Horwitz Explores John Brown's Raid: Here and Now

In October of 1859, a group of men led by abolitionist John Brown seized the United States Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown’s goal was to spark a slave revolt and campaign of liberation across the South.But Brown’s raid lasted only about 36 hours. It was put down by the military and Brown was eventually hanged for treason.The raid was a pivotal event for a country that would plunge into civil war 18 months later.John Brown and the Harpers Ferry raid are the focus of a new book by Tony Horwitz, author of the acclaimed Confederates in the Attic.It’s called Midnight Rising.Tony Horwitz spoke with WFPL’s Rick Howlett.