New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-21
ard as, the awful authorities in the execution Of Ia
ew. ofhe Territory and the preservation Of good c.s
Your obedient servant, WlLsON SHANNON
General H. J. sTeIcKLEf

GOrsrrcr Sh1rNOn 10 INC fgesfd<N.
EXECUTIVE OYTIcT SHAWNEE MISSION, X. T.,
December II, lsS5
SIR: In my dispatch to yoH Of the 2sth ultno, |
advised you Of the threatened difficulties IN relation 10
the execution Of the laws Of this Territory IN Dongss
County. The excitement which then existed eontn-
ued TO increase, owing TO the aggravated reports from
Lawrence and that vicinity in relation 20 the military
preparations that were being made 10 a;teek rs
Sheriff and resist the execution Of the laws The e.
element increased and spread, not ouly throaghcs!
tbs whole Territory, but worked up TO the Gtmost
point Of intensity the whole Of the upper portion O.
Missouri. Armed men were rushing from al
quarters toward Lawrence-some 10 defend the plsee
And others 10 demoish il. The orders had issued TO
Msior-General Richardson and General Stricken had
brought 10 the Sheriff Of Douglas County very mad.
equaie force for bis protection, when compared with
tie force. in the Town Of Lawrence. Indeed, Tie
militia Of the Territory being wholly unorgan'zed, 10
forces could be obtained except those who voluntarily
rendered their aid 10 the Sheriff or 10 Generals Reh-
ardson and Strcktr.
The whole force in the Territory thus obtsined did
not amount to more than three or four hundred nes
badly armed and wholly unprepared 10 resist the forces
in Lawrence which amounted Il that time 70 some
eco men, al remarkably well armed with sharps
rifles ard other weapons. These facts becoming
known across the line in the State OF Missouri, large
rnmber, Of men from that State, in irregular boiie,
rushed To the County Of Douglas, aud many OF then
enrolled themselves in the Sheriff posse In thsGa'e
Of affairs, saw no way of avoiding deadly eonniei
but to obtain the OF the United States forces al ron
~,
telsgraphe dispatch, and received the 5th nstaa
your very prompt and satisfactory reply of the "a
int. a copy Of which / Immediately transmitted BY
special dispatch 20 Col SUMNER with the reqGes; thS
he would accompany me with his command to The
scene OF difficulty. In reply, vas informed that be
would Immediately do go, having no dOub that in dEe
time proper instructions would be received hom tie
War Department
Information, however, which | received nom eosd
parties convinced me that my presence was n cessay
10 avoid a conflict, and, with.ut waiting for Col SUM-
ner repaired TO the seat OF threatened ho<uhnes a.
the same time advising Col Sumner by speclal ds-
patch, of this movement. On my way TO Lawrence
met dispatch from Col. Sumner informing me that,
uuon reflection be had changed his determination, and
that he would not march with his command until be
had received orders from the proper department. ba.
that be would be ready to with his command the
II oment such orders came TO hand proceeded as
rapidly a. possible TO the camp of Gen. Stricken on
the akarusa six miles east of Lawrence, and arrived
in camp about o'clock the morning Of the eth list.
| found that General Stricken as well as General
Richardson. had very judciously adopted the policy
of incorporating into their respective commands
all the irregular forces that had arrived. Tbs
was done with the view of subiecting them TO NH
tary orders and discipline, and to prevent any uc-
lawful acts or outbreaks. The grea, danger to be
apprehended was from an unauthorized attack on the
Town of Lawrence, which was being strongly fortified
and bad about $50 men, well armed, 10 deendt with
two pieces Of artillery While the other side, there
were probably in all near 2O00 men, many of them In
differently armed but having strong park OF artillery.
| found in the camp at Wakarusa deep and settled
feeling of hostility against the opposing forces in Law
renee and apparently fixed determination 10 ettack
that place and demosh it and the presses, and take
possession of their arms IL seemed 10 be universal
opinion the camp that there was no safety to the Law
and Order party in the Territory while the other pnTty
were permitted to retain their Shsrps rifles, instru
ment used only for purposes. After mnghng with
all the leading men in the Nakarusa camp, and urging
on them the importance Of avoiding conflict OF arms,
that such step would probably light the torch OF civil
~. IF..... sfa.ff tafah mad
Il at there was strong desire with all, and fixed de-
termination with many to compel the forces in Lawrence
to give up their arms. Believing that such demand
would lead to a conflict which, If once commenced no
could tell where it would end and seeing no way
to avoid it except by the aid of the United States
forces, again wrote another communication to co.
Sumner and sent il TO him by special dispatch about
o'clock the morning of the I'd inst requesting b.
presence copy OF which send you herewith marked
f. received no reply until my return TO thus place,
after the difficulty had been arranged. send you
copy Of this reply, marked +. Early on the morning
of the 9TH inst. repaired to the camp at Lawrence,
and found them busy engaged in their Notifications
and drilling their forces ana hai full and satisfactory
interview with the Committee appointed by the forces
in Lawrence in relation 10 the impending difficulties.
so far the execution Of the laws was concerned we
lad no difficulty in coming to satisfactory under
standing Ii at once agreed that the laws OF the
Territory should have their regular course, and thai
hose who disputed their validity should, if they de-
sired to do 80, test that question in the Judicial
time 10 resistance should be made to their due
on and the citizens of Lawrence and vicinity were,
when properly called on TO aid in the arrest OF any
charged with their violation, and aid and assist
in the preservation of the peace and good order Of
society; while, on my part, l gave them every a.
surance in my power that they should be protected
in all their rights, and defended against oil
unlawful aggressiOns. 1t is proper / should cay
that they claimed that large majority Of them bad
always held and inculcated the same views. The as
l received entirely satisfied me that no one
against whom q writ was Issued was then in Law
renee; that they had all fled, and that they were
harbOring, concealiDg, defending one against
whom writ had been issued, and that hereafter
there would be no combined effort made TO prevent
the service OF any process In the County OF Doug
les. This wes entirely satisfactory, and all that
had been desired. But to satisfy the forces that
surrounded Lawrence, SO that they could be in
duced to retire in ORDER was the great difficulty 70
be overcome To issue order 20 the Sheriff 70 dis
band his posse and to Generals Richardson and Sck.
Ter TO dband their forces would have been TO let loose
this large body of men, who would have been left with
out control 10 follow the impulse of their feelings,
which evidently was to attack and disarm the people
OF Lawrence. Early the morning OF the stb through
the influence Of some leading men, procured thirteen
Of the leading Captains in the Wskaruss camp TO be
appointed Committee 10 confer with Committee
nom the Lawrence camp, tO meet at Franklin, mid
way between the two hostile forces. proceeded 10
the Lawrence camp, and returned TO franklin in the
evening with the Committee, where the proposed in-
teryiew took place. This interview which lasted for
some time, resulted in producing better state Of
feeling; and the Committee from the Wakaruss
camp were satisfied to retire without doing anything
more, and so reported to the army. This, with the
active exertions Of myself and others, produced
better feeling among the men, and by daylight
on the morning of the 9th, / felt l could with
aety order the forces TO dsband and accordingly did
so. They retired in order, and RETAINED from any
act Of violence; but il was evident there was silent
dissatisfaction at the course had taken. Bot iet
conscious was right, and that my course would be
sanctioned alike by the dictates Of humanity and sound
policy. | returned TO Lawrence on the 9th aud