The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-10-21
Who is Brown, the Leader!

Captain John Brown emigrated to Kansas
from Central New York, in the fall of 1865,
and settled in the township of Ossawattomie.
He was accompanied by seven sons, the
youngest being old enough to earn his liveli-
hood. The birthplace Of Brown is not posi-
lively known TO the writer, but report has it
that he was born in Kentucky. AT the time
of his death he was about sixty years of age.
He was about medium hight, slim, muscular,
and possessing an iron constitution. He had
blue eyes, sharp features and long gray hair,
wearing q full beard.
In December, 1855, during the "Shannon
War;" Brown first made his appearance
among the free State men at Lawrence. His
entrance into the place at once attracted the
attention of the people toward him. He
brought wagon load Of cavalry sabres, and
was accompanied by twelve men, seven of
whom were his own sons. He first exhibited
his qualities at the time the free State and
pro-slavery parties, under the lead of Gov
ernor Robinson on one side, and Governor
Shannon on the other, met to mako treaty
of peace. After Governor Robinson had
stated to the people who were gathered around
the hotel the terms of the peace, Brown took
the stand, unnvited, and opposed the terms
of the treaty. He was in favor Of Ignoring
all treaties, and such leading men as Robin
son, Lane and Lowry, and proceeding atonce
against the border rutian invaders, drive
them from the soil or hang them If taken.
General Lowry, who was Chairman OF the
Committee of Safety, and also commander OF
the free State troops, ordered Brown under
arrest. ..
One of his sons, who was elected to the Leg
islature in February, 1856, was seized and
taken from Ossawattomie to Lecompton In
chains, distance of thirty miles. His feet
and hands were chained together with large
heavy chain, the size of that used upon OK
teams. He was compelled to walk the whole
distance beneath burning sun. The irons
wore the flesh from his ankles; he was attacked
with the brain fever, was neglected, and died
in two or three days. He was companion of
Governor Robinson, Jenkins, (since shot by
Lane, and some eight or ten others. Another
son Of Captain Brown was shot at Ossawatomia
BY @ marauding party from Missouri. After
the death of his first son, occasioned by tho
tortures and fatigue Of his forced march, Brown
.wore vengeance upon the prO-slavery party,
and it was frequently observed by the most
prudent of the free-State men that he was evil
IDENTIFY insane on the subject. He was always
considered by them as dangerous man, was
never taken into their councils, and nevercon-
suited by them with. reference either to their
policy or movements. ..
The destruction Of the Free State Hotel
and presses at Lawrence, in May, 1856,
melted him anew to action, and he organized
small company, composed chiefly OF men
who had been robbed, or whose relatives had
been murdered by the pro-slavery party, and
at the head of this band armed with Sharp's
rifles, Bowie-knives and Colts revolvers, he
secured Southern Kansas, and the name Of
"Old Brown" became q terror to all who
opposed his will in that region. While he
was thus maurauding, five pro-slavery men
were taken from their cabins at Pottawat-
tomie Creek, in the night time, and shot
dead. The proslavery party charged this
deed upon Old Brown, while the free State
party asserted that they could prove him In
Lawrence, forty miles distant, when 1t hap
pened, and that the horrid deed was perpe-
trated by "Buford's Georgia Ruffians," sup
posing that the victims were free Statemen.
The news of this massacre reached Wesport,
Missouri, the place of rendezvous Of the "bOrder
rufians," the same evening that the Kansas
Commission sent out by the United States
House of Representatives arrived at that place.
The excitement was intense, and was induced
almost as much by the appearance Of the Com
mission, as by the news of tho massacre. The
"rufians" swore vengeance upon the members
and officers of the Commission, declaring that
their blood should recompense for the slaughter
at Pottawattomie Creek, and but for the inter-
cession of Mr.. Oliver, the pro-slavery member
of the Commission, and others, it was believed
that the Commission would have been at
tackled It was at this time that the notorious
q. Clay Pate organized band of men in the
streets of Westport, Mo-, with the avowed
purpose Of entering the Territory and captur-
ing "Old Brown" He raised about thirty
men, and went into the Territory about twi-
light one evening, and was surprised at sunrise
the next morning by "old Brown" who was
in command of nine men, armed as stated
above.
Pate sent a flag Of truce to Brown, who ad-
vanced some rods in front of his company and
ordered the fag-bearer to remain with him,
and sent one of his own men to inform Pate to
come himself. Pate obeyed, when Brown or
dered him to lay down hi, arms. Pate re-
fused to give the order to his men, when
Brown, drawing q revolver, informed him that
be must give the order or be shot on the spot.
Pate Immediately surrendered up himself and
men, and they were disarmed and marched into
ravine near by, and kept until liberated and
sent back to Missouri, by Col. Sumner, few
days subsequently,, who also ordered "Old
Brown" to disband and 90 home. The latter
agreed to do so if the Colonel would also agree
to protect the settlers in that region of the Ter
| ritory. This was the celebrated "Battle Of
Black Jack Point" made famous by "H G.
Pr" Kansas correspondent of the st. Louil
| Republican, who was the heroic commander Of
the surreldering party.
Captain Brown was not much heard from
again until the notorious Captain Hamilton
mede his incursions into Southern Kansas from
Missouri in 1858, when he raised another
company, and, with Captain Montgomery
drove Hamilton and his companions back to
Missouri, and, marching his men into thai
State, took possession of one Of the villages
shot one or two men, and liberated severa
slaves. This course of Brown was repudiatet
by Govern Robinson and the leaders of thu
free State party, in and out of Kansas, which
caused Brown to publish letter explaining
his position, in which he assumed the entire
responsibility Of his acts, and relieved the
Free State men from any share therein. ThiI
letter was called the 1.-TWO Parallels" on 40
count Of the peculiar distinction made by th'
writer.
Captain Brown was fanatical on the subjec
of anti slavery, and seemed TO have the ide'
that he was specially deputed by the al
mighty TO liberate slaves and kill slavehold
ers. 1t was always conceded to him that h
was conscientious man, very modest in hi
demeanor, apparently inoffensive until th'
subject of slavery was introduced, when h
would exhibit feeling Of indignation un
paraleled. After matters subsidized in Kan
sas, Brown intimated to some Of his anti