It would be difficult to express too strongly my admiration for my
friend as I read the letter from which I have quoted. It seemed to me
wonderful that he had been able to so disentangle himself from
difficulties. The cool intrepidity with which he had fought his way
through those mental troubles which had seemed at one time about to
overwhelm him was to me the most astonishing part of the performance. I
wrote to him in terms of the highest commendation, frankly expressing my
astonishment at the vigor, truth, and force apparent in his actions and
his reasoning. He was satisfied with my letter, and proceeded to close
up his affairs in a deliberate and decorous manner before returning home
and carrying his plan into execution. It was his idea that I should
spend some months each year with him, and he had made other friends who
would be invited to visit him.

But the plan which Anthony had formed was never executed. Matters were
as I have described, when the war of the Rebellion broke out. Here was
that call to public duty which he had alluded to as a possible
interference which might change the course of his life. He felt from the
first that the contest was a fight for the black man, and he was anxious
to engage in it. In a hasty letter to me he recognized the fact that the
spirit of John Brown, whom he greatly admired, was still busy in the
affairs of the nation, although his body was sleeping in the grave at
North Elba.

Anthony Brown enlisted in a white regiment, there being no trace of
color about him and no objection being made. He claimed to have a
presentiment that he would fall in battle at an early day. Whether it
was a presentiment or a mere fancy, it was his fate. He now rests with
the indistinguishable dead