The John Brown Raid Historical Marker

The historical marker of The John Brown Raid is located along the PA 233, which is 1 mile east of Monte Alto, across from the Pennsylvania State University campus, just west of the entrance. The John Brown Raid historical marker is a significiant location, due to Captain John Cook, whom was one of Brown's followers was captured near the roadside location on October 25th, 1859; just 9 days after the raid on Harpers Ferry. Two weeks after leader John Brown was hung, Captain Cook faced the same ending. On December 16th, 1859, Cooke was hung for his involvement with John Brown.

The John Brown Raid, or also referred to as the Harpers Ferry Raid occured in October 1859, from the 16th until the surrender on the 18th. The raid was an assault by an armed group of Abolitionists that were led by John Brown. The attack or raid was on the Federal Armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now, West Virginia). The John Brown Raid was considered the main precipitating incident to the American Civil War. ("Harpers Ferry Raid | Definition, Date, History, & Facts", 2021)

John E. Cook, or Captain Cook was one of John Brown's most important followers during the Harpers Ferry raid. Cook was considered the eyes and ears of the operation, as he would inform Brown of important information before the raid took place. John Cook was a law clerk, salesmen, and a excellent shot and according to John Brown in Steven Lubert's book, "John Brown's Spy: The Adventurous Life and Tragic Confession of John E. Cook, "Cook was brave, conceited, boastful, and a magnificient shot--a shot like Buffalo Bill." John Brown had appointed Cook as Captain during the raid, where Cook's main role was to kidnap white hostages outside of the town where he incidientally kidnapped great-nephew of George Washington, Lewis Washington.

After John Cook and his group of co-consiprators to John Brown heard of the mishappenings at Harpers Ferry, they fled to a mountainside to decide on their next destination. Cook, knew at this time that he was a wanted man after he knew Washington would be able to identify him. Sometime after, Cook left to get food for the sole survivors of the band of Abolitionists; althought little did he know but Lewis Washington has put a bounty on his head for $1,000. Shortly later, Daniel Logan and Clegget Fitzhugh had taken Cook into custody after Cook stumbled upon the intelligent Logan and his companion in Monte Alto just 12 miles away from Chambersburg.

While Cook thought all hope was lost, he was able to convince Logan that he was from a prominent family and that he would be able to do better than the $1,000 bounty on his head. Logan agreed, but took him to prominent Whig and lawyer, Colonel Alexander Kelly McClure to negotiate the terms of their newfound agreement. Shortly after the new agreement was made, Logan has a messegner sent to collect McClure, but the refined lawyer was no where to be found and the messengers were starting to draw attention and possibly expose the identity of his prisoner [Cook]. Logan and Fitzhugh decided that it was time to take Cook to the courthouse for a hearing under Judge Reisher, who convened the impromptu hearing.

As Cook slowly lost hope in his escape or his agreement, the refined and stout attorney, Colonel Alexander McClure witnessed the commontion outside the courthouse on his walk back into town and went into the courthouse to assess the Harpers Ferry fugitive. Quickly McClure was appointed as the defensive counsel of John Cook, although Cook's identity had been established by Logan and Fitzhugh and the documents that also had been found among him were incrimminating.

As McClure was not able to defend his client, Cook was sent to the Franklin County Jail where he was accompanied by the constable and his attorney. McClure was sure that he would be able to convince Sheriff Jacob Brown to let Cook escape,yet Brown had already felt much embarrassment as he had not been reelected and his antislavery opinions conflicted with that. A few days later, to McClure's surprise a Virginian extradition had made it's way to Franklin county and Cook was sent to Virigina on the morning train to face his wrongdoings.

December 16th of 1859, two weeks after leader of the armed band of Abolitionists was hung, John Cook took his final breath after being hung for his involvement in the Harpers Ferry raid. John Cook had the opportunity to escape three times but Colonel McClure had stopped each attempt in hopes that Cook would be able to escape another way. Due to other fugitives being caught, Cook had no where to run or escape to, hence leaving him the only option and escape to the hanging that resulted in the death of the law clerk, salesman, womanizer, and excellent shot, John Cook.

References

Bryner, Noelle Elizabeth. The John Brown Raid, Sutori. Accessed December 11th 2021. from https://www.sutori.com/en/story/the-john-brown-raid--7oP3rGfURSEtRxPfzu26h9Vw..

Harpers Ferry Raid | Definition, Date, History, & Facts, Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed December 11th 2021. from https://www.britannica.com/event/Harpers-Ferry-Raid..

Lubert, Steven. John Brown's Spy: The Adventurous Life and Tragic Confession of John E. Cook. . Yale University Press., 2012.