The Indianapolis journal., 1889-12-01

us
was now smarting under the sense of de-
feat Mt the hands of the men whose sub
Scrvis Mt tool he had been. The third day
was there went 10 the White House, sent
IN my card, and was admitted to the pres
ence Of the President at once. / told him
who was. and presented the papers which
bore. When / had done this he turned
npon me with rage aud torrent of inyec-
tive. l never heard anything like II before.
was no epithet. no synonym for
any kind or degree of scoundrelism
which he aid not apply to the free-State
men. was standing. and so was ne. After
twenty minutes of this TRADE he suddenly
became calm, asked ME to be seated and
requested me TO tell my story l was never
an easy or fluent talker. but forgot all
about that when | opened to the Demo-
cratic President. began by telling him
was q Massachusetts, Democrat. and had
voted for him in 1852; that went TO Kan
sas 20 make home for myself and family:
related to him my purchase OF the hotel
IN Kansas City, or the persecution had
an active Free-soiier, but because
was a Massachusetts man, and did
not believe in the border rutiian
regime. i told him that the sleeping
room of my wife and children had been
fired into in the night time in order 10 ter
rorize them and compel me to leave my
property. / recited the facts connected
with the burning of my hotel in Lawrence
and the interruption of my business. Il
gave him an account of outrage upon out
rage upon Free-State settlers. / had not
talked long before he was an intent listener,
and long before had concluded tears were
coarsing down his cheeks.
AT the conclusion of my hour and a
halfs talk the President said he would re-
move Governor Shannon. and asked me
whom the Free-State men wanted. L told
them that they had nc choice. but would
be satisfied with any honest. Intelligent
and independent man. After mentioning
several names. he asked me how Geary:
of Pennsylvania, would do. / tod
him that he would be acceptable,
and he said he would appoint him. which
be did. although the Free-State people IN
Washington said he would not do it.
Il then went to Philadelphia to attend
the convention which nominated General
Fremont. Then / visited the active Free
State men IN Boston. who furnished the
sinews OF war. and also attended a large
meeting in Buffalo. of the friends of free
dom in Kansas. called to see what steps
should be taken to strengthen the Free
State men. 1t was there decided to send on
men, pay ing their expenses and maintain
ing them. and was chosen to take charge
of the expedition. being nominated By Gov.
Reeder for the position. l proceeded to
Chicago at once. A company of seventy
tive men had been raised there and sent
forward. but were waiting near Iowa City
bone of contention. To that point went,
and showed my papers. 1t was proposed to
take vote to see If all should go ahead. /
said no; only want those who were willing
to go. and asked those who were not to
stand aside. Two men stood forth. made
Captain Harvey. of Chicago captain of the
company. In Iowa we overlook the COM
mand of Captain Cutler. of Worcester.
Mass, which numbered about two hundred
men. This detachment had OK teams.
About four miles from Nebraska City, we
overtoot the command of Gen. Jim Lane,
with 1SJ men, most OF whom were without
shoes, and with very little to eat.
These men were shod and provisioned
from the stores aud money furnished
me. Mr.. Hyatt. of New York. president,
and DR.. Howe. of Boston. secretary of the
Free-State national committee, met me at
Nebaska City.
This body of men has been called Jim
Lanes Army. That IL all right. General
Lane rendered the Free-State cause eminent
service in those days, and am free to ac-
cord him just credit for all he did, but il is
fact OF history that his detachment be-
rection marched into Kansas. The journey
was one OF great hardship. The weather
was hot, the OK teams were slow, streams
had to be bridged and roads built, but men
never stood hardships better. and we ar
rived in Lawrence, the Free-State head
great delight of the Free-State men. The
success OF the expedition proved that men
could be marched 400 miles or more from
the free States into Kansas.
''At this time all of the Free-State leaders
were held IN arrest by the Governor includ-
ing such able men as Governor Robinson,
General Ditzler, Jenkins and editor Brown.
In fact. there was no prominent man left TO
consult. / saw that a crisis was at hand.
We must have food and ammunition. We
could get nothing by the Missouri river,
but every thing must be hauled over the
trackless prairie with teams from the rail
road ternhni III lOwa-Over four hundred
m:les. Even a small number of people SD
far away from the base of supplies and
liable to have their trains interrupted by
the. border rufiians, were precari-
Ouslv situated. On the other
hand. the border ruffians had ali
tluence of the federal government behind
them. i decided at once to 90 back to
Tabor. "A vigorous Iowa town. made mp of
Free-State men, and which was one Of our
depots, and solicit contributions of food
and teams to transport them to Kansas. /
left on horseback, attended by Colonel
Dickey, of Topeka, and made n hurried
journey. The people contributed so liber-
ally that IN the course OF few days had
fair-sized wagon traiu of -four and corn
meal and meat. | purchased all the pow
der could find in the vicinity and a hogs
head of lead pipe in Council Bluffs, for
bullets. This band of Democrats said
should not have; but the zeal and tact of
III.
most ably by a. ID. Searles. who
served subsequently, in the Union army. The
day before my train was to start word came
to me that $50 armed border rufiians were
awaiting my appearance down on the Kan
sas line. As had no force to fight them
decided TO go on to Chicago and raise a
force that could whip any band of border
ruffians- Taking Robert Morrow, who has
since resided IN Atchison. Kan, and has
kept one of the best hotels in the State
there. / went to Chicago to collect and
equip force. No better man than Morrow
could have been found.
"Our Chicago friends were out of funds
but twenty patriotic men pledged $500
each, and before that $4,000 was ex-
pended the liberal friends of free Kansas
in the East had forwarded sufficient funds
To fit ont the expedition. Men came for
ward freely, and better men never enlisted
in q good cause. They were men of intelli-
gence and character, professional men,
farmers merchants and teachers. They
left their professions and employments to
endure hardship and stern discipline that
Kansas might be saved from the blight of
slavery. In three weeks We were back
at Tabor with an ample outfit and an in
voice of Sharpe's rifles from the East over
what we needed TO arm our men. Quite a
number of families joined us. We had a
| field piece. and were in readiness to meet
| any border ruffian band that might desire
| TO try titles with us.
"One night. the man whose name was a
| terror to border ruffians, and whose life was
souuhf % xvaa that of mn ofhor ,,.u ~