Tabor, Fremont County, Iowa, Aug. 27,
1856.
Dear
Mother, — The last news we had from Kansas, father was at Lawrence, and
had charge of a company, —the bravest men the Territory could afford. Those who
come through here from the Territory say that father is the most daring, courageous
man in Kansas. You have no doubt heard that the Free-State men have taken two
forts, or blockhouses, with a fine lot of arms, several prisoners, and two
cannon. Shannon was obliged to flee for his life; afterwards came to Lane to
negotiate for peace. He proposed that the Free-State men should give up the
prisoners and arms they had taken; at the same time they (the enemy) should
still hold our men as prisoners, and keep all the arms they had taken from the
Free-State men. But Lane would not consent to that; he required Shannon to
deliver up the howitzer they had taken at Lawrence, release some prisoners,
disarm the proslavery men in the Territory, and do all in his power to remove
the enemy from the Territory. With fear and trembling, Shannon consented to all
of Lane's demands.
There is now at this place a
company of volunteers from Maine, Massachusetts, and Michigan, — about eighty
in all. We hear lately that about three thousand Missourians have crossed at
St. Joe and other places, and have gone armed into the Territory; that Governor
Woodson has sent four hundred mounted men on to the frontier to intercept our
volunteers and prevent them from carrying in provisions and ammunition, which
are much needed now in Kansas. The last information comes from reliable
sources, and is probably true, — a portion of it. We also learn that the
Free-State men have melted up all the old lead-pipe they can get hold of for
ammunition; and now the news comes from reliable sources that Lane is about to
enter Leavenworth with two thousand men; that he has sent word to the citizens
of Leavenworth, requiring them to deliver up a few prisoners they had taken,
with some wagons and other property, or he will destroy the town forthwith.
Colonel Smith, of Leavenworth, commander of Government troops, refuses to
protect the proslavery men of the Territory, replying that Lane is able to
dress them all out, troops and all. Shannon made a speech to them, urging them
to cease hostilities, — that he could not defend them (that is, our enemies).
At present our enemies and the Missourians are trembling in their boots, if
reports are true.
I have gained strength quite fast,
and am now determined to go back into the Territory, and try the elephant
another pull. We hope that men will volunteer by the thousands from the States,
well armed, with plenty of money to buy provisions with, which are scarce in
Kansas Territory. There are probably several thousand acres less of corn in
Kansas than there would have been had it not been for the war. We look hard for
help: now comes the tug of war. We have sent on men to learn the state of
affairs on the frontier, and will move on into the Territory shortly. We are
now waiting for one other company, which is within a few days' drive of here.
For the want of time I leave out many particulars in connection with the taking
of those forts, which would be quite interesting, and show Yankee skill and
strategy, at least. If any of our folks write to us, or to me (I assume another
name, George Lyman), direct to George Lyman, Tabor, Fremont County, Iowa, care
Jonas Jones, Esq. Mr. Jones will take them out of the office here and send them
on by private conveyance. We cannot hear from you in any other way. Perhaps you
know of a different way, but I do not.
Your
affectionate son,
Owen Brown.
P. S. Have not heard from Fred
since Oliver and William Thompson took him into the camp; nor have I heard from
Henry, Salmon, William, and Oliver since they left this place to go home.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The
Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 315-7
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