On the 1st of June

him, to shield him in case of an attack. he was conveyed to Lecompton and placed in camp with seven other prisoners like himself.

Governor Reeder on the day that Marshal Fain attempted to arrest him finding it unsafe to remain longer with the Investigating Committee, retired to a friend's house in the vicinity of Lawrence. After remaining there a few days, seeing all the powers of the Government arrayed against him, and threatened by lawless ruffians, he determined to leave the Territory. But his enemies not finding him at Lawrence, had sent messengers to all the border towns to intercept his exit from the Territory. Guards were stationed along the roads and at the steamboat landings, up and down the Missouri for some distance. With the assistance of Mr. Jenkins, he eluded the vigilance of his enemies and arrived safe at Kansas City. Here Mr. Eldridge took charge of him and secreted him in the American Hotel. His concealment becoming more unsafe every day, and there being no other mode of escape, he disguised himself in the dress of an Irish laborer, cut off his whiskers and moustache, with an ax on his shoulder, a budget in his hand and a pipe in his mouth sauntered around unnoticed. As soon as it was dark, in company with Mr. Edward Eldridge, he entered a skiff on the river and rowed during that night twenty-eight miles, to Liberty Landing. Here they waited until a boat came along, when Mr. Reeder went aboard, took deck passage with the hands, and descended to St. Charles. Disembarking at this place he made his way across the country to Illinois in safety.

Mr. G. W. Brown, editor of "The Herald of Freedom," returning to Kansas City on the 14th of May, after an absence from the Territory of several weeks, soon found himself watched by a mob. This was at the same time Mr. Reeder was there. About two o'clock the following morning, it having been announced that the coast was clear, in company with Mr. Jenkins, he set out on horseback for

Lawrence. They had proceeded but a short distance before they were arrested and taken to Milt. McGee's house, one mile south of the city. The next morning they were conveyed to Westport where they were detained for some time and joined by their wives. They were subsequently conveyed, by a circuitous route, south of Lawrence, to Lecompton, and placed under guard. Mr. Jenkins was soon released, but, as we shall see, soon recaptured. Their affectionate wives clung tenaciously and tenderly to them, sheltered them from many indignities and, perhaps, murder.

The following is a copy of the indictment against the leading free state men on the charge of treason:

"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, "Territory of Kansas, County of Douglas.

"In the District Court of the First Judicial District of the Territory of Kansas. April Term, A. D. 1856.

"The Grand Jurors of the United States of America within and for the First Judicial District, Douglas County, Territory of Kansas, sworn to inquire upon their oath, present, that Andrew H. Reeder, Charles Robinson, James II. Lane, George W. Brown, George W. Deitzler, George W. Smith, Samuel N. Wood, Gaius Jenkins, late of the County of Douglas, First Judicial District of the Territory of Kansas, owing allegiance to the United States of America, wickedly devising and intending, the peace and tranquillity of the said United States, to disturb and to prevent the execution of the law thereof within the same, to wit: 'the law of the said United States, entitled an act to organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas, approved May 30, 1854, on the first day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the County, District and Territory aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this court, wickedly and traitorously did intend to levy war against the said United States within the same, and to fulfill and to bring to effect the said traitorous intention of him the said [names], afterwards, that is to say on the 17th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the said Territory, District and County aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this court,

with a great multitude of persons, whose names to the Grand Jurors are unknown to a great number, to wit: the number of one hundred persons and upwards, armed and arrayed in warlike manner, that is to say, with guns, swords, artillery, and other warlike weapons, as well offensive as defensive, being then and there unlawfully and traitorously assembled, did traitorously assemble and combine against the said United States, and then and there, with force and arms, wickedly and traitorously, and with the wicked and traitorous intention, to oppose and prevent by means of intimidation and violence, the execution of said. law of the said United States within the same, and array and dispose themselves in a warlike and hostile manner against the said United States, and then and there with force, and in pursuance of such traitorous intention, they, the said [names], with the said persons so, as aforesaid, traitorously assembled, armed and arrayed in the manner aforesaid, wickedly and traitorously did levy war against the said United States, and further, to fulfill and bring to effect the said traitorous intention of him, the said [names], and in pursuance and in execution of said wicked intention and traitorous combination, to oppose, resist and prevent the said law of the United States from being carried into execution in the Territory and District aforesaid, they, the said [names], afterwards, to wit: on the 17th day of May, A. D. 1856, in the Territory, District and County aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this court, with the said persons whose names to the said Grand Jurors aforesaid are unknown, did wickedly and traitorously assemble against said United States, with the avowed intention by force of arms and intimidation to prevent the execution of the said law of the United States, within the same, and with the intention then and there and thereby to subvert the Government of the said United States, in the same Territory of Kansas, and in pursuance and in the execution of said wicked and traitorous combination and intention, they, the said, [names], then and there, with force, with the said sons to a great number, to wit: the number of one hundred persons and upwards, armed and arrayed in a warlike manner, that is to say, with guns, pistols, swords, artillery, and other warlike weapons, as well offensive as defensive, did then and there unlawfully and traitorously assemble for the

per

purpose and design of overthrowing and subverting, by force and violence, the Government of the said United States, in the Territory of Kansas aforesaid, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and also against the peace and dignity of the United States. "A. I. ISAACS, "United States District Attorney of Kansas Territory."

CHAPTER XXX.

THE SIEGE OF LAWRENCE,

From the time Sheriff Jones first failed in his arrests at Lawrence and called upon the Governor for a posse, Border Ruffians began to congregate in the vicinity of that town. The Southerners, who had assumed nomadic habits, on coming into the Territory, were the first to encompass the devoted city.

It

The attempt upon the life of Mr. Jones was a happy pretext for the assembling of all the Border Ruffian forces. The "Squatter Sovereign" declared," His death must be avenged. His murder shall be avenged if at the sacrifice of every abolitionist in the Territory." "Wo are now in favor of leveling Lawrence and chastising the traitors there congregated, should it result in the total destruction of the Union." censured the Governor for calling upon the United States troops without first calling out the militia, to whom the duty properly belonged. In the next number the editors. suggested as the motto of the Border Ruffians in all future difficulties with the abolitionists, "war to the knife, and knife to the hilt; neither asking quarters nor granting them."

When Deputy Marshal Fain failed to arrest Reeder, instead of reporting to the Governor and applying to him for aid, he consulted with Marshal Donaldson, who issued the following proclamation that was circulated only along the Border: