The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-10-03


expected, as matter of course, that they
would raise the forces entirely in Kansas,
and sweep the little handful of factious
Free State men into oblivion. 1t never
occurred to him that the Free State party
was in a vast majority; that if things were
left to the Sovereign Squatters, ''Sheriff
Jones" would have been arrested for ';trea-
son, for usurping Office &c. &c. But the
Governor was blind, till his Generals re-
ported. Not so with his Secretary nor the
Sheriff. For when the Major Gen
eral reported only two hundred men, all
his available force north of the Kansas
river, Adjutant General reported his
forces as only fifty men south of the Kan
sas river, the Governor found he could do
nothing. Surprised at this state of affairs,
he stood in mute astonishment. Only 250
claw and order men''-and at least SOC
'disorganizers" in Lawrence, who would
not bow their heads to the CALLING yoke
of the rsurpcrs. At this critical juncture
Brigadier General Eastin, editor of the
Leavenworth Journal, sent the following
COMMUNICATION:
fEAvENwoRTH K. r., NovemJer 30A 1855.
GOVERNOR SHANNON Information has
been received here direct from Lawrence,
which [ consider reliable, that the
outlaws of Douglas County are well forti-
fed at Lawrence with cannon and Sharpe's
rifles, and number at least one thousand
men. II will, therefore, be difficult to
dispossess them.
The militia in this portion of the State
are entirely unorganized, and mostly with
out arms.
l Isuggess the propriety of calling upon
the military at Fort Leavenworth. If You
have the power to call out the Govern
ment troops, I think it would be best to
do so at once. 1t might overawe these
outlaws and prevent bloodshed.
(Signed) L. j. EAsTIN,
Brig. Gen. Northern Brigade, Il. il.
Acting on this suggestion, the governor
telegraphed to President Pierce for au-
thority to order the United States troops
to aid the Sheriff of Douglas County in
executing the laws and preserving the
peace and good order af the Territory.
He also dispatched messenger to Col.
Summer, at Fort Leavcnworth, notifying
him what he had done, and requesting
him to to hold himself in readiness in
case the orders should be received. Col
Sumner replied:
HEAD QUARTERS, lsT CAVALRY, FoRT
LEvvENwoRTH, DeceaJer lst, 1855. {
GOVERNOR i have just received youl
letter of this day. [ DO not feel that i
would be right in me to act in this impor
tant matter until orders are received from
the government. | shall be ready K
move instantly whenever | receive them
would respectfully suggest that you max,
your application for aid to the government
extensively known at once, and | woul,
countermand any orders for the movemen
ofthe militia until you receive the answer
| I write this in haste. With much respec
your obdt. servt SD E.y. SUMNER,
Coz First CdUal,3
His Excellency, GOVERNOR SHANNON.
Gov. Shannon immediately acted upol
| Col. Summers suggestions, and addressed
/ letters to General Richardson and Sheriff
Jones, which are here inserted also Shcrii
Jones' roply-and also the dispatch Q
| General Richardson to the Governor, con
/ tanning his bright idea of rendering th
/ Free State men harmless, by taking fron
them their arms. The Missouriarmy di
not feel like showing their powers 50 lon
as the rebels had guns in their hands; bu
only obtain these, by treaty or strategen
then, no people could be so brave, an
/ Lawrence would be taken without mo
ments delay. Two hundred and fift
"law and order men," found it very dii
fcult to govern two thousand "iisorgani
zers,' though this was no more than the
had boasted of being able to do. But whe
put to the trial they failed, and called upo
Missouri. Missouri came with two thou
sand more ''law and order men," but dan
not even then attack Lawrence unless th
citizens would first give up their arms, q
will be seen by the correspondence.
So well convinced were the Missouri
ans of the cowardice and stupidity of th
Yankees" that Col. Boone made Wis
to Lawrence to see Gen. Lane and th
defenees generally. Col Boone was t;
ken over the city and shown ali that W;
considered prudent for him to see, he W;
also taken on to the hill overlooking Il
city, in view of the working parties in Il
} trenches. Addressing General Lane, CO
Boone said he had come from the claw an
order party with instructions to demaH
the surrendered the arms in possession
the insurgents in Lawrence.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, SHAWNEE MISSION,
X. T., December % 1885.
My DEAR SIR IL have written lett
to Sheriff Jones, informing him of what
t did, and putting him in possession of Il
fact that / am in constant expectation
receiving authority from Washington
| call out the regular troops at Fort Lea
{ enworth. have notified Colonel Sun
D ner of this, and am in receipt of his repl
: assuring me that he will be ready at al
/ moment to move with the whole force
: his command, SO soon as the orders a
: received from the General Governmen
S These orders are confidently expected
\ a dav OF two. | am desirous to emplt
Il the United States forces, as it would ha'
!, a most salutaFy effect upon these lawle
' men hereafter; for when they find th
5 the regular troops can be used to preser'
: the peace and execute the law in this Te
: ritory, they will not be so ready to pla
: themselves in hostile attitude. In &
meanwhile you will remain with Sher
O Jones, and retain sufficient force wi
q you to protect that officer, and secure Il
safety Of his prisoner; the remainder