Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-12-03
SCRQAG TESTIMONY GAINxr< u1.n
BROWN.


4. Freedom. b. ~
The first the peopl, Of K.n.ass heard Of
old John Brown was in the summer of 49,
o.: A nesting of ultra ab,li.isnists was
held in Cazenovia, N. -, il we recollecs
rightly. While in session., Brown. who il
a native Of Essex county, New York. appear
cd IN that convention, and ;msde . very fiery
speech. during which he said he. had fous
sons III kansss and he had three others who
were DESTROYS of going there to aid in gain.
ing the battles Of Freedom. He could no,
consent to 60 unless he could g. armed, and
would like to arm oil his SIMS, but he was
not able to do 50. Funds were contributed
On the spot principally by Gerritt Smith.
The four sous had located on .Pottawata.
mic creek, intyki"s county; and in The
fall Of 1855 were joined by. the father and
other brothers. When The Warkarusa wal
was pendl"g the old man and t,nr- sons ar.
rived at Lawrence, the balance he reported
SICK. As they drove up in front ofthe Free
State Hotel, they were all standing in q
small lumber wagon. To- each Uf tl,ei,
persons was attsched short heavy broad
sword each was supplied with . go'd'y
number Of firearms and navy rev"lve's and
poles were standing endwise around the
wagon box, with fixed bay"nets pointing
upwards. They looked really formidable,
and were received with great ectut. A
small military company was organized At
once. and the compfand was given to Old
brown. from that moment he commenced
:o'nent'ng difficulties in camp. disregard.
ing the commands Of supcr;ors and irving
to induce the men TO 60 down to Franklin
ana make an attack upon the pros!avery
forces encamped there The Committee 81
tuol'c Safety were called upon several
times to head of his wild adventure rs the
people OF Lawrence had planted themselves
'rtract'on. and that no armed body Of men
should enter the town for any purpose what
ever, and that they would MT go nut Of town
10 attack any such ht,dy. Peace was estab.
IiShed and old BROWN retired in disgust.
When the news Of the threatened seige
OF Lawrence reached John Brown, Jr, who
was y member Of the Topeka Legislature,
ne organized company ofabout sixty men
and marched towards Lawrence. Arriving
at Palmyra, he learned 0: the sacking Of the
town and the position of the people. He
reconnoiteted OR time in the vicinity: but
finally marched back towards Ossawstomie.
The night before reaching that place, when
only few miles away, they. camped for. the
night. OLl John Brown. who, we believe.
was with the party, singled out, with him
sell, seven men. These he marched to .
point eight miles above the mouth Of tho
Pottawatomie creek, and called from their
beds at their several residences, at the hour
Of mi might on the Oath Of May, 1856, Al.
len Wilkinson, William Sherman, w liam
T: Doyle. William Doyle and Drury Doyle.
All were found the next morning by the
roadside or in the highway. some with .
cash in their heads aud sides and their
threats cut; others with their skulls split
open in two pl ices, with holes in their
breasts and hands cut off; and others had
holes through their breasts, with their fin,
gers cut off. No man in Ka. 81. la. . Z.
te.'ds.t to deny that oil J!..n B,.,vn led
neurte,"us rty, which mass &c: 81 k.oA. men.
Up to tbs time mta hair Of Oli J h. Brvm',
head, or hit Of any Of his s,ns, Aud ben
im1ursd by the pro*l Gerry party
II was not until the 3Oth Of August
three month after the Pottawatomie ,osssa.
ere, that the attack was made on Ossawato.
mie BY tho pro-s|avery f'rces. and Frdrick
Brown, son Of old John, was killed.
The truth Of history requires this state.
ment. II Brown was . monomaniac. il
dates back anterior to his first visit to Kan.