Webwith the civil war there came destruction. When virginia passed an ordnance of secession on april 17, 1861, the harpers ferry armory became an immediate target. Weba comprehensive report on the history and significance of the u. s. Armory at harpers ferry, from its founding by george washington to its destruction during the civil war. Webon october 16, 1859, radical abolitionist john brown led a small raid on the u. s. Military arsenal at harpers ferry, virginia, in hopes of inciting a slave rebellion and eventually a. Weblearn about john brown's failed attempt to seize the federal arsenal at harpers ferry in 1859 and its impact on the coming of the civil war. Explore the events, people, places,. Webon the night of october 16, 1859, after several months of refining his plans, brown led eighteen of his followers on the harpers ferry raid. They quickly captured the. Weblearn about the controversial abolitionist who tried to capture an arsenal in harpers ferry to arm the slaves in 1859. Read documents from different perspectives on his motives,. Webat first the raid went like clockwork. They cut telegraph wires, then easily captured the federal armory and arsenal, which was being defended by a lone watchman. Weblearn about the history and archeology of the us armory at harpers ferry, a site of national significance and a former weapons manufacturing facility.