The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-12-19
THE POrrAwArOMIE TRAGEDY.
John Browns Connection With It
Statement of James TOWnsley. an Eye
Lwrence Daily journal.

John Browns Connection With It
Statement of James Townsley. an'Eye
Lwrence Daily Journal.
We are enabled To lay before our read
ers. this morning, the most important
contribution ever made 10 Kansas histo
~, viz: A full and circumstantial ae
count of the Pottawatomie tragedy, in
! May, 1856, from one who was an eye
witness and participant in that terrible
affair
The history of the paper which we
| publish below is as follows: In the
course of the various articles which have
been published in the Journal IN regard
to this affair, and the discussion which
has ensued, il became important, if pos
sibie, to determine just where John
Brown and his company went after they
left campon that historic afternoon when
the old man called for volunteers and
departed upon his secret expedition
! whether John Brown remained with the
company; if he did, what part he took,
| if any, in the killing; where the party
went That night after the killing was
done, and their subsequent movements
until they returned To John Brown, Jr's,
company ut Ottawa Jones'
II was evident that these facts could
only be obtained from some one who
was a member of the party. The only
person supposed to be living in Kansas,
and known 10 have been one Of the party,
was Mr.. James TOwnslcy, of Ossawato-
mic. John Hutcbiugs, ESQ, of this city,
who has taken the deepest interest in
this history, volunteered to visit Mr..
TOwnsley and if possible procure from
him IA full and circumstantial statement.
On Thursday, December 4. Dir. Hutch
ings left Lawrence and reached Lane,
Franklin county, in the afternoon, and
put up with Judge Hanway. He called
into requisitiGn the services of Judge
Hanway and johnson Clark, Esq. Mr..
Townsley, in response 10 an invitation
from these gentlemen, came to Judge
Hanway's house, ando after spending
several hours in conversation respecting
all the points and details of the tragedy,
dictated to Mr. Hutchings the following
statement, which is so far the only full
authentic and detailed history of the
Pottawatomie tragedy ever given to the
public. 1t Is needless to say that both
the Journal and the public are under
deep obligations to Mr.. Hutchings for the
efforts he has made to get mt the bottom
facts of this most tragical event in Kan
sas history. The following is the state
ment-Ed. Journal.
am a native of Hartford county, state
of Maryland, and was born August 29th
1915. In August, 1899, | enlisted in
company |, Capt. Benjamin L. Bell, sec
ond United States Dragons, and served
five years in the Florida war waged
against the Seminole and Creek Indians,
part of the time under the command
of General Taylor, and was discharged
in August, 1874, at Fort Washita, Indi-
AN Territory. | am Il painter by trade,
and followed that business in Fallston
in my native county, until October 20,
1855, when | emigrated tO Kansas with
my family and settled in Anderson coun-
ty, on the POttawatomie creek, about one
mile west of Greeley. l Joined the Pot
tawatomie rifle company at its re-organi-
cation in May, 1856, at which time John
Brown, Jr, was elected captain. On the
21st of the same month information was
received that the Georgians were march,
ing on Lawrence, threatening its de
struction. The company was immedi-
ately called together, and about O'Clock
p. IN. started on forced march to aid in
its defense. About two miles south of
Middle creek we were Joined by the Os-
sawatomie company, under captain Day
ton, and proceeded to Mount Vernon,
where we waited abouttwo hours until the
moon rose. we then marched all night,
camping the next morning-the 22d, for
breakfast uear Ottawa Jones.
Before WE arrived nj this point news had
been received that Lawrence had been
destroyed, and Il question was raised
whether we should return or go on. Dur
ing the forenoon, however, we proceeded
up Ottawa creek to within about five
miles of Palmyra, and went into camp
near the residence of captain Shore.
Here we remained undecided over night.
About noon the next day )the 23d) old
John Brown came to me and said he had
received information that trouble was
expected on the PCttawatomie and want
ell to know ii would take my team and
take him and his boys back, so that they
could keep watch of what was going on.
| told him would do so. The party,
consisting OF old John Brown, Frederick
Brown, Owen Brown, Watson Brown,
Oliver Brown, Henry Thompson. John
Browns sun-in-law) and Mr.. Wilmer,
were soon ready for the trip, and we
started, as near as | can remember, about
two O'Clock p. III. All of the party, ex-
cept Mr.. Wilmer, who rode pony, rode
with me in my wagon. When within
two or three miles OF the Pottawatomie
creek we turned Off the main road
to the right, drove down into the
edge of the timber and between two
deep ravincs, and camped about one
mile above Dutch Henry's crossing.
After my team was fed and the party
had taken supper, John Brown told me
for the first time what he proposed to do
lie said he wanted me Ia pilot the com
pany up To the forks of the creek, some
five or six miles above, into the neigh
borhuod in which lived, and show them
where all the proslavery men resided;
that he proposed TO sweep the creek as
lie came down of all the pro-slavery men
living ON it. | positively refused to do
it. He insisted upon it, but when he
found that | would not go he decided to
postpone the expedition until the follow
ing night. | then wanted to take my
team and go home, but he refused to let
me do so and said should remain with
them. We remained in camp that night
and all the next day Sometime after
dark we were ordered to march.
We started, the whole company, in "A
northerly direction, crossing Mosquito
creek above the residence of the Dovles
Soon alter crossing the creek some one
of the party knocked at the door of a
cabin, but received no reply-I have for
gotten whose cabin it was, if knew
at the time. The next place we came
to was the residence of the Doyles.
OOun 1DIOM4i. VI Ills SOIlS anu SON
in-law went to the door, leaving Freder-
lex Brown, Winner and myself short
distance from the house. About this
time large dog attacked US. Frederick
Brown struck the dog blow with his
short two-edged sword. after which |
dealt him blow on the head witll'my sa-
bre and heard no more from him. The
old man Doyle and two sons were called
out and marched some distance from the
house toward Dutch Henry's, in the
road, where halt was made Old John
Brown drew his revolver and shot the
old man Doyle in the forehead, and
Browns two youngest sons Immediate
ly. fell upon the younger Doylcs with
their short two-edged swords.
One of the young Doyle's was stricken
down in an instant, but the other at
tempted to escape, and was pursued a
short distance by his assailant and cut
down. The company then proceeded
down Mosquito creek to the house of Al
len Wilkinson. Here the old man
Brown, three of his sons, and son-in-law,
as at the Doyle residence. went to the
door and ordered Wilkinson to come out,
leaving Frederick Brown, Winer and
myself standing IN the road east of the
house. Wilkinson was taken and march
ed some distance south of his house and
slain in the road with short sword by
one of the younger Browns After he
was killed his body was dragged out to
one side and left.
We then crossed the Pottawatomie and
came to the house of Henry Sherman,
generally known as bunch Henry. Here
John Brown and the party, excepting
Frederick Brown, Winer and myself,
who were left outside a short distance
from the door, went into the house and
brought out one or two persons, talked
with them some, and then took them in
again. They afterwards brought out
Sherman, Dutch Henry's broth
or, marched him down into the Pottawat-
omie creek. where he was slain with