John Brown to Captain John Edwin Cook

Date ———, ——

Captain Cook.

Dear Sir, — You will please get everything ready to join me at Topeka by Monday night next. Come to Mrs. Sheridan's, two miles south of Topeka, and bring your arms, ammunition, clothing, and other articles you may require. Bring Parsons with you if he can get ready in time. Please keep very quiet about the matter.

Yours, etc.,

John Brown.

SOURCES: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 423; Richard Josiah Hinton, John Brown and His Men, p. 701

John Brown: Memorandum of Small Outfit

Memorandum of articles wanted as an outfit for fifty volunteers to serve under my direction during the Kansas war, or for such specified time as they may each enlist for; together with estimated cost of the same, delivered in Lawrence or Topeka.

2 substantial (but not heavy) baggage wagons with good covers	$200.00
4 good serviceable wagon-horses	400.00
2 sets strong plain harness	80.00
100 good heavy blankets, say at $2 or $2.50	200.00
8 substantial large-sized tents	100.00
8 large camp-kettles	12.00
50 tin basins	5.00
50 tin spoons	2.00
4 plain strong saddles and bridles	80.00
4 picket ropes and pins	3.00
8 wooden pails	2.00
8 axes and helves	12.00
8 frying-pans (large size)	8.00
8 large size coffee-pots	10.00
8 large size spiders or bake-ovens	10.00
8 large size tin pans	6.00
12 spades and shovels	18.00
6 mattocks	6.00
2 weeks provisions for men and horses 150.00 fund for horse-hire and feed; loss and damage of same	500.00
	$1774.00

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 360

H. Stratton to John Brown, August 12, 1856 - 7 p.m.

Mr. Brown, — General Joe Cook wants you to come to Lawrence this night, for we expect to have a fight on Washington Creek. Come to Topeka as soon as possible, and I will pilot you to the place.

Yours in haste,

H. Stratton.

Topeka, 7 o'clock, p. M., Aug. 12, 1856.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 308