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Primary Source Sets

John Brown's Raid on Harper’s Ferry

The sheet music to “John Brown’s Body,” published in 1902.

The sheet music to “John Brown’s Body,” published in 1902.

“John Brown’s Body,” first sung in Boston in 1861, was a favorite song among Union soldiers during the Civil War.

Citation Information: Newton, John, excerpt from “Captain John Brown of Harper's Ferry; a preliminary incident to the great civil war of America,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/9bfeb2bff97c99c6371d0e49a70917f6.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Courtesy of Harvard University via HathiTrust.

Tips for Students

For this source, consider:

the author's point of view
the author's purpose
historical context
audience

Item 11 of 15 in the Primary Source Set John Brown's Raid on Harper’s Ferry

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An excerpt from speeches delivered in the US Senate by Senators Clement Clay of Alabama and William Gwin of California, December 13, 1859.

The sheet music to “John Brown’s Body,” published in 1902.

A sheet of lyrics to “Old John Brown: A Song for Every Southern Man,” ca. 1861.

A photograph of John Brown’s tombstone in North Elba, New York, ca. 1900.

Buttons from the clothing of John Brown’s raiders, mounted with a depiction of John Brown.

A photograph of “John Brown’s Fort,” the former engine room of the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, circa 1890.

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