john brown's raid on harpers ferry (also known as john brown's raid or the raid on harpers ferry) was an effort by white abolitionist john brown to start an armed slave revolt in 1859. he attacked and captured the united states arsenal at harpers ferry, virginia. brown's raid, accompanied by 21 men in his party, was defeated by a platoon of u.s. marines led by colonel robert e. lee. john brown had originally asked harriet tubman and frederick douglass, both of whom he had met in springfield, massachusetts, to join him in his raid. tubman was prevented by illness. douglass declined because he believed brown's plan would fail.