preserved his wonted energy and elasticity, with an increased Look of [inserted: fearless] determination. [9]
I had Learned through friends that Capt Brown had got safely with his convoy to Ohio and from thence went to York state and to the Eastren [sic] states, and had Lost all Knowledge of his movements until I I [sic] heard by telegrams of his having invaded Virginia from Penna and of [his] taking Harpers Ferry and being besieged in the Old armory Then came the telegrams of his being captured, tried, and final Death on the Gallows. When this news came I was truly shocked but not taken [inserted: wholly] by surprise - From my experimental Knowledge of the slaveholders in that section of the Old Dominion many years before. I was satisfied that they would be too much on the [illegible] to Let a raid of that insignificance overpower them but notwithstanding I have Learned that the [Larger] portion of the Old and young Chivalry was at Least badly [served], and therefore when others came to their aid, and the enemy was overthrowed, they as usual, acted with [dastard] cruelty and revenge, which high noble minded men would disdain to do - North or South.

That Capt John Brown was a chosen instrument of God to bring about the great work of emancipation of the colored race in North America I cannot have a shade of doubt, and your reciprocal sent sentiment on that point was received with most pleasing feelings - That he was perfectly fitted for the work in every particular I do no pretend to Say, but the clear and thoughtfull inquirer will see that his very blunders were turned to good account - I think I can clearly see that the [inserted: wise] hand of Providence, in some of these closing scenes, was most clearly visible - I mean in arresting his further career, when and in the manner it was done. Had Capt Brown escaped, as he no doubt had both [10] time and opportunity to do - when his son escaped by the same pathway through the mountains that he had described to me years before, and with which he was then doubtless [inserted: perfectly] familiar with - The Whole Matter would have blown over with but Little excitement, as merely a frustrated raid of a fanatical fools, and probably fostered with stronger results, the shackles of Slavery for years yet to come - But a wise Deity knew just what to do, to bring about the consumation of this Great Work, and ended the work of his instrument in the best time and place - I have heard that he said when in person that his not escaping in time when he could have done it, was the great blunder of his Life - the characteristics of his Life were in many respects peculiar and uncommon in men - While he possessed the strongest hatred of crime of every degree, with even revengefull and unforgiving feelings apparently, he was at the same time, one of the kindest hearted most tender feeling and forgiving, on repentance and reformation, that ever I knew, while the very milk of human kindness appeared his Leveling characteristic, He knew no fear when he thought duty called him and would as he has often done, face a storm of bullets with perfect composure - But his work of faith is done on Earth, and the great work of freedom [inserted: and civil rights] for the colored man in this Vision, is now nearly accomplished, though with fearfull sacrifices, and in view of it, no doubt but John Browns Soul is now "marching on" in heavenly glory and gratitude in the Land of spirits -
Yours Truly D W Bride
[11] PS In Looking over what I have written I find many things omitted that might have been of interest, but my present avocations of Publishing a Weekly Newspaper and Keeping One of [illegible] Postoffice where [inserted: strikeout] to the amount of nearly $20,000 in regular PO and money order business is transacted yearly with no assistance but our clerk, While I am in my sixty ninth year of age, must plead an excuse for its rambling composition and want of interest - often in the [midst] of a Line or sentance I have had to Lay down my pen, and now pressing time will prevent its review for correction - I have but Little experience or taste for writing historical Sketches - My view and proclivity for writing, for Many years, has been of a political character, with occasional fugative Scetches of the Scenes and workings of the Under Ground Railway from 1835 to 1856 the West and fancy Legends and Romances of the [inserted: red] injun of the West, for my Paper, one of the Latter, [closed] during the past fall -

My reputation as a man of integrity and veracity, if any statement I have made is doubted, can be acertained by inquiry of the Hon C C Washburn [NC] from this Dict Hon L O [illegible] senator [inserted: from Wis], Hon J Sherman Senator from Ohio and Hon Judge [Cartters] Judge of the Superior Court DC -

Unless you deem it necessary I have no wish to have my name inserted in any public scetches you may make, but would be much gratified to hear from you occasionally and to see your work when completed, for which you have my warmest sympathies D W B