Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-09-26
OUllTRELL 1T LAWRENCE.
How the Guerrilla Raided Kan
sas Town and Slaughtered It's
People.

Mine Score Citizens yIassaored-- An Incl
dent of Brutality for Which NO Gov
eminent Was Responsible.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Lawrence the Plymouth Rock of Kansas, is
now honrishing city Of tho far West. It is
situated in the fertile valley of the Kaw anil is
surrounded by the richest agricultural district
in the State. 1t was setteled IN an early day by
staanch, industrious and intelligent people
from the New England States, most Of whom
were sent out by the Massachusetts Immigrant
Aid Society to assist in making Kansas a free
State. This city might also be called tho Lex.
ington Of the lato war, for here were fought
the initial battles for tho same principles that
soon thereafter precipitatcd the North and
South into the war Of the rebellion. This city
in age il but an infant; nevertheless in its past
history II has some pages as dark as any city
in the South whore tho raTages Of war vera
felt in reality. Though at the time Of tho re-
bellion it was thought situated outside Of the
theatre of war, yet it did nor escape.
The calamity that befell this city Of the psai-
RE cannot be- said to have botn tho result Of
or military, but consequence OF the war.
The strong anti SLAVERY princiDl of its citi-
zeNa and the active part they took in the early
struggles Of the Territory, causing it to be adj
mittcd into the Union o., d free State, had
aroused spirit Of hatred among the pro-siay-
cry men, not only i'll their own State, but also
across the border. Those semi SOutherr peo-
pie had loug boen on the watch for al excuse,
and were glad when the opportunity camo, that
they might STRIKE those ''nigger stealers"-as
they called thcn---a blow
Demonstrations had frequently been made
by portions of the Confederate army under
General Price to invade the northern part OF
Kansas, hut they had always been checked and
driven back by the Federal troops. Rumors of
invasion were 30 frequent that at last the poo
did not put any reliance in them 1t is true the
citizens Of Lawrence always felt and believed
that they were 'spOttod" and that an oppor-
tunity was all that was necessary and they
would have the war vt their own doors At
times the authorities would become alarmed
and call for aid on tho militia Of the surround
ing country. The town would be put undor
proper defense and wait for the attacking COL
umn to come AS none came to modest their
peace the militia in short time would be dis
banded and sent home.
Thus matters drifted along until the summer
Of o. The heavy dark clouds Of war were
passing southwark and the sunshine of quiet
was resting on the frontier About the 1st Of
August of this year intelligence was received at
Lawrence by scout upon the staff Of General
Ewing that Quantrall was again contemplating
I'll attack upon that place This news created
were called in again, a squad Of soldiers under
Lieutenant Hadley from Fort Leayenworth ar
rived and more were en- route. Everything
progressed finely for putting the town in q de.
fensive position, when all at once the soldiers
were sent away and the militia disbanded to
their homes again The people had been as
cured from some source that there was not any
danger, and that the whole thing was laughed
OF as false alarm, Thus matters were and
the good people Of Lawrence never in their life
felt more secure, and as 81 eye witness said
''Never less prepared than the night before the
raid. i"
On the Goth Of August, 1865, Qnantrell and
his band of 300 followers went into camp about
sixty miles southeast of lawrence His band
was motley crowd and made up Of al classes
of the frontier freebooters. Frank and Jesse
James were with the crowd and were good
types of the remainder OF the gang They
dressed roughly and without any pretenton to
uniform. They had in the expression Of their
faces demoniacal look Their language was
coarse and il1iterate, and if there was one thing
which appeared to compromise two thirds Of
their conversation. Each man was armed cap
a-pie with carbiue and from two to six revol-
vers on his person Their hearts were devoid
Of anything like mercy, and their special de-
light was in deeds Of walton brutality, at
which even savage would blush. Such were
the class Of beings who were preparing to drop
down upon a peaceful town-like cyclone in
Northumberland iii an hour sweep it from
the face Of the earth.
Quantrelps plans were all matured. He
knew at what hour to start and at what time he
must arrive at luis place Of destination; how to
enter the town and where such and such
squad would strike their blow; how the whole
town should be layed in ashes and its citizens
left w1ltering in their blood. He called the men
into line immediately after dinner on that day
and explained TO them his plans and objects.
He then said:
eff there is tender hearted chicken in the
ranks, let him ride OUT Vi
. Not q man made q move, but all cried out:
sLead and we will follow"
Onward rode 'sthe three hundred" They
started of at slow pace in q westerly direc-
ton and creased the border into Kansas while
the sun was yet an hour high. Passing near
Aubsy, in Johnson county, they halted an hour
for supper. They then moved on and arrived
ut Gardner early in the evening. There they
burned some hor,ses and killed two OF the citi-
zens. The raiders passed through Hesper,a vii
lage ten miles from lawrence, about 5 O'clock
in the morning. After leaving Hesper the
night became dark and the roads doubtful
On Captain creek they went into q house and
compelled boy to go with them as their guide.
1t nearing day the raiders from there moved
town before the people were astir. It was
just before daylight when they reached the
outskirts There they halted while two OF
the horsemen rode into the town to see il thare