Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-06-25
Treasurer of the Kansas Fund.

To the TruratrH County Repub. Cen. Committee.
GENTLEMEN:
I reached st. Louis, Missouri, on the
3oth of May, and embarked on a steam
boat for Kansas City. On the same
boat were several passengers for Law
renee. Mrs. Robinson, was also on board.
1 was strongly advised by Mrs. Rob-
insoB, and by Mr.. Slater of St. Louis
who is called the Free Stale Pilot, it be-
inghis especial business to direct free
state passengers to the safest route, also
by Mr.. Brown editor of the Herrld of
Freedom, to dissembark at Kansas
city; but, owing to news received
while on board the boat, of the guerilla
bands which infested the road from Kan
sas City, [ concluded to go to Laven-
worth City. Near this place, by the in
fuence of Warren A. Latin Esq, for
merly of Bazetta, L procured a horse
and proceeded to Lawrence. When
within about 19 miles of Lawrence 1
was hailed by three men on horseback,
ali armed TO the teeth. They asked my
business, where l was from, where go
ing, &c. / answered that | was from
Bethany, Va, and going through the ter
ritory, to look for a location. They
questioned me as TO the distance of Beth
any from Wheeling. the names ofsor:e of
the distinguished resi- tents of Bethany.
/ gave the names of Messrs. Campbell,
Pendleton and others, and being well
posted as to the locality of the river
towns, / was allowed to pass. The fell
lows sEore that not a free state man
should be left in the territory in one
month. | reached Lawrence, without
further m~olestation, and rode up 10 a
small hotel, the only one remaining in
the place. l found a company of thirty
one men from Topeka, who had marched
that day from that place, (by a circuit
Gus route TO evade the pro-slavery %folces)
a distance of 60 miles, and were with .
out money or provisions. The landlord
offered to cook ~victuals free of charge if
they were furnished him, and | immedi-
aely ordered these should be provided.
/ tLen cnquired for the Chairman of the
Free State Committee, Mr.. Babcock,
found him, introduced myself, and told
my business.
Mr.. Babcock Immediately repaired to
the hotel, and ordered that the Topeka
men should be supplied. On the next
morning, the Free State Committee met.
and received the money, which was il
gold, from me. They told me tina.
the people, the soldiers especially, were
suffering for want of provisions, anC
his was the first money received since thu
sacking of Lawrence.
Provisions were purchased with tht
money, and two wagons Immediately
dispatched. loaded with -four &C., to thu
free state camp, under the guard of thu
company FROM Topeka. One member o
the Committee, accompanied by my
self, Er. Chas. Mofitt, formerly O
Bristol in this county, Capt. Mitchell Q
the Free State Company, and two others
then started for the camp of the Ere
State soldiers, about twelve miles distaKt
Here we found one hundred and thirt
men, armed with some shot guns, som
revolvers, some rifles, a few Sharp
rifles and some U. S. muskets capture
from Buford's men. The men wer
dressed just as they left their fields, whe
notified Of the invasion of Whitfield
company, some with coats, and som
with out, ragged and dirty. One sma.
tent, which could accommodate 90 G
50 men, was occupied by the WeakesI
no distinction being made between off
GERS and men. The remainder slept o
the ground, some having blankets, an
some without. When l was intro