John Brown - His violent crusade against slavery would spark the Civil War. In 1859 he led a party of 21 men in a successful attack on the federal armory at Harper's Ferry. Brown hoped that his action would encourage slaves to join his rebellion, enabling him to form the emancipation army. Two days later the armory was stormed by Robert E. Lee and a company of marines. Brown and six men barricaded themselves in an engin-house, and continued to fight until Brown was seriously wounded and two of his sons had been killed. Brown was tried and convicted of insurrection, treason and murder. He was excuted December 2nd, 1859. The other 6 men involved in the raid were hanged as well. The song, (John Brown's Body), commemorating the Harper's Ferry raid, was a highly popular marching song with the Republican soldiers during the American Civil War.