page_title: Franklin's Fort
section_title: Second Battle of Franklin
hierarchical_section_title: Franklin's Fort / History / Second Battle of Franklin
caption_attribution_description: English: "Old Sacramento Cannon" captured by U.S. during the Mexican-American War in 1847 and taken to the Liberty Arsenal. The cannon was seized by pro-slavery forces in 1856 and fired during the Sacking of Lawrence in 1856. Anti-slavery forces captured it at Franklin, later in 1856. The cannon was damaged in 1896 when it was loaded with clay and straw and fired. It is at the Watkins Community Museum of History in Lawrence. This photo was when it was on loan at the Missouri State Capitol in September 2007. Photo by poster.
context_page_description: Franklin's Fort was a small fortification that had been erected in Franklin, Douglas County, Kansas by pro-slavery settlers. During the "Bleeding Kansas" period, the fort was the site of two minor battles between pro- and anti-slavery factions.
context_section_description: After this battle, Franklin's fort was made more defensible. On August 12 the Second Battle of Franklin took place. Possibly two companies, at least 75 men, left Lawrence after dark to capture or destroy the fort. Free-state leader James H. Lane led the march on Franklin. Apparently only about 20 men were defending Franklin and the fort. For several hours the battle was waged with opposing forces shooting at each other in the dark. Not much damage was inflicted to either side at this point, but one free-stater was killed and several were wounded, as was one of Franklin's fort defenders.
  A man from Franklin was sent to travel to a company of U.S. cavalry camped approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) away and seek help. The cavalry reached Franklin just before dawn. By then the battle was over. Although the town's defenders fought determinedly, the Lawrence men finally made progress when they set a wagon loaded with hay afire and moved it to the front door of the fort. The heat and light caused the defenders of the fort to escape into the night, as they thought they may be burned alive.
  While the adjoining post office was damaged by fire during the Second Battle of Franklin, the fort was damaged only by bullets. The free-staters entered it and took fifty to eighty muskets and ammunition. They also found the "Old Sacramento Cannon" disguised as a dress-making mannequin. They took the food stored there and 14 prisoners, while suffering one man killed and several wounded. The fort was left, but this ended its use as a town defense. It was converted to use as a residence and was occupied by Dr. R. L. Williams until probably the 1870s.
caption: The "Old Sacramento Cannon" was captured by free state partisans during the Second Battle of Franklin on August 12, 1856.
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