Governor Wise, Of Virginia, And District Attorney Ould Examining The Wounded Prisoners In The Presence Of The Officers, The Reporter Of The N.Y. Herald And Our Special Artist [Albert Berghaus]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 29 October 1859
(Virginia Historical Society, Accession no. 2003.31.20)

At his capture, John Brown was questioned by a group of indignant dignitaries led by Virginia's governor Henry Wise. To their surprise, they were impressed by Brown's intelligence. They also were astounded by his admission that his plan was to initiate a slave revolt and carry it through the whole South, and by his explanation that Christian faith was what had motivated him to action.