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a victorious clan of savages, or those of the Goths and Vandals. Some of them rode through the streets of Westport and Kansas City the next day, their horses adorned with cords and tassels, and their persons with sashes, taken from the windows of the Free State Hotel.

CHAPTER XXXII.

DIFFICULTIES AT LEAVENWORTH,

The posse dispersed the day after the sacking of Lawrence and retired towards the border. Some of the Southerners, disgusted with what they witnessed, returned home; others rejoicing in robbery, rapine and murder, lingered in the Territory and on the Border committing depredations. As some of them retired from Franklin they robbed Fish's grocery, ransacked his house, tore down his fences and took some of his horses. The day following the destruction of Lawrence General Atchison with his company of Platte County riflemen, rode through the place, dragging one piece of artillery, and crossed the Kansas River at the north side of town. He had previously obtained permission to pass through from the citizens.

The Westport paper delivered a war appeal simply because some boys had remarked to a pro-slavery man in Lawrence that it was not safe for him to remain there. It called upon the Missourians and Southerners to stay in the Territory, and not only finish the demolition of Lawrence, but level "every other abolition settlement in Kansas with the ground." In response to this appeal Captain Pate, with a company of Westport gentry, which were denominated as "Shannon's Sharp Shooters," and Coleman, the murderer of Dow, remained between Lawrence and Westport, south of the Kaw, where they would stop travellers and rob them, search the United States mail, plunder loaded wagons, steal

or take horses and provision from the settlers, and commit depredations generally.

The free state men scattered and disorganized, driven in many instances to madness, began 'at this time to form guerrilla companies for retaliation and self-defense. The leading free state men had no part in the organizations. They were composed of youths deprived of their situations and little worldly possessions by the destruction of Lawrence, and of men of reckless character, who rejoiced in the opportunity to destroy, rob and pillage. They confined their operations chiefly against pro-slavery men, who had taken an active part in the troubles, and against similar bands of Border Ruffians. At one time they stole three horses from Captain Pate's company; again a party of eight secreted themselves in a ravine and fired upon eighteen Southerners as they rode by. They killed several, put the rest to flight, and captured horses and arms. A squad of free state guerrillas robbed and trespassed upon a pro-slavery man by the name of Bernhardt, in the same way that Pate's company treated the Shawnee Indian Fish.

Thus the country was soon infested by roaming bands of guerrillas, vieing with each other in deeds of violence and wrong. Whenever opposite factions met there was a fight, and wherever they moved, oppression, robbery and bloodshed marked their course.

The people of Lecompton, quaking under a guilty conscience, with the plunder of Lawrence in their houses, became alarmed lest the free state men should attack the town. Governor Shannon, who had already lost two fine horses, shared in the feeling of the inhabitants. From this fact, and seeing the pro-slavery men generally worsted in guerrilla encounters, the Governor ordered the United States troops posted at Lecompton, Lawrence and Topeka, to preserve the peace, and " as the only way to prevent civil war between the two contending parties."

There was a brave and determined free state man by the

name of Captain Walker, who lived between Lecompton and Lawrence. He became Colonel in the war for the Union, in which he distinguished himself. He now lives at Lawrence. The pro-slavery men hated him intensely, and decreed his destruction. While in camp at Lecompton, Colonel Titus said "he would have his head on or off his shoulders, and for it would give any man five hundred dollars." A party from the pro-slavery camp resolved to make an attempt to secure this outlaw. Captain Walker having been informed of the intended attack, gathered some thirty of his neighbors together at his house. They posted themselves and awaited the attack. About midnight a party of twelve men rode up before the house, all armed with revolvers and bowie knives. Several of them dismounted and entered the yard. Just as they were preparing to march up to the house, Captain Walker and his men fired. One horse fell dead in the gate-way, and in the twinkling of an eye every one made a hasty retreat. Some dropped their knives and revolvers; one, in his hurried jump over the paling fence, left a portion of his coat-tail with a bottle of whisky in it, dangling in the air. As they skedaddled they rushed into another squad of Captain Walker's men, and two were captured. The prisoners were detained during the night, but liberated next morning, promising to amend in the future.

They, however, ungratefully repaid their liberators. They reported the names of those who had come to Captain Walker's defense, and writs were made out against them. The Captain was compelled to leave his house and find safety in ravines or thickets. Judge Wakefield, one engaged in the defense, on learning that a writ had been issued against him, set out to leave the Territory, with a view of gathering a company of men and returning, but was arrested at Leavenworth and brought back to Lecompton, where he was soon liberated.

About the same time an attack was made upon the house

of Mr. Storrs, who lived on a beautiful claim on Washington Creek. He, with five men, was in his cabin determined to defend it, while a party of Georgians were reconnoitering and planning an attack. A widow lady, on observing their demonstration and comprehending their nature, mounted a horse and galloped to Lawrence for help. Two dragoons and three free state men hurried to the rescue. As they approached, the Georgians, observing them, fled. When within two hundred yards, they were commanded by those in the cabin, who mistook them for their enemies, to "halt," but on they came at full gallop. Failing to regard the summons "halt," which was again shouted, the fire of a half a dozen rifles flashed from the cabin. "In a twinkling, both the foremost dragoons rolled over, horse and man; one with a bullet in his arm, and another in his leg; both horses were wounded, and though the other dragoon was not shot, he came down with an emphasis that left him stretched for a minute or two senseless. In his summersault his sabre flew out of its scabbard and the scabbard bent double." As the firing was kept up and the bullets whistled their piercing music, the company which had come to succor the free state men hurried away. They supposed that the house had been taken and occupied by the Southerners, and knew no better until the next day when the mutual mistake was discovered.

During all these troubles Governor Shannon at Lecompton was under the control of the South Carolinians. He was feasted and toasted by them until he entirely lost sight. of his dignity and responsibility. The Southerners being generally worsted in guerrilla encounters, at their suggestion, the Governor not only had United States troops posted at Lecompton to protect the place against a general attack, but at the head of a squad began his memorable perigrinations through the Territory in search of Sharp's rifles. He went from house to house, ransacked household goods and wherever he could pick up a musket, shot-gun

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