The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-22
CHAPTER XII.

FORT RILEY LEY-DESTRUCTION OF PAENEE-pIs-
NIssAL OF GOV. KEEDER AND COL. M0NTGON-
ERY.
The Military Reserve at Fort Riley had
been surveyed and reported on by COM
mission of officers, appointed for that
purpose, in the summer of 1854. They
made the eastern boundary on One Mile
Creek, one mile east from Fort Riley
Below this, stretching away for several
miles, lay the beautiful valley of the Kan
sas. Here, the officers of the Fort, in
imitation of their superiors at Fort Leav-
enworth, laid off town, and called it
Pawnee, after the Indian tribe of that
name, who once owned the country. The
officers who engaged in this enterprise
were Col. Montgomery, the commander,
Capt. Lyon, DIR. Hammond, DR.. Simmons,
Lieut.. Long, Robert Wilson, Sutler, and
others-most of them Free State men.
1t was considered by officers who were
consulted in this matter, that the project
was cOmmendable, and would be of per-
manent advantage to the Fort, by draw
ing settlers around it; and would also aid
in populating the interior of the Terri
tory.
These military posts were established
by the Government in various parts OF
the unsettled Territory, for the purpose OF
defending the emigrants who might
be travelling through, or locating in that
vicinity; and Col. Montgomery had rea-
son to suppose that he was doing COM
mendable act, when he took these meas
ures to aid in building up the country
He was very kind to the early settlers,
and they universally speak of him in the
highest terms of praise.
As soon as it became known that Gov
Reeder had called the Legislature to meet
at Pawnee, immediate measures were sci
on foot by the pro-slavery managers IL
Missouri, not only to break up the Legis'
lature, but also to destroy the town. jeff
Davis, the Secretary of War, was appeal.
ed to for aid, and not in vain.
The town had been laid out by the of.
ficers at Fort Riley, with the knowledge
and consent of the department at Wash
ington, early in the fall of 1854. The
officers at Fort Leavenworth had also
done the same. The difference in tht
two cases being that Pawnee was OF
open ground, claimed by no reserve
of any kind; but was owned by
Free State men. Fort Lcavenwortl
was on the Delaware Reserve, and wa
laid off and settled contrary to law ant
treaties; but the owners and settlers wer'
supposed to be in the pro-slavery inter
est.
JEFF. Davis, on receiving the complaint
from Missouri, sent out another miiitar.
commission to review the Reserve 70
Fort Riley, and establish boundaries. Thi
commission second time selected On
Mile Creek as the eastern boundary
which separated Pawnee from the Fort
This report being made, quieted the pro
| prietors and settlers so as to eneourag
them to proceed with large and expen
sive Improvements.
The survey was made, and the ma
returned to the Department, with re
lines, showing where the boundaries ha
been established excluding Pawnee, an
with blue lines showing where tn
boundaries would be to include Pawne,
On the receipt of this, it is reporte
that the Secretary of War examine
the map, and seeing Pawnee sti
excluded, he took pen and drew
red line around it; and wrote on i
Accepted within the red lines;;'' too
it to the President and obtained his sig
nature, without explaining the merits {
the case. He then issued an order fc
the removal of the inhabitants and build
ings from that part ofthe MilitaryReserv
at Fort Riley, known for some time pa.
as Pawnee.
This was received early in the summs
at Fort Riley, and placed upon the ordel
book. Major Wood, who was in CON
mand of the post, neglected to execute i
and it remained . dead letter. Maj. Woo
was ordered to the plains with his con
mand; and in July. Maj. Ogden arrives
j and continued there till his death. in A.