There is a new review of The "Colored Hero" of Harpers Ferry on Civil War Book Review.
Here is an excerpt:
Describing John Brown’s unit’s departure from the Kennedy farm, its occupation of the armory, the seizure of Hall’s Rifle Works, hostage-taking at Colonel Lewis Washington’s residence, and the casualty-ridden force’s defeat by Colonel Robert E. Lee’s troops, Lubet focuses on the actions of Copeland, Leary, and Brown’s other men, highlighting their roles and revealing their agency. He provides a more balanced assessment of the raid than traditional interpretations that have tended to focus mostly on Brown and have not dealt adequately with the contributions of other participants, particularly the five blacks. In light of Lubet’s recognized expertise in legal history, it is no surprise that his analysis of the subsequent trials serves as the capstone of his work. He meticulously documents moves by prosecutors and defense attorneys as well as Judge Richard Parker’s statements from the bench.
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