It was clear that the Border-Ruffians intended to make the rescue of Branson a pretext for an attack on Lawrence. The country was alarmed by messengers sent in all directions to notify the Free-State men of the danger at Lawrence. The Committee of Safety, which had been appointed the morning after the rescue of Branson, was in charge of affairs.

On the 30th it was learned that Border-Ruffians were arriving at Franklin, and that Eastin's Brigade from Leavenworth had arrived there. That there might be no reason for an attack on Lawrence, the committee caused Wood, Branson, Smith and Tappan to leave the town. Their disappearance left no person whatever in Lawrence against whom there was any complaint from Jones.

The forces of the town numbered about two hundred and fifty. The Committee of Safety appointed officers for this militia. Charles Robinson was appointed Commander-in-Chief. Colonel James II. Lane was made second in command. When it became known to the Free-State settlers of the Territory that Missourians were invading Kansas and besieging Lawrence many of them started immediately for that town. Those who had arms carried them. The larger settlements sent companies. Many a Free-State settler shouldered his gun and marched alone to Lawrence. It is of record that companies came from Palmyra, Topeka, Osawatomie, Wakarusa, Bloomington and the settlements along Ottawa Creek.

Lawrence was fortified by the construction of redoubts commanding the approaches to the town. That which was called the citadel was at the intersection of Massachusetts and Pinckney streets. It was of hewn logs deeply banked with earth, and surrounded with deep trenches. Judge J. C. Smith, with the rank of Colonel, was in command of this fortification.

The second redoubt was on Massachusetts Street near Henry Street. It was designed for artillery and was commanded by J. A. Wakefield with the rank of Colonel.

A circular redoubt on an elevation north of Henry Street, between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets, was commanded by Morris Hunt.

Colonel C. K. Holliday, of Topeka, erected a fortification south of that commanded by Colonel Wakefield. It commanded the approach of the city from the south and southwest.

The Free-State men were drilled constantly and instructed in military tactics. Those who had no arms were detailed to work on the fortifications. In addition to the two hundred Sharps' rifles which had been secured by Abbott and Deitzler, many of the Free-State men were well armed. At the period of greatest strength, Lawrence had a force of at least eight hundred men. The force increased every day. The hesitancy of Jones in attacking Lawrence gave the Free-State men encouragement. They surmised that Jones was not being sustained by the Executive, and they determined to get into communication with Shannon. A letter was written to the Governor and signed by the committee as follows:

G. P. Lowry and C. W. Babcock were appointed to get this letter through the lines and delivered to Governor Shannon at Shawnee Mission. At one o'clock Thursday morning these envoys left Lawrence to work their way through the enemy lines. They experienced difficulty in passing the Border-Ruffians, but they arrived at the Shawnee Mission about seven o'clock. What occurred at the interview with the Governor is best told by Lowry in his statement to the Investigating Committee:

On the 7th of December, Governor Shannon visited Lawrence pursuant to the invitation extended him to do so. Below Franklin he was met by a committee of ten Free-State men sent to escort him to the town. He says he was given a courteous reception. He was taken to one of the two finished rooms in the Free-State hotel, where he, Lane, and Robinson, long discussed the conditions by which they were surrounded. The fury of the Missourians caused the Governor to be apprehensive of his ability to disperse them. He had summoned Colonel Sumner to help him control them. They would have to see some results of their foray before they would return to their homes. Then, Jones and others did not want peace. The task of the Governor was not an easy one. He contended that there must be some assurance that the bogus laws would be accepted and obeyed. He also desired the arms of the Free-State men to be surrendered. Upon this point he insisted strongly.

No agreement was reached, and the Governor returned to Camp Wakarusa at about ten o'clock, P. M. The report he brought concerning the contentions of the Free-State men was not satisfactory to the Border-Ruffian captains. At one, A. M., on the 7th, he learned that some of the Missourians were preparing to raise a black flag and march on Lawrence. He was compelled to use all his power to prevent this, issuing this order:

The Border-Ruffians were in a bad humor on the morning of the 8th of December. They frankly told the Governor that unless the Free-State men surrendered their arms, Lawrence would be attacked, at the same time advising him to keep out of danger. He sought the captains. One of them finally suggested that a committee of thirteen go with him to Lawrence to try to reach an agreement. This the Governor approved. The committee met him at Franklin. We urged them to wait there until he could go to Lawrence and secure a deputation. At Lawrence he found a stipulation awaiting him. It was not satisfactory. It was re-written, and at four, P. M., signed. Thereupon Lane and Robinson went with him to Franklin to meet the captains. There, the matters in controversy were discussed for three hours. It was clear that a settlement would be reached, and the conclusion of the treaty announced. This was finally accomplished. The treaty is given:

The Governor had drawn up the orders for the Missourians to return home. These he withheld until Sunday morning, the 9th, when they were given out:

Governor Shannon remained at Camp Wakarusa until about 10 o'clock Sunday morning, when he went in company with Brigadier-General Strickler, to Lawrence. Sheriff Jones and other leading Pro-Slavery men accompanied him. In the evening he was entertained by the ladies and gentlemen of the town at the Free-State Hotel. During the evening rumors came in that the Border-Ruffians had refused to return to Missouri and that they were threatening to march on Lawrence. It was believed necessary for the Free-State men to take active measures to repel the attack. In view of the recent treaty, it was decided that the leaders should be authorized by Governor Shannon to take defensive measures. They prepared a paper vesting this authority, and presented it to the Governor for his signature, which he attached after an examination of the document. The document is here recorded:

Some controversy arose as to the exact meaning of this paper and as to whether it authorized the Free-State men to act in the future. The Border-Ruffians were keen in their criticism of the Governor for signing this paper. In justification Governor Shannon wrote a long explanation of his actions to Brewerton, the correspondent of the New York Herald. The Border-Ruffians were much disgusted with Governor Shannon and the terms of the peace he had negotiated. They were reluctant to abandon so good an opportunity to destroy the town of Lawrence. They were loud in their condemnation. The Governor's course in this matter brought him into disrepute with the Pro-Slavery element. Stringfellow, of Atchison, in addressing his company, said that Shannon had sold them out, saving. "Shannon has sold himself and disgraced himself and the whole Pro-Slavery party." Atchison said to his followers: "Boys, we cannot fight now. The position the Lawrence people have taken is such that it would not do to make an attack upon it. It would ruin the Democratic cause, too. But, boys, we will fight some time, by ___!" Jones kept his tongue in his head, but said later that if Shannon had not been a d__d fool, he would have wiped out Lawrence. The Missouri Republican contained this dispatch: "The Missouri Volunteers have disbanded and returned home in disgust, because Governor Shannon would not allow them to burn the town of Lawrence."

The Border-Ruffian camp at Lecompton contained more than four hundred men. They were much dissatisfied with the settlement and could not be disbanded until Monday night. They had come through Atchison, Doniphan, Kickapoo and Leavenworth, and they took up the march to those places. They made about ten miles a day, and at twelve o'clock on Tuesday were opposite Lawrence. There was some talk of their crossing the river and attacking the town, but this they did not do. The Lecompton correspondent of the Missouri Republican wrote, "It is true that the avenging sword of an outraged people is hard to be restrained. The objects of our ire were more the objects of pity and contempt than of our wrath. They were driven to their holes. Their country firesides and homes were left to our mercy. They stood trembling like sheep before the knife of the butcher, conceding everything, invoking the Governor to prevent the shock." It was necessary for such misrepresentations as that to be spread broadcast over the State of Missouri.

On the evening of the 10th of December (Monday), the ladies of Lawrence gave a party at the Free-State Hotel, at which there were a number of invited Pro-Slavery guests, among them, Sheriff Jones. The leaders of the Free-State party were present. Many speeches were made. Lane, Robinson, S. C. Smith, and others, addressed the assembly. On Tuesday the soldiers passed in review before the leaders and were discharged. They were addressed by Lane and Robinson in exultant speeches, which may yet be read in the papers of that day. A number of prisoners had been taken by each party. S. C. Pomeroy had started on the 6th of December to Boston to secure aid. He was captured and held at Camp Wakarusa until the negotiations were concluded. George F. Warren and Dr. G. A. Cutler were arrested at Atchison and brought to Lecompton, where Cutler suffered from illness and indignities.

It was perhaps to be expected that at least one Free-State man should be murdered before the hostilities were finally concluded. Thomas W. Barber lived on the northwest quarter of section thirteen (13), township thirteen (13), range eighteen (18), seven miles up the Wakarusa from Blanton's bridge. He volunteered for the defense of Lawrence, and was in the town until the 6th of December. In the afternoon of that day he secured leave to visit his wife, who had been left alone on the claim. Barber was unarmed, but his brother Robert, and his brother-in-law, Thomas N. Pearson, were armed. Three miles west of Lawrence they saw a body of horsemen approaching from the direction of Lecompton. It was a body of Border-Ruffians going from Lecompton to Camp Wakarusa. Two of the party, George W. Clarke and James N. Burns, left the Ruffian band and approached Barber and his companions. After some controversy, shots were fired and the parties separated. After riding a little way, Thomas Barber said he had been hit, and he had to be supported in his saddle. In a few minutes he slipped from his horse and died in the road. The shot which killed Barber was fired by Clarke. The body of Barber was brought to the Free-State hotel and his wife notified of the murder. He thus became the Kansas Martyr, almost entirely supplanting Dow.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME 1 & 2
BIOGRAPHIES — VOLUMES 3, 4, & 5
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

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