Transcriber's Notes: No corrections of typographical or other errorshave been made to this text. On pages 6 and 7 of the original, a notewas typed vertically in the margin. These notes have been treated asfootnotes and an anchor has been added in the text. The letter thatoccurs at the end of the text was not bound into the original book. Itwas an insert included with the book and has been reproduced here.Click on the page number to see an image of the page.
[1]
The Raid of John Brown at Harper's
Ferry As I Saw It.
BY
REV. SAMUEL VANDERLIP LEECH, D. D.
Author of "Ingersoll and The Bible," "The Three Inebriates," "From West
Virginia to Pompeii," "Seven Elements in Successful Preaching," Etc.
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR.
The DeSoto
Washington, D. C.
1909
[2]Copyright by S. V. Leech, 1909.
[3]
THE RAID OF JOHN BROWN AT HARPER'S
FERRY AS I SAW IT.
By REV. SAMUEL VANDERLIP LEECH, D. D.
THE town of Harper's Ferry is located in Jefferson County, WestVirginia. Lucerne, in Switzerland does not excel it in romantic grandeurof situation. On its northern front the Potomac sweeps along to pass thenational capital, and the tomb of Washington, in its silent flow towardsthe sea. On its eastern side the Shenandoah hurries to empty its watersinto the Potomac, that in perpetual wedlock they may greet the stormyAtlantic. Across the Potomac the Maryland Heights stand out as the tallsentinels of Nature. Beyond the Shenandoah are the Blue Ridge mountains,fringing the westward boundary of Loudon County, Virginia. Between theserivers, and nestling inside of their very confluence, reposes Harper'sFerry. Back of its hills lies the famous Shenandoah Valley, celebratedfor its natural scenery, its historic battles and "Sheridan's Ride." AtHarper's Ferry the United States authorities early located an Arsenaland an Armory.
Before the Civil War, the Baltimore Conference of the MethodistEpiscopal Church was constituted of five extensive districts inVirginia, stretching from Alexandria to Lewisburg and two greatdistricts north of the Potomac, including the cities of Washington andBaltimore. The first three years of my ministerial life I spent onShepherdstown, West Loudon and Hillsboro Circuits, being then all inVirginia. The State of