A Plea for Captain John Brown Read to the citizens of Concord, Massachusetts on Sunday evening, October thirtieth, eighteen fifty-nine
- Pages
- about 33
- Category
- History
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 37 min at 250 wpm
From the opening
I trust that you will pardon me for being here. I do not wish to force
my thoughts upon you, but I feel forced myself. Little as I know of
Captain Brown, I would fain do my part to correct the tone and the
statements of the newspapers, and of my countrymen generally,
respecting his character and actions. It costs us nothing to be just.
We can at least express our sympathy with, and admiration of, him and
his companions, and that is what I now propose to do.
First, as to his history. I will endeavor to omit, as much as possible,
what you have already read. I need not describe his person to you, for
probably most of you have seen and will not soon forget him. I am told
that his grandfather, John Brown, was an officer in the Revolution;
that he himself was born in Connecticut about the beginning of this
century, but early went with his father to Ohio. I heard him say that
his father was a contractor who furnished beef to the army there, in
the war of 1812; that he accompanied him to the camp, and assisted him
in that employment, seeing a good deal of military life, more, perhaps,
than if he had been a soldier, for he was often present at the councils
of the officers. Especially, he learned by experience how armies are
supplied and maintained in the field—a work which, he observed,
requires at least as much experience and skill as to lead them in
battle. He said that few persons had any conception of the cost, even
the pecuniary cost, of firing a single bullet in war.
A short sample. Read the whole book
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