Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-22

noon. Townsley agreed to do SO, not
knowing what was to be done. So, at
about two o'clock they started, with
their rifles and revolvers all loaded and
their swords newly sharpened. 1t is
said they were cheered on their depart
ure by the rife companies, which is not
unlikely, as the nature of their expedi-
tion was not known. John Brown, Jr.,
however, said, Father, be careful; do
nothing rash." Townsley had in his
wagon only the Brown family, includ-
ing the son-in-law, Thompson. There
was another man in the company whose
name was Winer, who 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 this
time knew exactly what they were go
ing to do. 1t was the Brown family
obeying their father, as in duty bound,
with teamster in their empty and a
neighbor Joined to the expedition, prob
ably because it was going toward his
home.
When they camped that night they
were near the Potawatomie creek, and
here old John Brown revealed bis plans
for the "war" He asked Townsley to
guide them up the creek some four or
five miles into the neighborhood where
he lived and show them the houses of
all the proslavery men, saying it was his
intention to sweep the creek as he came
down of all the proslavery men living
on it. Townsley refused to become even
the guide of any such expedition. On
account of this refusal the party staid
in camp all that night and the next day
talking the matter over 1t seemed to
Townsley, aud probably also to some of
the other young men that this sort of
killing was murder. Old John Brown
urged that it was necessary as war
measure; it was time for the war to be-
gin in earnest; war there must be to
abolish slavery; God had foreordained
him to begin it. Once a 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
end of the matter was, that late on Sat
urday evening Townsley yielded, either
to force or argument, and acted as guide
upon an expedition much less extensive
than had been originally planned, but
sufficient, surely, to cover the name of
John Brown with infamy forever.
The first victims of this murderous
foray were found in a family named
Doyle, living on Mosquito creek which
empties inte the Potawatomie. Here
Townsley, Winer and Frederick Brown
remained outside the house, while the
captain and the rest of his family en-
tered and brought out James p. Doyle
and his two SONS, Drury and William.
These prisoners" were taken rlong the
road toward Dutch Hepry's" for about
two hundred yards. Here the captain
gave the order for their slaughter, but
it was either misunderstood or disobey-
ed. Old John Brown then himself drew
his pistol aud shot the father, James p.
Doyle, in the forehead, Watson and
Oliver Brown then fell upon the young.
er Doyles, and William fell dead at the
first cut of one of those murderous
heavy sabers. Drury Doyle started 10
run to the house, but was overtaken by
his assailant and cut down. There was
q younger brother of the Doyles, then
sixteen years of age, in the house
whose life was spared at his mothers
fearful entseaty.
From this place the Northern army .
as the commander styled the little band
proceeded down the creek to the house
of Allen Wilkinson, which was entered
in the same manner and by the same
men. Mrs. Wilkinson was at the time
sick with measles. When the men rap.
ped at the door, she begged her husband
not to open it. The men outside asked
him to come out and show them the way
to Dutch Henry's. He replied that he
could tell them just as well without
opening the door. The Browns ther
commanded him to surrender In the
name of the Northern army and
to open the door or they would break II
open. The door was opened, and foul
men entered and searched the house fol
arms, taking a gun and powder flask
They then told Mr.. Wilkinson to put on
his clothes and 60 with them. He pro
tested, saying that his wife was sick
and that he would remain at home and
be ready to answer any charge against
him whenever wanted. Mrs. Wilkinson
entreated, but the captain said, 1T mat
ters not" and marched her husband
away, without even giving him time t<
PUT on his boots. He was killed about
one hundred and fifty yards from thu
house by the younger Browns, acting
under the captains orders.
At about two O'Clock in the mornins
the party reached Dutch Henry's cross
ing, and knocked at the door of houss
where there were four men sleeping an6
a woman and children. The names OF
the men were James Harris, William
Sherman, Jerome Glanville and John 8
Whiteman. The sNorthern army" an
nounced itself as usual, commanded
surrender, inquired about other prosla
very men, about saddles, horses, ant
whether the men present had ever aid
ed proslavery men in coming into tn
Territory, or done the Free-State part,
any harm, or intended to do it an,
harm. Satisfactory answers were re
ceived from Harris and Whiteman, an.
they were allowed to remain where the
were found. William Sherman wa
killed in the same manner as the young
er Doyles and Wilkinson. The horri
bic gashes made by the broadswords o
sabers of the Browns gave rise to tn
story that the victims were mutilated
but there is no reason to think that tn