Summary

Portrait of Osborne Perry Anderson Osborne Perry Anderson A voice from Harper's Ferry — Chapter 19

And so cowardly were the slaveholders, proper, that from Colonel Lewis Washington, the descendant of the Father of his Country, General George Washington, they were easily taken prisoners. They had not pluck enough to fight, nor to use the well-loaded arms in their possession, but were concerned rather in keeping a whole skin by parleying, or in spilling cowardly tears, to excite pity, as did Colonel Washington, and in that way escape merited punishment, No, the conduct of the slaves was beyond all praise
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of Osborne Perry Anderson Osborne Perry Anderson A voice from Harper's Ferry — Chapter 19

In fact, so far as I could learn, the free blacks South are much less reliable than the slaves, and infinitely more fearful. In Washington City, a party of free colored persons offered their services to the Mayor, to aid in suppressing our movement. Of the slaves who followed us to the Ferry, some were sent to help remove stores, and the others were drawn up in a circle around the engine-house, at one time, where they were, by Captain Brown's order, furnished by me with pikes, mostly, and acted as a guard to the prisoners to prevent their escape, which they did.
Source: Wikisource

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature