A five page letter, dated December 2, 1859, written by Virginia Military institute cadet Charles A. Davidson, of Lexington, Va. to his mother Hannah. The letter documents the events leading up to and the execution of abolitionist John Brown at Charles Town. Davidson vividly describes the V.M.I. cadets' journey from Lexington to Charles Town including noteworthy events that transpired along the way, and offers a detailed account of the actual execution. Eighty-five V.M.I. cadets along with V.M.I. faculty attended the execution, by order of the governor of Virginia,to deter any potential protests or uprisings by Brown's supporters.