Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/753

 fact that a large force of armed men have collected in the vicinity of Lawrence, and are engaged in committing depredations upon our citizens stopping wagons, arresting, threatening and robbing unoffending travelers on the highway, breaking open boxes of merchandise and appropriating the contents; have slaughtered cattle, and terrified many of the women and children.

"We also learned from governor Shannon, 'that there are no armed forces in the vicinity of this place but the regular constituted militia of the territory; this is to ask if you recognize them as your posse, and feel responsible for their acts. If you do not, we hope and trust you will prevent a repetition of Bach acts, and give peace to the settlers." Signed by the citizens.

To this communication no reply was given. "In the meantime, preparations were going forward, and vigorously prosecuted, for the sacking of Lawrence. The pro-slavery people were-to 'wipe out' this ill-fated town under authority of law. They had received the countenance of the president—the approbation of the chief-justice—the favorable presentment of the grand jury—the concurrence of the governor—the orders of the marshal,—and were prepared to consummate their purpose with the arms of the government, in the hands of a militia force gathered from the remotest sections of the Union. They concentrated their troops in large numbers around the doomed city, stealing, or, as they termed it, 'pressing into the service,' all the horses they could find belonging to free-state men, whose cattle were also slaughtered, without remuneration, to fe£d the marshal's forces; and their stores and dwellings broken open and robbed of arms, provisions, blankets and clothing. The marshal's army had a host of commanders. There was general Atchison, with the Missouri Platte county rifles, and two pieces of artillery; captain Dunn, with the Kickapoo Rangers; general Stringfellow, and colonel Abel, his law-partner, aided by doctor John H. Stringfellow, and Robert S. Kelly, editors of the Squatter Sovereign, with the forces from Doniphin, Atchison and Leavenworth; colonel Boone, with sundry aids, at the head of companies from Westport, Liberty and Independence; colonels Wilkes and Buford, with the Carolinians, Georgians and Mississippians; colonel H. T. Titus, in command of the Douglas county militia; and many others too numerous to mention. On the 19th of May, while these forces were collecting for the destruction of Lawrence, a young man from Illinois, named Jones, had been to a store near Blanton's bridge, to purchase flour, when he was attacked by two of the marshal's party, who were out as scouts. To escape these men, Jones dismounted and entered the store, into which they followed, and there abused him. He again mounted his horse and started for home, the others following, and swearing that the d—d abolitionist should not escape. When near the bridge, they leveled their guns (United States muskets,) and fired. Jones fell mortally wounded, and soon expired. On the following morning, several young men, hearing of this transaction, left Lawrence to visit the scene of the tragedy. One of these was named Stewart, who had but recently arrived from the