In terms of guns with historical significance, this Sharps Model 1853 carbine ranks highly, as one of a very small amount likely captured from "The Kennedy Farmhouse" by The Independent Greys militia unit during John Brown's immensely famous raid on Harpers Ferry Armory between October 16, 1859-October 18, 1859. The patchbox is period inscribed in fancy script "Captured by,/The Independent Greys, at/the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry,/Oct. 18th 1859. G.F. Jones" in four lines. The Model 1853s were manufactured from 1854 to 1857 and are most famous as the model used by evangelist John Brown and his band of abolitionists in Kansas and during the famous raid on Harper's Ferry Armory, Virginia, in an attempt to incite a slave rebellion. These "John Brown Sharps" Model 1853 carbines are also known as "Beecher's Bibles" after noted minister Henry Ward Beecher was quoted in the "N.Y. Tribune" of February 1856 stating there was more moral power in one Sharps carbine than 100 Bibles. While all Sharps Model 1853 carbines are desirable due to their rarity and historical connections to the turmoil and sectional strife during the antebellum era, a Sharps carbine such as this that has ties to John Brown and his raid on Harpers Ferry is about as desirable as it gets. John Brown's small group of raiders consisted of a reported 17 white men, 2 free black men, 3 fugitive black men, and 2 local enslaved black men. When John Brown first raided the Harpers Ferry Armory at around 11 PM on Sunday, October 16, 1859, his intention was to get major support from the nearby slaves that he was sure were ready to rebel, and he planned to arm the slaves that joined with weapons from the armory. His plan ended up backfiring when he was unable to properly get the word out and only a few slaves ultimately joined his revolt, and his small band of abolitionists became entrapped while waiting for help on the Harpers Ferry Armory, which is located on what is essentially an island peninsula, when they lost control of both bridges leading to it by noon the next day on Monday, October 17, 1859. All the while they had taken a number of Harpers Ferry employees hostage who were showing up to work on Monday morning and barricaded themselves in the fire engine house (later nicknamed "John Brown's Fort") along with employees they believed to be the most important, with another group of employees held hostage in a different armory building. There were numerous engagements throughout the day between the barricaded abolitionists and military companies from neighboring towns along with armed citizens who had them surrounded at this point, with a handful of casualties. The Independent Greys were one of five companies of Baltimore City Militia, totaling 201 men in arms, that showed up via train to Harpers Ferry Armory around late evening that Monday, October 17, 1859, accompanied by 88 Marines from Washington, D.C., under the command of Colonel Robert E. Lee, in order to put a stop to John Brown's raid. Around 6:30 AM on Tuesday, October 18, 1859, Lee sent his second in command Lieutenant J.E.B. Stuart under a white flag of truce to the engine house where John Brown and his men were bunkered down, but Brown refused the opportunity to surrender, so the Marines were given the order to break the door down, which they unsuccessfully attempted at first with sledgehammers, then ended up using a ladder as a battering ram to break down the doors after which they stormed inside under fire. Marine Lieutenant Israel Greene was the first through the door and knocked Brown unconscious with a saber blow that hit him in the back of the neck. Two of Brown's raiders were killed in the final fight, which lasted all of around three minutes, and the rest were taken prisoner. The Marines suffered one killed and another wounded. John Brown was found guilty of treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia, and was hanged on December 2, 1859, becoming the first individual in U.S. history to be executed for treason against a U.S. state. Reports of the Independent Greys capturing Sharps rifles were printed in multiple newspapers in October 1859. "The Charleston Daily Courier on Oct. 22, 1859, further stated: "The Independent Grays having captured the boxes of Sharpe's rifles, were each presented with one by order of Colonel Lee. They are beautiful arms, entirely new, just as they were forwarded from the Massachusetts armory." "The Daily Delta" on Oct. 25, 1859, states: "During Tuesday [October 18, 1859] morning one of Col. Washington's negroes came in and reported that Cook was in the mountains, only three miles off. About the same time some shots were said to have been fired from the Maryland hills, and a rapid fusillade was returned from Harper's Ferry. The Independent Greys, of Baltimore, immediately started on a scouting expedition, and in two hours returned with two wagons loaded with arms and ammunition, found at Capt. Brown's house. The arms consisted of boxes filled with Sharp's rifles, pistols, &c...Thus proving that the expedition was well provided for; that a large party of men were expected to be armed, and that abundant means had been provided to meet all expenses...The Grey's pursued Cook so closely that they secured part of his arms, but with his more perfect knowledge of the localities, he was enabled to evade capture. On their arrival at the Ferry with the enemy's spoil, they were greeted with hearty cheers. The wagons were driven into the Armory yard and given into the custody of the Government. As everybody else, however, who could lay his hand on a Sharp's rifle, considered it legitimate spoil, why should not the Greys have a claim on their valuable capture?" "Capt. Brown's House" referenced in the newspaper article is better known as "The Kennedy Farm" or "The John Brown Raid Headquarters" and is where John Brown originally planned his raid on Harpers Ferry, just across the river in Maryland. He rented the house three months prior to the raid, and stocked it full of weapons, including these Sharps Model 1853 carbines. On the day of the raid, October 16, 1859, 19 of the 22 abolitionists left the farm to carry out the plan. Three remained at the farmhouse to guard the weapons and remain at the ready to disperse them. Once they caught wind the raid was a failure, they all escaped north. According to page 96 of the book "Sharps Firearms" by Frank Sellers, "When troop units were sent to round up other members of the insurrectionist party, the cache of arms at the Kennedy farm was discovered; but before the government authorities could take possession of them, some were appropriated by local citizens. By the time the government officials finally got hold of the Sharps carbines which had belonged to Brown, only 102 of the original 200 were recovered." This Sharps carbine was almost certainly one of the batch captured out of the farmhouse by the Independent Greys and went home with G.F. Jones, as evidenced by its period inscription on the patchbox and the relevant newspaper articles. No solid information could be located about individual G.F. Jones, although records related the Maryland Volunteers, including the Independent Greys, indicate that at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 many of its members seceded from the Union, which Maryland remained loyal to, and joined the Confederacy. The top of the barrel is marked "SHARP'S RIFLE/MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN." in three lines ahead of the rear sight. The upper receiver tang is marked "SHARPS/PATENT/1848" followed by the serial number, and the lock is marked "SHARP'S/PATENT/1852". Small initials "JPC" stamped on the left stock wrist. Brass blade front sight and ladder rear sight. Mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with brass barrel band, patchbox and carbine buttplate, and a sling bar and ring on the left. Matching serial number "15859" marked on the upper receiver tang and underside of the barrel.

Very good plus with an untouched attic fresh appearance, brown patina and oxidation on the exposed iron surfaces, absent hammer screw head, legible markings, and attractive untouched age darkened golden patina on the brass fittings with a crisp capture inscription. Wood is also very good with numerous characteristic scattered dents, scuffs and scratches. Mechanically functions good. This immensely historic Sharps Model 1853 carbine, inscribed as captured during the Harpers Ferry Armory raid of 1859, would be a significant centerpiece in any early American arms collection or museum!