CHAPTER XXI.

WAKARUSA WAR.

The people of Missouri were not long in responding to the call of their fellow-citizen, Mr. Jones, for help. On the 29th of November, only two days after the word had been sent, a company of about fifty, from the neighborhood of Westport and Independence, arrived and encamped at Franklin, about four miles below Lawrence. These were the first reinforcements that came to the relief of the Sheriff. For several days from this time companies almost constantly arrived. In Clay County they seized the arms from the United States arsenal, rifles, swords, revolvers, three 6-pounders, ammunitions, &c. For two or three counties back from the western line of Missouri, troops were sent fully equipped and expecting a fight. In three days more the Sheriff of Douglas County mustered a posse of about fifteen hundred men. Said Governor Shannon, “Missouri sent not only her young men, but her gray-headed citizens were there. The man of seventy winters stood shoulder to shoulder with the youth of sixteen. There were volunteers in that camp who brought with them not only their sons, but their grandsons, to join, if need be, in the expected fray. Every hour added to the excitement, and brought new fuel to the flame."

The main force was encamped near Franklin, in the Wakarusa bottom, and was known as the "Wakarusa En

campment." The other wing of the army was in position. near Lecompton, under the joint command of Strickler and Richardson. These forces were chiefly from Platte and Buchanan Counties, Missouri. There were about fifty proslavery residents among them, principally Kickapoo Rangers. At no time in all the encampments of the invading forces were there more than eighty residents of the Territory. Opposite Lawrence, on the north side of the Kansas River, some two hundred riflemen from Platte County were stationed, under the command of Hon. D. R. Atchison, who had come in response to Secretary Woodson's call.

The object of the pro-slavery Generals in thus surrounding the town was to prevent the escape of those for whom the Sheriff had writs to arrest, and to cut off all communication with the beleagued city. The intervening country between the encampments, was constantly scoured by mounted patrols.

The editors of the "Squatter Sovereign" both entered upon the crusade and left their press idle. Here are their words when on the eve of the expedition:

"In view of the exciting state of affairs, the Governor of Kansas has called out the Militia to execute the laws. Men are hourly passing our office with their guns on their back, going to the assistance of the officers of the law. A large company with two pieces of artillery have started from Atchison county. As both of the editors of this paper are going to the seat of war, we have no time to enter further particulars. We anticipate blood-shed, and we, the junior, expect to wade waist deep in the blood of the abolitionists."

Meanwhile active preparations were going on at Lawrence for the reception of the armed host. The rescuers who lived at Hickory Point had returned home. Messrs. S. N. Wood, S. F. Tappan and S. C. Smith, all of whom lived at Lawrence, and who were connected with the rescue, and Branson, remained. When it was ascertained that a force was gathering on the Wakarusa, in order not to jeop

ardize the safety of the town for their protection, all those concerned in the rescue, who lived at Lawrence, were requested to leave. This was evidently a very prudent and judicious measure, as Lawrence had taken no part in the rescue, and was in no way responsible for it; besides it would leave an attack upon the town wholly unjustifiable.

The Committee of Safety first organized the citizens into guards, from fifteen to twenty in a squad, by enrolling them and taking the places of their residence, in order to call them out at any moment. By this measure the people were enabled to pursue their daily engagements, and be ready to fly to arms at a given signal.

The Committee of Safety, as affairs grew more threatening, sent the following call for assistance through the Territory:

"FELLOW-CITIZENS :-We, whose names are annexed hereto, having been appointed a Committee of Public Safety by the citizens of Kansas, assembled at Lawrence, for the purpose of defending it from threatened invasion by armed men now quartered in its vicinity, hereby deem it necessary to call upon you to come to our aid fully prepared for any emergency. [Signed,] COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. "LAWRENCE, K. T., December 4, 1855."

The news of the invasion and the designs of the Missourians to destroy Lawrence, spread over the country, and free state men from every quarter, rushed to the assistance of the threatened people. They came in squads and companies; the one from Topeka, numbering one hundred men, was the largest. On the 2d of December, a delegation from Leavenworth arrived, to expostulate with the citizens and to council peace. But they found that they had entirely misapprehended the position of the assailed-that they were strictly on the defensive. This delegation brought the Governor's proclamation, and fuller accounts of the gathering forces from Missouri. The proclamation, which was filled with gross misrepresentations and misstatements, awakened

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deep indignation. A committee was appointed to answer it, in behalf of the people, which reported as follows:

"That the allegations contained in the proclamation aforesaid are false in whole and in part; that no such a state of facts exist in this community; that if such representations were ever made to Governor Shannon, the person or persons who made them have grossly deceived him; that no association of lawless men armed with deadly weapons has been formed in this community for the purpose of restraining the laws of the country, trampling upon the authority of its officers, destroying the property of its peaceable citizens, or molesting any person in this Territory, or elsewhere in the enjoyment of their rights."

The Executive of the United States was invoked to lend protection by the following dispatch:

"To his Excellency, the President of the United States:

"SIR-We, the citizens of Kansas Territory, notify you that the city of Lawrence is besieged by armed men from a neighboring State, committing depredations upon the unoffending citizens of said Territory, stopping and arresting persons, and seizing the property of travelers, threatening the destruction of said city and its inhabitants. The lawless assemblage, it is claimed, is here under the authority of Wilson Shannon, Governor of said Territory. We trust you will take such steps as will remove this armed horde from our borders, and restore peace to our people.

"LAWRENCE, December 4, 1855."

"MARCUS J. PArrott, "J. H. LANE,

"J. S. EMERY.

The following letter was sent to Colonel Sumner at Fort Leavenworth, signed by the Committee of Safety:

"SIR: We, the Committee of Public Safety, appointed by the citizens of Kansas Territory, assembled at Lawrence, being beleagued by a body of armed who have marched here from a neighboring State, and who are threatening the

town of Lawrence with destruction, and our citizens with immediate death, as well as committing all manner of depredations upon unoffending travelers on the highway, all of which is being done without our being able to understand the cause of provocation, therefore, if consistent with. your discretion and duty, we request of you a sufficient force from your command to quell this riot, and prevent further invasion of our peace and safety.'

The following memorial was prepared and sent to Congress:

"To the Honorable the United States Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled: Your memorialists, citizens of the United States, and residents of Kansas Territory, respectfully represent unto your Honorable body, that, without any justifiable cause whatever, Governor Shannon has caused to be issued a proclamation, and under it military orders have been issued, calling upon the militia of Kansas and Missouri to meet at certain points within the Territory, armed and equipped, and to march against certain portions of our people and territory. Copies of such proclamation, military orders, and a letter from Daniel Woodson, Secretary of the Territory, to Lucien J. Eastin, editor of the Kansas Herald,' are herewith inclosed, from which it will be seen that your memorialists are exposed to the authorized march of a military force from Missouri, who are arresting our citizens, and committing depredations on persons and property, only known in cases of war between hostile countries. Devoted, as we are, to the Constition and the Union, and estimating neither as secondary to slavery, we earnestly invoke the interposition of Congress so far as to send for persons and papers to substantiate the truth of our statements herewith inclosed.

[Signed by a very large number of the citizens of Kansas.] "Kansas Territory, Dec. 5, 1855."

Meantime Lawrence was put in an attitude of self-defense. The Committee of Public Safety appointed Dr. Charles Robinson commander-in-chief of all the forces, and Colonel J. H. Lane second in command. The following are the companies under their different commanders: Lawrence Stubbs,