The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-10-31

four sons, Owen Brown, Watson Brown,
Frederick Brown and Oliver Brown, and
the sOn-in-law, Henry Thompson, went
into camp by themselves, with their IA
ther and captain. and spent most of the
next day (Friday) grinding their sabers.
About noon old John Brown went to a
man named James TOwnsley, who was
in one of the rifle companies, and who
had a wagon and team, and asked him
If he would, with his wagon, take a
company of men back to the POtawatO-
mie that afternoon. TOwnsley agreed
to do so, not knowing what was TO be
done. SO, about o'clock they started
with their rifles and reVOlYers all Loaf
ed and their swords newly shaTpened.
1t is said they were cheered on their
way by the rifle company, which is not
unlikely, as the nature of their eXpedi-
tiOn was unknown. John Brown Jr.
however, said: Father, be!careful; do
nothing RASH" TOwnsiey had in his
wagon only the Brown family, includ-
ing the sOn-in-law, Thompson. There
was another man in the company named
Winer, VIII rode pony. Whether he
had volunteered and agreed to obey or
not we do not know. 1t Is not probable
that any of the men at that time knew
exactly what they were going to do. 1t
was the Brown family Obeying their ia
ther, as in duty bound, with teamster
in their employ, and a neighbOr joined
to the expedition, probably because 1t
was going toward his home.
When they camped that night they
were near the POtawatOmie creek, and
here old John Brown revealed his plans
for the "war." He asked TOwnsley to
guide them up the creek some four or
five miles, into the neighbOThOOd where
he lived, and show them the houses of
a ha ulu N 4
his intention to sweep the creek as he
came down of all the prO-slavery men
living on 1t. TOwnSley refused to be-
come even the guide of any such expe-
ditiOn. On account of his refusal the
party stayed in camp all that night and
the next day talking the matter over. 1t
seemed to TOwnsley, and probably also
to some of the other young men, that
this sort of killing was mGrder. Old
John Brown urged its necessity as
war measure; il was time for the war
to begin in earnest; war there must be
to abolish slavery; God had fOTeOTdain-
ed him to begin it. Once decisive blow
was struck, the fatal peace policy inau-
gurated at Lawrence would be at an end
and the free state men would be obliged
to unite and fight MissOuri. The eud
of the matter was, that late on Saturday
evening TOWnsley yielded, either to ar
gument or force, and acted rs guide on
an expedition much less extensive than
had been originally planned, but suffi-
cient, surely, to cover the name of john
Brown with infamy forever.
The first victims of this murderOus
fOray were found in family named
Doyle, residing on Mosquito creek, that
empties into the POtawatOmie. Here
TOwnsley, Winer and Frederick Brown
remained outside the house, while the
captain and the rest of his family enter
ed and brought out James p. Doyle and
his two sons, DTuTy and William. These
prisoners" were taken along the road
toward Dutch HenTy's" for about two
hundred yards. Here the captain gave
the order for their slaughter, but it was
either misunderstood OF disObeyed. Old
John Brown then himself drew his pis-
tOl and shot the father, James Doyle, in
the forehead. Watson aud Oliver Brown
then fell upon the younger Doyle, and
Watson fell dead at the first cut of one
of those murderOus heavy sabers. Drury
Doyle started to run to the house, but
was Oyertaken by his assailant and cut
down. There was younger brother of
the DOyles, sixteen years old, in the
house, whose life was spared at his
mothers fearful entreaty.
From this place the northern army"
as the commander styled the little band
proceeded down the creek to the house
of Allan Wilkinson, which was entered
in the same manner and by the same
men. Mrs. Wilkinson was at the time
sick with the measles. When the men
raped at the door she begged her hus-
band not to open the door. The men
outside asked him to come out and>shOw
them the way to Dutch Heury's. He re-
piled that he could tell them Just as
we'll without opening the door. The
Browns then commanded him to sur
render In the name of the Northern
Army" and open the door or they would
break it open. The door was opened and
four men entered and searched the house
for arms, taking gun and powder flask
They then told Wilkinson to put on his
clothes and go with them. He protested,
saying his wife was sick, and he would
remain at home and be ready to answer
any charge against him whenever want
ed. Mr.. Wilkinson entreated, but the
captain said: 1T matters not" and
marched her husband away, without
giving him time to put on his boots. He
was killed about one hundred and
fifty yards from the house by the yOun-
ger Browns, acting under the captains
orders.
At about o'clock in the morning the
party reached Dutch Henry's crossing,
anu RnOCKeu dU Lub uOOT OF mousse IN
which four men, woman and children
were sleeping. The names of the men
were James Harris, William Sherman,
Jerome GlanVille, and John s. White
man. The northern army" announced
itself as usual, commanded surrender,
inquired about prO-slavery men, about
arms, saddles, horses, and whether the
men present had ever aided prO-slaYery
men in coming to the Territory, or done
the free state party any harm. Satisfac-
tory answers we're received from Harris
and Whiteman, and they were not mo-
Tested. VIM. Sherman was killed the
same as the younger Doyles and Wilkin-
son. The horrible gashes made by the
swords or sabers gave rise to the story
that they were mutilated; but there was
no reason to think the bodies were cut
or hacked after life was extinct. The
Northern army" now with a single
prisoner, Jerome Glanville, Tetraced its
steps to the camp of the previous even
ing, where the horses and wagons had
been left, and took breakfast and stayed
till nearly noon.
As the early light of that Sunday NOR
ming, May 25, 1856, came over the land.
so lately a wilderness, showing here and
there at wide intervals a cabin with
little field of planted ground. it revealed