well known assault at IIarper's Ferry, which cost him and two of his sons their lives.

Captain John Brown, Jr., upon hearing that Lawrence was menaced by a large body of invaders, set out with a company of sixty men to join in the defence of that place; but in consequence of the peace policy adopted, his services were never brought into requisition. After the sacking of the town he returned, disbanded his men and retired to work on his claim.

Pro-slavery men in the region of Osawattomie had for some time been very impudent, bold and threatening. The spirit of extermination which incited the destroyers of Lawrence and which had been breathing its threats along the Border all spring, at once seized the pro-slavery men of that section. To illustrate this fact, the case of Mr. Bell, who now lives near Baldwin City, will suffice. He had come from Missouri a short time before and settled in a pro-slavery neighborhood near where he still lives. He occupied a house belonging to a pro-slavery man and was kindly received by that party, they supposing, as he came from Missouri, that he was all "sound on the goose." But ascertaining his free state proclivities, they dropped him, and about the time that Lawrence was invaded, ordered him out of the house. In vain he entreated to be allowed to remain until his wife would recover from her sickness, and that he might be able to look around for another house. The order was imperative and with his afflicted family he moved into a rail pen for shelter. Leaving his family with only provision enough for two days he went to Missouri for a supply, but on his return, when within eight miles of home, was seized, taken back and held prisoner, though he earnestly importuned to be allowed to convey his provisions to his famishing wife and children.

While the men about 'Osawattomie were absent at Lawrence, their pro-slavery neighbors visited their defenseless, families, insulted and notified them to leave the country,

and threatened, in case they did not observe this order to kill them all. A certain man who had a store was shockingly abused because he had furnished the free state men ammunition when they set out for Lawrence. It was then, and is yet, believed by the residents of that part of the country that a plan had been arranged for the destruction of all the free state men in the neighborhood the latter part of May and especially those of the Browns.

On the return of Captain John Brown, junior, and his company, and learning the deep laid plots of assassination, a

council was held near Osawattomie, at which the question of taking the field and engaging in actual hostilities was discussed, of which Captain John Brown, senior, warmly advocated the affirmative. The majority of the company on its being put to vote, deciding against him, he stepped out from the ranks, and with sword upraised, called upon all who were willing to begin "the war in earnest " to follow him. About eight responded, and with them, he left the camp of his son, to begin his memorable career. Proceeding up the Maries Des Cygnes a short distance, he halted his men, and there, in the still and deep-tangled

woods, held a council. Exactly what was said is not known. But Brown soon infused in his followers his own spirit of determination and hostility to slavery. At this council it was determined whenever any demonstration towards executing the plot to massacre free state men should be made that certain parties should be killed on the spot.

While Brown went North for aid, on the night of the 24th of May, Mr. Doyle and his two sons, Mr. Sherman and Mr. Wilkinson, were all taken from their houses and murdered. The act had been precipitated in consequence of certain outrages committed by the above mentioned parties the day before. Old Brown, who was absent at the time, fully sustained and approved of the deed.

Good people every where were shocked at the announcement of this seeming act of barbarity, so utterly at variance with the conduct and policy of free state men, many of whom strongly denounced it. But still, when men became familiar with the aggravating causes, the awful state of affairs in that section of the Territory, they viewed the matter in a different light. While all the reasons, which we have sought truthfully to state, that impelled the actors in this bloody drama, may not excuse their conduct, they tend in a great degree to palliate it. Perhaps it approaches. nearer a cold blooded atrocity than any other which attaches itself to free state men in Kansas. While, therefore, we would not excuse, though we would not censure unjustly, an outraged and oppressed community, we can but deplore the occurrence, as partaking too much of the remorseless character of the Border Ruffians.

This occurrence, like the "murder of Jones," was used as a pretext for new outrages by Southerners and Missourians. The usual "war extras" were issued, S. G. Cato exerted himself to bring the murderers to justice, Shannon was petitioned for troops and arms, a messenger was dispatched to Fort Scott for aid, and every thing was hurry and confusion, as though an invading army was upon them.

Accordingly, Governor Shannon dispatched Captain Wood, then commanding at Lawrence, to the scene of dif ficulties. In a day afterwards, receiving word that armed bands were collecting on the Pottowattomie Creek, he sent Lieutenant Church with a small detachment to investigate the facts. This officer proceeded south of Lawrence about eighteen miles, where he met Captain Brown with a force of about eighty men, whom he commanded to disperse. Agreeable with this requisition, Captain Brown and his men repaired to their homes; the Lieutenant returned and reported that there were no men collecting for the purpose of invading the Territory.

For the purpose of capturing or destroying "Old Brown," Captain Pate, towards the last of May, set out for Osawattomie with his company of "Shannon's Sharp Shooters." He was a Virginian by birth, good looking and intelligent. Of some experience as a journalist, he made an excellent. correspondent of the "Missouri Republican," in which he gave the pro-slavery version of Kansas matters. He took an active part with the Border Ruffians, and seemed to enjoy the invasions as the happy diversions of life. At the sacking of Lawrence he rode a fine horse, decorated with ribbons.

On arriving in the neighborhood of Osawattomic, he captured two of "Old Brown's" sons, John, a member of the State Legislature, and Jason, both of whom he found quietly working on their farms. They were charged with murder, kept in irons and treated with severity. Captain l'ate proceeded to arrest other persons, and burn houses. Shortly Captain Wood arrived, when the prisoners were delivered over to him, by whom they were treated with the same inhumanity. Being unable to find Captain Brown, Sen., Pate, with his company and United States troops, set out, on the 31st of May, for the Sante Fe road. The troops, with the prisoners, encamped on Middle Ottowa Creek. They afterwards continued their journey to Lecompton,

distant twenty miles. The prisoners were driven before the dragoons, in the hot sun, chained two and two. John Brown, Jr., who was of a sensitive nature, excited by the horrid stories told him about the murder of his father, became insane while in the camp at Leavenworth.

Captain Pate and his company advanced as far as Hickory Point, on the Santa Fe Road, and encamped on the head of a small branch called Black Jack. His camp was five miles south-east of Palmyra, and the same distance in an eastern direction from Prairie City, at the head of a ravine in the edge of the prairie. "The bottom of the ravine at Black Jack, besides the growing timber, had some deep water drains or ruts, round which was a thicket. There was also several bogs on the spot where the camp was.”

That night Captain Pate's company plundered Palmyra, and took several prisoners-Dr. Graham, of Prairie City, who was out reconnoitering, and Father Moore, a Baptist Preacher. The latter was an old man, from Missouri, and known to some of his captors. They cruelly maltreated him by putting a funnel in his mouth and pouring whisky down his throat, in order, as they said, "to make the old preacher drunk." On the following morning they returned and completed the plundering of the place. In the afternoon they undertook to repeat the same thing on Prairie City. Six men started upon this expedition. It being Sunday, people of that village were assembled in the house of worship. But men went armed in those days, even to church, and when the watchman announced the approach of the Missourians, the congregation rushed out; the men threw themselves in front of the enemy and captured two of them and made strange music for the balance.

Meantime every effort had been made to discover Pate's encampment, with the design of attacking it and releasing the prisoners. Captain Brown was on the tramp all the time. “Like a wolf," says a contemporary writer, “ robbed of its young, he stealthily but resolutely, watched for his

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