[Dixielandjazz] Re: Battle Hymn & John Brown

[Patrick Cooke]

Not all murderers were abolitionists, neither were all abolitionists 
murderers; but the John Brown whom Julia Howe elevated to sainthood with her 
lyrics was indeed both a serial mass murderer and an abolitonist.  He and 
his sons killed dozens of people, some entire families, in Kansas; and was 
primary cause of the state being named "bleeding Kansas."  He was captured 
at Harpers Ferry by a federal force led by captain Robert E. Lee, who was 
still an officer in the U.S. Army at the time.   Brown's legal defense tried 
to claim insanity, but he was found guilty and hanged.  I believe he was 
indeed insane, but I'm glad they hanged him anyway.  He needed hangin'.
         Pat Cooke