A Few Words in FiguresBreaking the John Brown, Jr., Cipher

William J. HoytPittsburg State University

Who is John Brown, Jr.?

Oldest son of Abolitionist John Brown

Came to Kansas in 1855 as a Free State Settler

In 1861, was rumored to be raising an army to invade the South by himself.

Raised a company of “Fighting Abolitionists” and returned to Kansas to fight slavery.

What is a cipher?

It is both a message and a method, designed to hide information “in plain sight.”

In this Caesar Cipher, the words “A CAB” are printed “D FDE”

A “Caesar” or “shift” cipher

What is a cipher?

Ciphers can use letters, numbers, or symbols.

The Pigpen cipher with variations was used by Masons, Rosicrucians, and other secret societies, including the anti-slavery Danites in Territorial Kansas.

A “Pigpen” cipher

What is a cipher?

Ciphers can use letters, numbers, or symbols.

The Pigpen cipher with variations was used by Masons, Rosicrucians, and other secret societies, including the anti-slavery Danites in Territorial Kansas.

A “Pigpen” cipher

What is Brown’s Cipher?Up to 30 columns of numbers per page.

No letters or symbols.

Minimal punctuation.

So where do we start?

We have to start small

Examine the numbers.

Analyze the groupings.

Look for oddities.

Identify punctuation.

Make some guesses and start testing.

Discoveries

1. “00” appears only with “08” and “24” –that means it’s a filler to hide one-letter words, and “08” and “24” likely represent “i” or “a,” the most common one-letter words.

Discoveries

1. “00” appears only with “08” and “24” –that means it’s a filler to hide one-letter words, and “08” and “24” likely represent “i” or “a,” the most common one-letter words.

2. If “16” is “e,” we can seek a pattern:24 __ __ __ 16 __ __ __ 08 __ __ …A B C D E F G H I J K

Discoveries

1. “00” appears only with “08” and “24” –that means it’s a filler to hide one-letter words, and “08” and “24” likely represent “i” or “a,” the most common one-letter words.

2. If “16” is “e,” we can seek a pattern:24 __ __ __ 16 __ __ __ 08 __ __ …A B C D E F G H I J K

3. Here it is:24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 08 06 04 …A B C D E F G H I J K

Discoveries

1. “00” appears only with “08” and “24” –that means it’s a filler to hide one-letter words, and “08” and “24” likely represent “i” or “a,” the most common one-letter words.

2. If “16” is “e,” we can seek a pattern:24 __ __ __ 16 __ __ __ 08 __ __ …A B C D E F G H I J K

3. Here it is:24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 08 06 04 …A B C D E F G H I J K

4. The numbers descend even to L=2, then ascend odd from M=1.

Discoveries

5. The cipher is numeric *and* positional – columns are read bottom to top, right to left.

Discoveries

5. The cipher is numeric *and* positional – columns are read bottom to top, right to left.

6. Words are read the same way, like this:F ED CB A

Discoveries

5. The cipher is numeric *and* positional – columns are read bottom to top, right to left.

6. Words are read the same way, like this:F ED CB A

7. The picture on the right is read:02 16 15 15 16 11 13 / 08 3 / 14 8 12 17 11 16 13.

Discoveries

5. The cipher is numeric *and* positional – columns are read bottom to top, right to left.

6. Words are read the same way, like this:F ED CB A

7. The picture on the right is read:02 16 15 15 16 11 13 / 08 3 / 14 8 12 17 11 16 13.

8. Which decrypted reads:L E T T E R S / I N / F I G U R E S.

Discoveries

“When the war is over if I live, it seems to me that my greatest preasure (sic) will be to make a beautiful and happy home. It has come to be one of my strongest desires. ”-- to Wealthy Brown, Jan 26, 1862.

“Colonel Jennison has succeeded in getting alowed (sic) to me for my recruiting expenses the sum of six hundred dollars. He sent me a draft for this sum, and yesterday I sent it to Leavenworth and got it cashed…”-- to Wealthy Brown, March 25, 1862.

A Few Words in Figures

Questions?