masses of rock and earth, yawning fissures, deep and narrow defiles, where 300 men would suffice to check an army." The Alleghanies in Virginia and Carolina were similar in topography and, for operation here, Brown proposed a skeleton army which could work together or in small units of any size:
"A company will consist of fifty-six privates, twelve non-commissioned officers, eight corporals, four sergeants and three commissioned officers (two lieutenants, a captain), and a surgeon.
"The privates shall be divided into bands or messes of seven each, numbering from one to eight, with a corporal to each, numbered like his band.
"Two bands will comprise a section. Sections will be numbered from one to four.
"A sergeant will be attached to each section, and numbered like it.
"Two sections will comprise a platoon. Platoons will be numbered one and two, and each commanded by a lieutenant designed by like number."[1]
Four companies composed a battalion, four battalions a regiment, and four regiments a brigade.
So much for his resources and plans. Now for the men whom he chose as co-workers. The number of those who took part in the Harper's Ferry raid is not known. Perhaps, including active slave helpers, there were about fifty. Seventeen Negroes, reported as probably killed, are wholly unknown, and those slaves who helped and
- ↑ General Orders, Oct. 10, 1859, Hinton, pp. 646–647.
