his mistake-that this convention was not the Legislature to which the proclamation referred and hence could make no reply.

About noon Colonel Sumner, who seems to have been aware of the time the Legislature was to convene, approached the town with his companies of dragoons in battle array. At the centre of their front, the American Flag floated to the breeze, and a band was playing "Hail Columbia, Happy Land." They moved rapidly and impressively down Kansas Avenue and wheeled into line, facing Legislative Hall. It being the 4th of July, two companies of Topeka volunteers were drawn up near where the troops halted to receive a banner from the ladies, and the street was filled with men, women and children. Two cannon were also planted up the street a few hundred yards, loaded, the fuses smoking, and the cannoneers ready for the word "fire.” The dragoons from the bottom approached the edge of town, on the north, and stood in readiness for a charge. Thus was the entrance, as though they expected armed resistance.

Colonel Sumner, having got his troops posted to suit him, dismounted and entered the Hall of the Legislature. The House was not yet called to order and the Speaker was absent. Colonel Sumner walked forward to the platform and was given a seat. The hour having arrived for calling the House to order, the First Clerk struck the gavel several times on the desk, and began calling the roll. No quorum answering to their names, the Sergeant-at-arms was requested to bring in absentees. The roll was called again and only seventeen responded, although twice that number of members were present. There evidently was a fear on the part of many, that thus answering to their names would subject them to arrest.

When the Clerk had finished calling the roll the second time Colonel Sumner arose and said:

“GENTLEMEN: I am called upon this day to perform the most painful duty of my whole life. Under authority of the President's proclamation, I am here to disperse this Legislature, and therefore inform you that you can not meet. I, therefore, order you to disperse. God knows that I have no party feeling in this matter, and will hold none so long as I occupy my present position in Kansas. I have just returned from the Borders, where I have been sending home companies of Missourians, and now I am ordered here to disperse you. Such are my orders, and you must disperse. I now command you to disperse. I repeat that this is the most painful duty of my whole life."

Judge Schuyler asked, "Colonel Sumner, are we to understand that the Legislature will be driven out at the point of the bayonet?"

Colonel Sumner "I shall use all the forces at my command to carry out my orders."

The House dispersed according to orders, and Colonel Sumner repaired to the Senate. It was not yet called to order when he entered. He immediately proceeded to inform them of his orders, and that they must disperse. No one making any response, he asked:

"Well, gentlemen, do you consider yourselves dispersed ?" Mr. Thornton, President of the Senate, replied: "Colonel Sumner, the Senate is not in session, and can not make any reply to you; neither can any member of it.”

On being asked if they might be permitted to convene so as to receive communications as a body, the Colonel replied: "No; my orders are that you must not be permitted to meet, and I can not allow you to do any business." After a threat of arrest by the Marshal, which was received with scorn, and a few more remarks by different individuals, Mr. Pillsbury said: "Colonel Sumner, we are in no condition to resist the United States troops; and if you order us to disperse, of course we must disperse." At the sugges

tion of Colonel Allen, this expression was assented to as the sentiment of all. Colonel Sumner then left the Hall and retired with his force to camp in disgust. He was mad when ordered to disperse the Legislature, and hurried through it as a dirty piece of business.

BOLD STROKES AND EXTERMINATION.

It would seem, indeed, that Colonel Sumner was harsh and severe in executing his orders against the free state men. But such was not the case; he executed them as mildly as the harsh and severe orders would permit. Ilis sympathies were with the free state men; but he never expressed himself publicly, and most carefully concealed his feelings as a man; took no part whatever in politics, and only sought to do his duty as a military officer. He was, therefore, some times censured by one party and then by the other; but generally enjoyed the confidence and respect of free state men. The latter part of July this faithful officer was superseded in his command at Fort Leavenworth for no other reason, it was supposed, than the impartial discharge of his duty. He treated both parties alike, and on that account the President sent an officer to outrank him. He was a strict disciplinarian, respected by his soldiers, by whom he was termed "Old Bull of the Woods," on account of his gruffness. He remained at Fort Leavenworth for some time afterwards. He fought bravely in the late war for the Union, through several important battles in which he was known as Major-General Edwin V. Sumner, and finally died early in 1863, at Syracuse, New York.

General Percifer F. Smith superseded Colonel Sumner in command at Fort Leavenworth. He was born in Pennsylvania, but had spent much of his life in Louisiana, and was intensely pro-slavery in feeling and sentiment. His health

had been failing for a long while, and he was confined to his room pretty much all the time he remained in Kansas, which was only until February, 1867. He had distinguished himself at the storming of Monterey.

About the 1st of August a road was opened through Iowa and Nebraska to Kansas, and emigration began to flow over it. This was the "advent of Lane's Northern army," of which a full account will hereafter be given. The first that came through was General J. H. Lane, who immediately became a terror to pro-slavery men. The mere mention of his name would cause them to quake, and news of his approach would create a stampede of the citizens in every pro-slavery town.

The free state guerrillas had in most instances retired. from the field about the 1st of July, upon the assurances from Colonel Sumner that the Border Ruffians would be driven from the Territory. Although this officer had exerted himself in performing his duty, still the Ruffians would assemble in Indian reserves, and unfrequented places, and continue their depredations upon the surrounding country and passing travelers.

By the first of August the Ruffians had fortified themselves in various places, from which "strongholds they would sally forth, 'press' horses and cattle, intercept the mails, rob stores and dwellings, plunder travelers, burn houses and destroy crops." At the solicitation of the neighbors, on account of the outrages committed by this band, the fort near Osawattomie was attacked on the 5th of August by a company of free state men. The Georgians, who were in command of it, on learning that the free state men were approaching, abandoned the post and fled, leaving a large quantity of plunder. The Fort was taken and demolished.

The Georgians retreated to another Fort on Washington Creek, about twelve miles from Lawrence, where they renewed their plundering upon the settlers. The officers of