John Brown

     More Letters From Paradise
            John Brown
A woman I met last evening told me that the deed to her farm listed the fact that it was once owned by John Brown.This was the same John Brown who led the attack on the Federal Arsenal at Harper's Ferry. If you were not sleeping in your U.S. History class, you may remember that this was one of the big events leading to the Civil War. Remember the people called "Abolitionists," who wanted to abolish slavery? Sure you do, you were paying attention. John Brown, his sons, and a few slaves attacked Harper's Ferry Arsenal in order to get weapons, and arm the slaves. He was captured, tried and hanged.

With the coming of the Civil War, a Union marching song was popular. "John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave...but his truth goes marching on."

In Paris in 1926, an American poet named Stephen Vincent Benet, wrote a long poem called "John Brown's Body." It won him a Pulitzer Prize. He took as his subject the entire Civil War. Some of the poem is in rhyme, other parts are in blank verse. The war is seen through the eyes of some principal characters. There is a young boy named Jack Ellyat, who joins the Union Army. Then there is a Southern  planter Clay Wingate, who leaves his plantation a rides away to war. There is also a runaway slave,  and his adventures during the war. The poem deals with not only John Brown's attack and trial, but also the major battles, the final meeting with Lee and Grant, and the death of Lincoln. This is most excellent, and it is a treat for those of you who think that you don't like poems, but enjoy the history of the Civil War. If I had it to do over again, I would set aside the text book, and have my students read the poem. That is, if the school budget would allow it. And I am really glad I met that woman last night, which led my thoughts to this writing.

        Aloha
        Grant