ordered with his command and Deputy Marshal Fain, to proceed to the scene of disturbance.

This proclamation deterred and diminished the gathering of the free state forces. Nevertheless by June 5, there were encamped at Hickory Point, about one mile from Palmyra, one hundred and eleven free state men, composed of fifteen from Franklin, a few from Bloomington under Captain Walker, some from Lawrence under Captain Cracklin, and Captain Abbott's company. Captain Shore with forty men was encamped back of Prairie City; while a few miles further west was a regular guerrilla band of young free state men under Captain Lenhart, formerly a printer in Lawrence, twenty in all, with whom were Cooke* and Hopkins, who sometimes acted as Captains of guerrilla parties. The whole number of free state men then under arms in that vicinity was about two hundred.

Colonel Sumner, who had started on the 4th, arrived in Prairie City on the 5th of June. There were then in that vicinity, within a space of four miles square, three distinct forces numbering in all about seven hundred men. Learning the position of Captain Shore's company, Colonel Sumner first went and dispersed it. He would not likely have discovered Captain Brown's camp in the woods had not the latter heard that he wished to see him. He, therefore, dispatched a messenger to Colonel Sumner to inform him if such was the fact he would come out and have an interview. The Colonel sent back the messenger to tell him to come out. Captain Brown, thinking that Colonel Sumner wished only to hold a military conference, was some what surprised when he came in the presence of this official to find himself a prisoner. Yielding himself up without resistsnce he led Colonel Sumner and the Deputy Marshal to his camp. There lay twenty-seven prisoners guarded by fifteen of Brown's men. But Colonel Sumner afterwards remarked that Brown had so entrenched himself in the choice selec

"Hung at Harper's Ferry.

tion of his company ground that a thousand men could not have taken him. When the Deputy Marshal, who was filled with trepidation at the thought that the surrounding forest was likely filled with armed free state men, replied that he had no writs to execute upon any person there, he was upbraided by Colonel Sumner for having told him the contrary.

The prisoners, who had been treated with marked kindness during their detention, were set at liberty. Their horses, baggage, arms and camp equipage, were restored to them. When Colonel Sumner saw the United States arms handed over to the prisoners, he administered a scathing rebuke to Captain Pate for thus employing United States property to such an unauthorized and dishonorable purpose. Brown's company was ordered to disperse. When the Captain reminded the Colonel that free state men could not disband and retire to their homes, while an invading army was in their midst destroying lives and property, the latter promised that he would at once visit Whitfield and disperse his force.

Colonel Sumner then proceeded to General Whitfield's camp, where he was received very courteously. They represented themselves as residents of the Territory, assembled in arms to release their neighbors who were held prisoners, and to protect the country from the outrages of a belligerent foe. Colonel Sumner, having accomplished this object partially, and assuring them he would fully, they promised, on their honor, to disperse and return to their homes.

Accordingly Sumner fell back towards Prairie City and encamped. The next day he returned to Fort Leavenworth. General Whitfield and his command removed. to Black Jack and encamped that night on the spot where the battle had been fought. Captain Pate and his company were with him. On their way thither they captured a young free state settler by the name of Cantral, and plun

dered a house. Cantral was a Missourian and had participated with the free state party in the battle of Black Jack. Early next morning Whitfield's army decamped and divided. About one hundred and seventy under Captain Reed, of Independence, Captains Pate, Bell and Jenigen, started for Osawattomie; twenty more started for Washington Creek, where they lived; the remainder, under Whitfield, left for Missouri, carrying with them the prisoners, of whom they had several. When the latter division had proceeded some fifteen miles in the direction of Westport, they encamped on Cedar Creek. Here they went through the farce of trying Cantral as a traitor to Missouri and found him guilty. He was then led away by four men, one of whom was Milt McGee, of Westport, into a ravine and shot. Cantral's body was afterwards found with three bullet holes in his breast and taken home to his afflicted widow. Several other prisoners were supposed to have been killed in the same way, as seven dead bodies were afterwards found in that vicinity. Mr. Bell, who now lives near Baldwin City, was one of the prisoners and witnesse d the facts as above narrated.

When Cantral was first taken, efforts were made to get Colonel Sumner to effect his release but in vain. This officer relied too much upon the empty pledge of Whitfield.

When, however, the next day three pro-slavery guerrillas were seized and held prisoners by free state men, Colonel Sumner immediately sent a squad of dragoons to rescue them.

The division of invaders under Captain Reed encamped at Paola on the evening of the 5th of June. A messenger from Osawattomie came from the free state camp near Palmyra, informed them of the expected attack and solicited assistance. Efforts were made to get the United States troops to move to the protection of the town, but it was answered that a force under Major Sedgewick was encamped in the vicinity of that place which could preserve order

and prevent injury. On the following morning Sedgewick with his forces, unaware of the attack to be made upon Osawattomie, moved several miles further up. But the settlers and those aware of the movements of the Border Ruffians did not believe that they designed to attack the place but merely to surround the town and cut off travelers and supplies on the road. The consequence was, there was no preparation made for defense.

Early on the morning of the sixth of June these Missouri forces decamped and marched for Osawattomie. They entered the town suddenly, startling the inhabitants by their presence. They began that wholesale pillage which characterized the sack of Lawrence. Stores were entered and their contents appropriated; private dwellings burst open and rummaged; horses, guns, clothes, liquors, etc., etc., were taken, while the air was rent with wildest profanity and deadly threats all over town. The printing press which had not yet been put up, was hunted for in vain by the destroyers. They took womens' apparel-petticoats, earrings, dresses, &c.; set fire to several houses which was put out by the inhabitants. When they had gathered all the plunder they could carry, they hastily retreated lest the abolitionists should come upon them, and retired to the Border, like hawks to the solitudes, to feast upon their booty.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

RELIEF FOR KANSAS AND THE DISPERSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

It would be too tedious and painful to relate the many outrages that were committed during the summer. Guerrilla bands scoured the country; men were robbed on the highway; several hung in the forests, and many shot down on the prairies. Women were insulted and violated; families driven from their claims, their houses burnt, and fields laid waste. Few were the harvests reaped, and little was the provision stored away. All the evils of civil war filled the land.

Not content with oppressing and driving out the free state settlers of Kansas, the "law and order party" stopped emigrants, robbed and turned them back. Ten families, from Iowa and Illinois, with farming implements and household furniture, moving in wagons, were stopped near Platte City, by one hundred and fifty men, armed with United States muskets, bowie-knives, revolvers and shot guns. Their wagons were searched, a few gaming rifles taken, and the whole body of emigrants forbid entering the Territory. They were turned back, and finally found lodgement in some old houses, ten miles beyond Liberty, where they remained until the troubles were over. Seventeen other emigrants, from Illinois, were robbed and scattered by a mob at Leavenworth.

Boats containing passengers coming up the Missouri river were stopped and searched. Arms, clothing, money and other