The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-12-10


"TRUTH CRUSHED TO e
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
comfort the rest of his life. A transla-
ton of the doctors narrative, published
in the French papers drew attention to.
him, and he was no longer neglected
frequenter of the cafe. He was known
and honored, even without his three orders
cast thy bread upon the waters, and
thog shalt find it again after many days"
700 Brown's Invasion Cooks Confession.
became acquainted with Capt. John
Brown in his camp on Middle creek,
Kansas Territory, just after the battle Of
Black Jack, and was with him in said
camp until it was broken mp and bis COM
pany disbanded, BIZ Col Sumner, of the
lst caxslgxs 2 s A. ! next saw him g
The convention at Topeka, which was
held on the 4th of July, 1856. 1 next
met him some days afterward in Law
renee. Did not see him again until the
fall of 1857, when met him at the house
of E. B. Whitman, about four miles from
Lawrence, K T., which 1 think was about
the LIST of November following. Twas
told that he intended to organize COM
pany for the purpose of putting a stop to
the aggressions of the pro-slavery men.
agreed to join him, and was asked if !
knew of any other young men who were
perfectly reliable, whom l thought would
join also. recommended Richard Realf,
L. F. Parsons and R. J. Hinton. re-
ceived note on the next Sunday morn
ing, while at breakfast in the Whitney
House, from Capt. Brown, requesting me
to come up that day, and to bring Realf,
Parsons and Hinton with me. Realf and
Hinton were not in town, and therefore l
could not extend to them the invitation.
Parsons and myself went, and had long
talk with Capt. Brown.
A few days afterward | received anoth-
er note from Capt Brown, which read, as
near as can recellect, as follows
"DATE
"CAPT. Cook Dear Sir: You will
please get everything ready to join me at
Topeka by Monday night next. Come to
Mrs. Sheridan's, two miles south of To-
peka, and bring your arms, ammunition,
clothing and other articles you may re-
quire. Bring Parsons with you if he can
get ready in time Please keep very
quiet about the matter.
"Yours, &C., JOHN BROWN"
made all my arrangements for start
ing at the time appointed. Parsons, Realf
and Hinton could not get ready. l left
them at Lawrence, and started in car
riage for Topeka. Stopped at the hotel
over night, and left early the next morn
ing for Mrs. Sheridan's, to meet Capt.
Brown. Staid day and half at Mrs
S.'s-then left for Topeka at which place
we were joined by Stephens, Moffet and
Kagi. Left Topeka for Nebraska City,
and camped at night on the prairie north,
east of Topeka. Here; for the first time,
1 learned that we were to. leave Z ansas to
attend a military school during the WIN
ter. 1t was the intention of the party to
go to Ashtabula county, Ohio. Next
morning l was sent back to Lawrence
TO get draft of $50 cashed, and to get
Parsons, Realf and Hinton to go back
with me. got the draft cashed. Capt.
Brown had given me orders to take the
boat to St. Joseph, No, and stage from
there to Tabor, Iowa, where he would re-
main for few days. had to wait for
Realf for three or four days; Hinton could
not leave at that time. / started with
Realf and Parsons on stage for Leaven-
worth. The boats had stopped running
on account of the ice. Stsid one day in
Leavenworth, and then left for Weston,
where we took stage for st. Joseph, and
from thence to Tabor, l found C. P.
Tidd and Eeernan at Tabor! Our party
now consisted of Capt. John Brown, Owen
Brown, A. D. Stephens, Chas. Moffet, C.
P. Tidd, Richard Robertson, Col. Richard
Realf, L. F. Parsons, VIM. Leeman and
myself We stopped some days at Ia
Dor. making preparations to start. Herr
tCe found that Captain Brown's ultimate
destination t5as the State of Virginia. Some
warn, words passed between him and
myself in regard to the plan, which had
supposed was to be confined to Kansas
and Missouri. Realf and Parsons were
of the same opinion with me. After 6
good deal of wrangling, we Consented tc
go on, as we had not the means to return
and the rest Of the party were 60 anAiou:
that We should go with them. At Tabo
we procured teams for the transportation
of about 200 Sharp's rifles, which had
been taken on as far as Tabor, one yea
before, at which place they had been left
awaiting the order of Capt. Brown. There
were; also. other stores; consisting of blan
kets: clothing, boots, ammunition, anC
i about 200 revolvers of the Massachusetts
4 Arms patent, all of which we transported
across the State of Iowa to Springdale
and from there to Liberty, at which place
they were shipped for Ashtabula county
Ohio, where they remained till brough
to Chambersburg, Pa, and we're from
! there transported to house in Washing
ton county, Md, which Capt. Brown hac
rented for six months, and which We
situated about FIVE miles from Harper
Ferry. 1t was the intention of Capt
Brown to sell his teams in Springdale
and with the pro leeds 10 GO on With TIL
rest Of the coMpany to some place in Ash
tabula county, Ohio, where we were t,
have a good military instructor during thu
winter bpt be was disappointed in tb,
sale. As he could not get cash for tn,
teams, it was decided we should remail
in the neighborhood, of Springdale, anC
that our instructor, Col. II. Forbes, shoult
be sent on, We stopped in Pedee, Iowa
over winter, at Mr.. Maxson's, where W
pursued course of military studies. Col
H. Forbes and Capt. Brown had som
words, and he (Col. f } did not come on
consequently, A. D. Stephens was on
drill master. The people of the neigh
! borhood did not know of our purpose
We remained at Pedee till about the mid
! die of April, when we left for Chatham