Jacob's Pen 4

It's time I provide an image to go along with the "Jacob's Pen" series. Below is a picture of Jacob Engelbrecht of Frederick, Maryland, the diarist whose reflections we will follow throughout the sesquicentennial.

Am I alone in thinking that Engelbrecht looked at least a little like Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan?

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/3vmpzUXRzyU/Smile+Train+10+Year+Anniversary+Celebration/6h66_mRBI87/Ronan+Tynan

On October 21, 1859, Jacob documented the items with which John Brown hoped to wage a war on slavery. I cannot attest to its accuracy, but it's certainly eye-popping. This entry exposes Brown's level of planning and the extent of support from his Northern abolitionist backers.

"A list of articles captured by the military of Maryland & Virginia found on the premises of John Brown & others: 102 Sharps Rifles, 102 pistols of Massachusetts Arms Company, 56
powder flasks, & 4 large powder flasks, 10 kegs of powder, 23000 percussion rifle caps,100,000 percussion pistol caps, 1300 ball cartridges for Sharps rifles, 160 boxes Sharps primer, 14 pounds lead balls, one Major General's sword,55 old bayonets, 12 old artillery swords, 483 standard spears, 150 broken handles,4 swords, 16 picks, 40 shovels &c.
- Friday October 21, 1859 3 1/2 PM"

Jacob followed the story over a week later:

"The trials of the rioters at Harpers Ferry, Virginia was commenced on the ultimo. The trial of John Brown (the commander)was the first & terminated yesterday (the 5th day of trial) when the jury rendered a verdict of 'guilty for high treason & also guilty for murder in the first degree.' Copee [probably John Anthony Copeland, Jr.]& [Shields]Green Negros were both found 'guilty.' Also Captain John E. Cook found 'guilty.'
- Tuesday November 1, 1859 12 M. [Noon] (John Brown is sentenced to be hung December 2, 1859)"

All diary entries in the "Jacob's Pen" series come directly from The Diary of Jacob Engelbrecht, published by The Historical Society of Frederick County, Inc.