What did Robert E. Lee do during John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry?

During the Harpers Ferry Raid in October 1859, Robert E. Lee was summoned to the War Department on October 17 while in Washington, D.C. He subsequently traveled to Harpers Ferry with a detachment of Marines.1

On the morning of October 18, Lee orchestrated the successful capture of John Brown and his collaborators, who had barricaded themselves inside the armory's fire engine and guard house. Lee, who was assisted by Lieutenant Jeb Stuart, later described Brown as an "enemy of the Country."12