USA > Kansas > A standard history of Kansas and Kansans, Volume I > Part 65
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No evidence sufficient to cause a warrant to issue has as yet been brought against those lawless men who fired the houses.
I would give you the names of the defendants, but the writs are in my office at Lecompton.
Most respectfully yours,
SAML. J. JONES, Sheriff of Douglas Co.
General Richardson also wrote to Governor Shannon giving him in- formation as to what was taking place in the vicinity of Lawrence, as follows :
LECOMPTON, K. T., DEC. 3d, 1855, 12 O'CLOCK, P. M.
HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR WILSON SHANNON :
Dear Sir: I believe it to be essential to the peace and tranquillity of the Territory that the outlaws at Lawrence and elsewhere should be required to surrender their Sharpe's rifles. There can be no security for the future safety of the lives and property of law-abiding citizens unless these unprincipled men are (at least) deprived of the arms, which, as we all know, have been furnished them for the purpose of resisting the law-in fact, peaceable citizens will be obliged to leave the Territory, unless those who are now threatening them are compelled to surrender their rifles, and artillery, if they have any.
I do not, however, feel authorized from the instructions which you have given me, to make this demand. Should you concur with me in my opinion, please let me know by express at once.
A fresh rider had better be sent up in lieu of the bearer of this, as he will be fatigued. I am diligently using every possible precaution to prevent the effusion of blood and preserve the peace of the Territory. As the Sharpe's rifles may be regarded as private property by some, I can give a receipt for them, stating that they will be returned to their owners at the discretion of the Governor.
Very respectfully your obt. servt.,
WILLIAM P. RICHARDSON, Major-General, commanding Kansas Territorial Militia.
On the 4th of December, Governor Shannon received a message from President Pierce stating that the Executive would use all the power at his command to preserve order in the Territory, and to enforce the execution of the laws as soon as the War Department could make out the proper orders and transmit them to Fort Leavenworth. Upon re- ceipt of this despatch, Governor Shannon again urged Colonel Sumner to march with his men to the Delaware crossing of the Kansas River, about ten miles above its mouth, where Shannon would be found wait- ing for him. To this message Colonel Sumner made the following reply :
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HEAD QUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY, DEC. 5th, 1855, 1 O'CLOCK, A. M. GOVERNOR :
I have just received your letter of yesterday, with the telegraphio despatch from the President. I will mareh with my regiment in a few hours, aud will meet you at the Delaware crossing of the Kansas this evening. With high respect, your obedient servant,
(Signed) E. V. SUMNER, Col. First Cavalry.
His Excellency,
WILSON SHANNON.
Upon reflection Colonel Sumner concluded not to comply with the request of Governor Shannon until he had received instructions from the War Department. Thereupon he wrote the Governor as follows:
HEAD QUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY, FORT LEAVENWORTH, DEC. 5th, 1855.
GOVERNOR :
On more mature reflection I think it will not be proper for me to move before I receive the orders of the Government. I shall be all ready whenever I get them. This decision will not delay our reaching the seene of the difficulties, for I can move from this place to Lawrence as quickly (or nearly so) as I could from the Delaware crossing, and we could not, of course, go beyond that place without definite orders.
With high respeet, your obedient servant, E. V. SUMNER, Colonel First Cavalry.
Ilis Excellency, WILSON SHANNON.
Seeing the assembling of the Border-Ruffians, the people of Lawrenee became alarmed and assembled for their own protection. G. P. Lowry and C. W. Babeock worked their way through the hostile lines and reached the Shawnee Mission for a conference with Governor Shannon. Upon their representation of the state of affairs at the mouth of the Wakarusa, the Governor thought best to change his attitude. He went to Westport and enlisted the services of Colonel Boone to aid in con- trolling the Border-Ruffians. Governor Shannon having secured the service of Colonel Boone, the two set ont on the 5th of December for the Border-Ruffian camp, arriving at Wakarusa shortly after midnight. Early in the morning of the 6th, Governor Shannon issued orders to have the commanders of the various bodies of Ruffians beleaguering Lawrence meet him for consultation. At this conference, Governor Shannon found but one person who was willing to have the matter set- tled peaceably. All the others wished to attack the Free-State men. Many of them wished to destroy Lawrence; some would be satisfied if the Free-State men would surrender their arms and agree to obey the law. The meeting continued until midnight. The Governor had ex- pressed an intention of visiting Lawrence himself on the following day. IIe was in despair of being able to prevent an assault on the town before he could visit it. In this panic he wrote the following letter to Colonel Sumner, which was to be forwarded by an express rider at day-break .
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WAKARUSA, DECEMBER 6th, 1855.
COL. SUMNER, Ist Cavalry, U. S. A.
Sir : I send you this special dispatch to ask you to come to Lawrence as soon as you possibly ean. My object is to secure the citizens of that place, as well as all others, from a warfare which, if once commeneed, there is no telling where it will end. I doubt not that you have received orders from Washington, but if you have not, the absolute pressure of this crisis is such as to justify you with the President, and the world, in moving with your foree to the scene of difficulties.
It is hard to restrain the men here (they are beyond my power, or at least soon will be), from making an attack upon Lawrence, which, if once made, there is no telling where it may terminate. The presence of a portion of the United States troops at Lawrenee would prevent an attack-save bloodshed-and enable us to get matters arranged in a satisfactory way, and at the same time secure the execution of the laws. It is peace, not war, that we want, and you have the power to secure peace. Time is precious-fear not but that you will be sustained.
With great respeet, WILSON SHANNON.
N. B .- Be pleased to send me a dispatch.
Colonel Sumner had not yet received any instructions from Washing- ton and declined to move without them, replying to Governor Shannon's letter to the following effeet :
HEAD QUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY, FORT LEAVENWORTH, DEC. 7, 1855. GOVERNOR :
I have received your two letters of the 5th and 6th inst. I regret extremely to disappoint you, but the more I refleet on it the more I am convinced that I ought not to interpose my command between the two hostile parties in this territory until I receive orders from the Govern- ment. We know that the whole matter is now in the hands of the Executive, and it is an affair of toc much importance for any one to anticipate the action of the Government. I am momentarily expecting to receive orders, and whenever they come I shall move instantly, by night or by day. If you find those people bent on attacking the town, I would respectfully suggest that they might be induced to pause for a time on being told that the orders of the General Government were expected every moment, and that there was no doubt but that these orders, framed from an enlarged view of the whole difficulty, would give general satisfaction, and settle the matter honorably for both parties.
I am. Governor, with much respeet, your obedient servant, E. V. SUMNER. Colonel 1st Cavalry, Commanding.
ILIS EXCELLENCY WILSON SHANNON. Governor of Kansas.
General Striekler, at 2 P. M. reported to Governor Shannon, that the Border-Ruffians, upon being appraised of the plan to have the mili- tary at Fort Leavenworth act as a force to protect Lawrence and hold back the Missourians, had determined to intercept his messenger to Colo- nel Sumner at Kaw River crossing. The messenger was started imme- diately and directed to cross the Kansas River at a different ford. As showing the feeling in the Border-Ruffian camps at that time, the following letter of J. C. Anderson to William P. Richardson is given :
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MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM P. RICHARDSON :
Sir: I have reason to believe from rumors in camp that before tomorrow morning the black flag will be hoisted, when nine out of ten will rally round it, and march without orders upon Lawrence. The forces at the Lecompton camp fully understand the plot, and will fight under the same banner.
If Governor Shannon will pledge himself not to allow any United States officer to interfere with the arms belonging to the United States now in their possession, and, in case there is no battle, order the United States forces off at once, and retain the militia, provided any force is retained-all will be well, and all will obey to the end, and commit no depredation upon private property in Lawrence.
I fear a collision between the United States soldiers, and the volun- teers, which would he dreadful.
Speedy measures should be taken. Let the men know at once- to-night-and I fear that it will even then be too late to stay the rashness of our people.
Respectfully your obedt. servt., J. C. ANDERSON.
The largest body of the Missouri invaders were stationed in the timber along the Wakarusa, southeast of Franklin. This body threw out pickets as far up the stream as Blanton's bridge. A considerable force held the Blue-Jacket crossing. The encampment of this con- tingent was known as Camp Wakarusa. The men there came princi- pally from Jackson, Cass, and Lafayette counties, Missouri. They had come over the Westport Road-really the old Oregon Trail. Their local commanders were Shaw, Lucas, Bledsoe, Woodson, and others. Colonel Boone had roused the people of those counties by starting rumors which grew with each recitation of the messengers bearing them. To arouse the Missourians, what was afterwards said to have been a forged letter signed by Daniel Woodson, was circulated. Copies of this letter were found among the Border-Ruffians in Camp Wakarusa, and it was doubtless in evidence at other places.
DEAR GENERAL-The Governor having called out the militia, this is to inform you to order out your division and proceed forthwith to Lecompton. The Governor not having the power, you can call out the Platte County Rifle Company, as our neighbors are always ready to help us. Do not implicate the Governor, whatever you do.
DANIEL WOODSON.
The Ruffians came into Kansas with wagons loaded with supplies. Many were mounted, but some were on foot. There were good citizens among them-plenty of them-but they were in favor of forcing slavery on Kansas. On all other matters they were honorable men-kind hus- bands, good neighbors, liberal, men of property. There were among them many irresponsible, drunken, low-down, mean men. They robbed dwellings, stole horses and cattle, burned houses, laid waste fields. In Kansas they were subject to the Territorial Militia officers in all general movements, and to Sheriff Jones. The only Kansas troops with this body of Missourians, except a company of Franklin Militia commanded by one Leek, a roving gambler, were of those of Brigadier-General L. J.
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Eastin, from Leavenworth. Quite a number of the Wyandot Indians, as well as some Shawnees and Delawares, had responded to the call. One Ruffian gave an Indian a handful of bullets, saying he wanted a Yankee scalp for each bullet. He then took the Indian's bottle and had it filled with whiskey. It seems that this Indian contingent was not to be relied upon. After the Indian had secured his whiskey, he said to Mr. Prather, "Me no kill Yankee; me want get whisk."
D. R. Atchison led his Platte County Rifles, numbering more than one hundred, into Kansas. He stationed his men on the present site of North Lawrence. Other Border-Ruffians joined his command, and he was at the head of one of the most violent and lawless bands of in- vaders in the Territory.
Another body of the Ruffians, from the Missouri counties north and east of the Missouri River, numbering seven hundred at its maximum, was stationed at Lecompton. Some of these went later to the town of Douglas, lower down the river. All these were under command of Richardson and Striekler.
But all this horde-more than fifteen hundred men, Missourians, non- residents-were subject to the orders of Sheriff Samuel J. Jones.
THE FREE-STATE MEN
It was clear that the Border-Ruffians intended to make the rescue of Branson a pretext for an attack on Lawrence. The country was alarmed by messengers sent in all directions to notify the Free-State men of the danger at Lawrence. The Committee of Safety, which had been appointed the morning after the rescue of Branson, was in charge of affairs.
On the 30th it was learned that Border-Ruffians were arriving at Franklin, and that Eastin's Brigade from Leavenworth had arrived there. That there might be no reason for an attack on Lawrence, the committee caused Wood, Branson, Smith and Tappan to leave the town. Their disappearance left no person whatever in Lawrence against whom there was any complaint from Jones.
The forces of the town numbered about two hundred and fifty. The Committee of Safety appointed officers for this militia. Charles Robinson was appointed Commander-in-Chief. Colonel James H. Lane was made second in command. When it became known to the Free-State settlers of the Territory that Missourians were invading Kansas and besieging Lawrence many of them started immediately for that town. Those who had arms carried them. The larger settlements sent companies. Many a Free-State settler shouldered his gun and marched alone to Lawrence. It is of record that companies came from Palmyra, Topeka, Osawatomie, Wakarusa, Bloomington and the settlements along Ottawa Creek.
Lawrence was fortified by the construction of redoubts commanding the approaches to the town. That which was called the citadel was at the intersection of Massachusetts and Pinckney streets. It was of hewn logs, deeply banked with earth, and surrounded with deep trenches.
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Judge J. C. Smith, with the rank of Colonel, was in command of this fortification.
The second redoubt was on Massachusetts Street near IIenry Street. It was designed for artillery and was commanded by J. A. Wakefield with the rank of Colonel.
A circular redoubt on an elevation north of Henry Street, between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets, was commanded by Morris Hunt.
Colonel C. K. Holliday, of Topeka, erected a fortification south of that commanded by Colonel Wakefield. It commanded the approach of the city from the south and southwest.
The Free-State men were drilled constantly and instructed in military tactics. Those who had no arms were detailed to work on the fortifica- tions. In addition to the two hundred Sharps' rifles which had been secured by Abbott and Deitzler, many of the Free-State men were well armed. At the period of greatest strength, Lawrence had a force of at least eight hundred men. The force increased every day. The hesitancy of Jones in attacking Lawrence gave the Free-State men encouragement. They surmised that Jones was not being sustained by the Executive, and they determined to get into communication with Shannon. A letter was written to the Governor and signed by the committee as follows :
To His Excellency, Wilson Shannon, Governor of Kansas Territory:
Sir-As citizens of Kansas Territory, we desire to call your attention to the fact that a large force of armed men from a foreign State have assembled in the vicinity of Lawrence, are now committing depredations upon our citizens, stopping wagons, opening and appropriating their loading, arresting, detaining and threatening travelers upon the public road, and that they claim to do this by your authority. We desire to know if they do appear by your authority, and if you will secure the peace and quiet of the community by ordering their instant removal, or compel us to resort to some other means and to higher authority.
SIGNED BY COMMITTEE.
G. P. Lowry and C. W. Babcock were appointed to get this letter through the lines and delivered to Governor Shannon at Shawnee Mis- sion. At one o'clock Thursday morning these envoys left Lawrence to work their way through the enemy lines. They experienced difficulty in passing the Border-Ruffians, but they arrived at the Shawnee Mission about seven o'clock. What occurred at the interview with the Governor is best told by Lowry in his statement to the Investigating Committee :
Governor Shannon said he would answer the letter, and we went out while he was doing so. When we returned, we had a long conversa- tion concerning these affairs. He said there had been sixteen honses burned here by Free-State men, and women and children driven out of doors. We told him we were sorry that he had not taken pains to inquire into the truth of the matter before he had brought this large force into the country, which, perhaps, he could not get out again ; and that his information was wholly and entirely false, as nothing of the kind had happened. We told him of what we knew, of our personal knowledge, of men from Missouri being there: and he was not inclined
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to admit, at first, that there was anybody from Missouri there. He made a general argument against the Free-State men, and quoted their resolutions, passed at different meetings, in regard to the Territorial laws. We explained to him that the Territorial laws had nothing to do with this ease; that we were getting ready at Lawrence to fight for our lives, and the only question was, whether he would be particeps criminis to our murder, or the murder of somebody else, should we be all slaughtered. We explained to him, that the rescue upon which he based his proclamation took place a number of miles from Lawrence; that there were but three persons living in Lawrence who were alleged to have had anything to do with it, and that they had left the town, and were not there at all; that from what we could judge of the inten- tions of the force at Wakarusa, at Lecompton, and in the country about, from their own declarations, they intended to destroy the town for a thing in which they had had no part or pareel.
We took our individual eases as instances that we had not been present at the rescue; that we did not undertake to have any sympathy with it, or talk about it at all; but that if we were to submit to the force which he had called in, all our throats would be eut together-the innocent and guilty, if there were any guilty. He then denied that these Missourians were here by his authority; that he had anything to do with them, or was responsible for them. He said he had communi- eation with Colonel Sumner, of Fort Leavenworth, and had sent an express for him to meet him that night at Delaware ferry, and go with him to the camp on the Wakarusa. He said he should go to Lawrence and insist upon the people agreeing to obey the laws, and delivering up their Sharpe's rifles. We denied his right, or the right of anybody else, to make such a condition of a community, or make any such demand of them until it had been shown that they had resisted the laws, which they had not done; that there had been as yet no proceedings in Law- rence under the Territorial laws, and he had no right to presume there would be any resistance to them when they were instituted. He gave up that point after some argument. I asked him, then, why he insisted upon the giving up of Sharpe's rifles, and if he meant to demand. too, western rifles, shot-guns, and other arms. He said he did not intend to demand other than Sharpe's rifles, but should demand them because they were unlawful weapons. After some time, he then said they were dangerous weapons : to which I agreed. I then told him, if he had any such idea in his head as that, he had better stay away and let the fight go on, as I thought the thing was not feasible, as he would do no good by coming here, if those were his terms. I told him he might as well demand of me my pocket-book or my watch, and I would resent the one no more than the other. I told him I did not consider myself safe, or that General Robinson or Colonel Lane would be safe, in going before our men with any such proposition. He then gave us the letter he had written, and we started for Kansas City to change horses.
On the 7th of December, Governor Shannon visited Lawrence pur- suant to the invitation extended him to do so. Below Franklin he was met by a committee of ten Free-State men sent to escort him to the town. Ile says he was given a courteous reception. He was taken to one of the two finished rooms in the Free-State hotel, where he, Lane, and Robinson, long discussed the conditions by which they were surrounded. The fury of the Missourians caused the Governor to be apprehensive of his ability to disperse them. He had summoned Colonel Sumner to help
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him control them. They would have to see some results of their foray before they would return to their homes. Then, Jones and others did not want peace. The task of the Governor was not an easy one. He contended that there must be some assurance that the bogus laws would be accepted and obeyed. He also desired the arms of the Free-State men to be surrendered. Upon this point he insisted strongly.
No agreement was reached, and the Governor returned to Camp Wakarusa at about ten o'clock, P. M. The report he brought concerning the contentions of the Free-State men was not satisfactory to the Border- Ruffian captains. At one, A. M., on the 7th, he learned that some of the Missourians were preparing to raise a black flag and march on Lawrence. He was compelled to use all his power to prevent this, issuing this order ;
WAKARUSA, DECEMBER 8th, 1855.
MAJOR GENERAL RICHARDSON :
Sir: You will repress all movements of a disorderly character, and take no steps except by order from me. If any unauthorized demonstra- tion should be made upon Lawrence, you will immediately use your whole force to check it. as in the present state of negotiations an attack upon Lawrence would be wholly unjustifiable.
Your obdt. servant,
WILSON SHANNON.
WAKARUSA, DECEMBER 8th, 1855.
GENERAL STRICKLER.
Sir: You will repress any movements of a disorderly character. No attack must be permitted upon the town of Lawrence in the present state of things, as with the concessions they have made, and are willing Your obdt, servant, to make to the supremacy of the law, such an attack would be wholly unjustifiable.
WILSON SHANNON.
The Border-Ruffians were in a bad humor on the morning of the 8th of December. They frankly told the Governor that unless the Free-State men surrendered their arms, Lawrence would be attacked, at the same time advising him to keep out of danger. He sought the captains. One of them finally suggested that a committee of thirteen go with him to Lawrence to try to reach an agreement. This the Governor approved. The committee met him at Franklin. He urged them to wait there until he could go to Lawrence and secure a deputation. At Lawrence he found a stipulation awaiting him. It was not satisfactory. It was re-written, and at four, P. M., signed. Thereupon Lane and Robinson went with him to Franklin to meet the captains. There, the matters in controversy were discussed for three hours. It was clear that a settlement would be reached, and the conclusion of the treaty announced. This was finally accomplished. The treaty is given :
WHEREAS, there is a misunderstanding between the people of Kansas, or a portion of them, and the Governor thereof, arising out of the rescue at Hickory Point of a citizen under arrest, and other matters. And whereas, a strong apprehension exists that said misunderstanding may lead to civil strife and bloodshed : and whereas, as it is desired by both
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Governor Shannon and the citizens of Lawrenee and its vicinity, to avoid a calamity so disastrous to the interests of the Territory and the Union; and to place all parties in a correct position before the world. Now, therefore it is agreed by the said Governor Shannon and the undersigned citizens of the said Territory, in Lawrence now assembled, that the matter is settled as follows, to wit:
We, the said citizens of said Territory, protest that the said rescue was made without our knowledge or consent, but that if any of onr citizens in said Territory were engaged in said rescue, we pledge our- selves to aid in the execution of any legal process against them; that we have no knowledge of the previous, present, or prospective existence of any organization in the said Territory, for the resistance of the laws; and we have not designed and do not design to resist the execution of any legal service of any criminal process therein, but pledge ourselves to aid in the execution of the laws, when called upon by the proper authority, in the town and vicinity of Lawrence, and that we will use our influence in preserving order therein, and declare that we are now, as we have ever been, ready to aid the Governor in securing a posse for the execution of such process; provided, that any person thus ar- rested in Lawrence or its vieinity, while a foreign foe shall remain in the Territory, shall be only examined before a United States District Judge of said Territory, in said town, and admitted to bail, and pro- vided further, that all citizens arrested without legal process, shall be set at liberty; and provided further, that Governor Shannon agrees to use his influence to secure to the citizens of Kansas Territory remunera- tion for any damage suffered in any unlawful depredations, if any such have been committed by the Sheriff's posse in Douglas County. And further Governor Shannon states, that he has not called upon persons. residents of any other States to aid in the execution of the laws; that such as are here are here of their own choice, and that he does not consider that he had any authority to do so, and that he will not eall upon any citizens of any other State who may be here.
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