The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-10-10
lCOPYRIGHT sECURED.l
Written expressly for the Herald Of Freedom
A COMPLETE
HISTORY OF KANSAS,
First Discovery by the French, TO
the Close of the Year 1851.
BY THE EDITORS.
BY THE EDITORS.
CHAPTER XVIII.


THE wAKARUsA WAR CONTISUED-ITS DIPLo-
MACY AND INCIDENTS.
No one personally acquainted with Gov.
Shannon, supposes for moment that he
is the hard hearted and cruel monster
which his apparent connection with the
outrages practiced upon the Free State
settlers of Kansas would lead one natural
lv to infer. There were causes at work
in Missouri, there were motives for cruel
ty, there were secret springs of action,
which Gov. Shannon was entirely igno-
rant Of He saw not the power that moved
this vast machinery. He was carried ire
sistibly forward, and knew not his dam
ger till he saw two parties of his fellow
countrymen armed in deadly strife for po-
litical warfare. So completely had he
been blinded by his keepers, that he was
surprised when informed that the people
of Lawrence had violated no law, nor re-
sisted no legal officer, nor armed for any
other purpose than simply self-defence
against blind and drunken mob. This
mob from Missouri had been collecting at
the Wakarusa crossing for more than a
week. They were enrolled as the Gov
ernors militia and called Jones' posse.
On the 9th of December, Gov. Shannon
first left his "Head Quarters at the
Shawnee Mission, and paid visit to his
militia, and Sheriff Jones posse at the
camp on the Wakarusa. Before leaving
he sent dispatch to Col. Sumner inform
ing him of the Presidents permission to
use the troops, and urging him to march
with regiment Immediately, and meet
him at the Delaware crossing of the Kan
sas. Col. Sumner replied as follows:
"HEAD QUARTERS, FIRST CAvALRY,l
December 9TH, 1855.
governor have Just received you
letter of yesterday, with the telegraphiC
despatch of the President. will marel
with my regiment in few hours, and vii
meet YOU at the Delaware crossing of the
Kansas this eoening. "With high respect
Your ob't servant, az. V. SUMNER,
Col. First Cavalry"
"HEAD QUARTERS, FIRST CAvALRY,(
December 9TH, 1856. Afternoon.
"GovERNoR: On more mature refiec
ton, think it will not be proper for MI
to move before receive orders of the gov
ernment. l shall be already wheneve
get them. This decision will not delay
our reaching the scene of difficulties for
can move from this place to Lawrence a
quickly (or nearly SOY as / could from th'
Delaware crossing and We could not, o
course, go beyond that place withou
definite orders. With high respect,
Your ob't servant, E. Y. SUMNER,
Col. First Cavalry"
The Governor on arriving in camp fount
an amount of unorganized frenzy trul,
terrific. 1t was the tornado wasting it
power in its own bowels. It's own interna
elements, of are and fury, powder AM
whisky, were striving for vent. So fal
nothing serious had been done, a few trav
eiers had been arrested and wagons robbed
But the vast power had not been put j
motion The commingled elements Z
NTH, ignorance, drunkenness, hate an
profanity, were seeking to blend into on,
and ind intelligence and momentum
But as yet they had not been able to do
The Border Rufisns, outwardly and il
wardly, were here. In no other way is
possible to account for such manifestation
OF moral dcpravity which then, and sine
have beeh exhibited by that class of b,
ings supposed to be human. Gov. Shal