Page 10 University Daily Kansan Monday, April 17. 1961
Courtesy the Kansas Industrial Development Commission
JOHN BROWN—The famous mural of John Brown painted by John Steuart Curry which is in the rotunda of the Kansas Capitol in Topeka on the second floor.
Exploits of John Brown Made History in 1850s
John Brown, the fiery abolitionist, is famed for his attack on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in October of 1859. But he also played an important role in the history of Kansas.
Brown came to Kansas in 1855 to aid the abolitionists in their crusade against slavery. At this time, Kansas was not yet a state and the two factions, pro-slaveryists (border ruffians) and the abolitionists (Free-Staters) fought among one another violently for their respective causes. Extreme cruelty often was invoked upon civilians by people on the opposing side.
FREQUENTLY BORDER ruffians from Missouri would cross the state line into Kansas and raid towns and individual farms. On the morning of Aug. 30, 1856, such a raid was about to take place. A pro-slavery force of 400 ruffians under the command of General John W. Reid advanced on Osawatomie, Kan., with two inten- tions:
(1) To capture or kill Captain John Brown, whom they had heard was in the area and (2) to raze the town of Osawatomie.
The ruffians meant to get rid of Brown because his anti-slavery activities threatened to smother the pro-slavery movement in Kansas. Brown also was a hated man for his "Pottawatomie Massacre" the preceding May in which he and four other men had killed five pro-slavery residents in retaliation for the sack of Lawrence.
BROWN HAD EEEN informed of the approaching enemy and rather than flee for his personal safety, with a small group of 41 men, prepared to defend the town from her attackers. When Reid's force was 400 yards away the Free-Staters, from the cover of some timber, opened fire with their Sharps rifles.
The poorly organized Ruffians fell back under the volleys of bullets. Brown's band held off the larger opposing force long enough for the Osawatomie civilians to be evacuated. When the Ruffians brought their cannon into action the Free-Staters gave ground. Only six of Brown's men were killed in the
fight. He and the rest of his men escaped.
BROWN LEFT Kansas in October, 1856, to return in the autumn of 1858. Because of a preponderance of Free-State settlers, peace had been secured in that part of the territory lying north of the Kansas River. But southern Kansas was still burdened with strife between the pro-slaveryites and the abolitionists.
While at his camp in southern Kansas near the Missouri line, Brown was visited by a Missouri slave named Jim. Jim told Brown that he (Jim) and his family were to be sold the next day and sent to Texas. He implored Brown to help him free his family.
THAT SAME NIGHT, Brown with 20 men crossed the border into Missouri and liberated, not only Jim's family, but a total of some 230 slaves. A furor swept through western Missouri over this act of Brown. The governor offered a reward of $3,000 for his arrest. President Buchanan added $250 to this figure. So, with a price on his head, John Brown left Kansas in January, 1859, to keep his ill-fated date with disaster at Harpers Ferry.
Early Settlers' Lives Rugged
(Continued from page 1)
Because of the scarcity of money and equipment, recreation was a product of imagination and native ingenuity and often took the form of physical competitions. Racing was popular, both on foot and horse. Skating, coasting and sleighing were common winter sports.
Evenings were spent with dominoes, checkers, or cards. Many setters attended spelling bees, church socials, box suppers, literary gatherings and debates. Reading a book or glancing occasionally at a newspaper was considered a rare treat.
Children had few toys. Broken china sufficed for doll dishes, and marbles were molded from clay, then dried. Barrel hoops and stick horses were essential additions to the game of "cowboys and Indians."
No Defense Attempted
Donaldson Led Lawrence Raid
By Dan Patz
Lawrence, squarely in the middle of the no man's land of eastern Kansas during the bitter struggle between the free-staters and slave-staters, was apprehensive on the morning of May 21, 1856. There was reason to be worried.
SOME OF THE MEN then rode into town and arrested some of the townpeople. The prisoners were taken back to Donaldson's camp, where they were immediately released and just as quickly deputized by Douglas County Sheriff Samuel Jones, who was riding with Donaldson's men
Early that morning, 600-800 men had arrived on Mt. Oread. They were led by U. S. Marshal I. B. Donaldson. Townsfolk noted their presence, but no overt action was taken against them because they were cloaked in federal authority.
Jones then rode into town with a large party and loudly demanded that the people surrender all their arms, threatening to bombard the town if his orders were not obeyed. A cannon and other weapons were turned over to Jones, but he ignored the townsfolk's compliance with his demands and ordered all residents of the Free State Hotel (where the Eldridge Hotel now stands) to evacuate. His men began to shell the hotel.
Cannon fire proved ineffective against the sturdy structure, so Jones ordered it put to the torch. As the walls collapsed in flames, he shouted gleefully, "This is the happiest moment in my life!"
MEANWHILE, the two antislavery newspapers in town had been ransacked, their presses tossed into the Kaw and their type scattered on the streets. Homes were broken into and looted, including the residence of Gov. Charles Robinson. Almost everything of value was taken.
When the figures had been totted up, it was found that $200-003 worth of damage had been done. Col. Oscar Learnard called
the sack of Lawrence "the grossest outrage ever committed in the name of war."
It was later revealed that the Free State Hotel and the newspapers had been indicted as "nuisances" by the pro-slavery territorial government. Since no defense was ever made to the indictment, it was ruled on in favor of the pro-slavery forces. The federal government recognized the pro-slavery men in power; hence the appearance of a U. S. Marshal on the scene.
Just a few days before the attack, the citizens of Lawrence had written to Territorial Governor Shannon, requesting that he send troops to protect them against violence. Of course the troops were never sent, and Lawrence was left to endure the raid alone.
Baldwin Site of Border Battle
Baldwin is situated near the place where on June 2, 1856, Henry Clay Fate's border ruffians were defeated by John Brown and his Free State forces in the Battle of Black Jack.
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