John Brown’s 1859 Harpers’ Ferry raid renewed old fears of slave insurrection and Virginia militia companies were rapidly formed or re-formed.  Prewar business-as-usual continued in Stafford where slaves now worked as domestic and plantation/farm workers.   Falmouth’s “Captain Pickett” continued to whip errant slaves for fees.  Also continuing in the area was the “underground railway” run by whites and free blacks.  (Image:  Library of Congress)