Monday, September 2, 2013

Kansas Territory ~ Sack of Lawrence

Public domain in U.S. publish prior to 1923
I sure do hope y'all aren't getting tired of my Kansas posts. I know they seem to be going on forever and ever, but there was a lot going on in this territory in 1856, which eventually led up to the War between the States.

If you remember from my last post, Thomas Barber, an abolitionist, was killed on December 5, 1855. Three short days later winter hit this part of Kansas, and hit it hard. Many of the residents hadn't quite finished building more permanent lodgings. Many were still living in what was known as hay tents, shanties and poorly built log cabins.

 A letter written by Captain Sam Walker during this winter may be taken as illustrating the common condition:
     "I failed to complete my log house before the winter of 1855-56 set in. The sides were up, roofed, and partly plastered when the Wakarusa war interrupted work. On my return home, on the conclusion of peace, the cold was so severe that nothing more could be done, and we had to shift the best we could till warmer weather. Our cabin had no floor, but we were as well off in this particular as most of our neighbors. Chinks and fissures abounded in roof and gable, as the green slabs with which they were covered warped badly. Seven of us made up the family, five children mostly small. At times when the winds were bleakest we actually went to bed as the only escape from freezing. More than once we woke in the morning to find six inches of snow in the cabin. To get up and make one’s toilet under such circumstances was not a very comfortable performance. The wolf was never very far from our door during that hard winter of 1855-56."
History of Lawrence by Rev. Richard Cordley

Although the winter was harsh, and one of the most difficult in Kansas history as of the year 1895, the free-staters were able to live in peace for a short time. However, it was to be short lived. While many settlers shivered in their beds, Missourians and the Southerners were making their plan of attack.

 All over Missouri and the south preparations were going on to push the controversy to a successful issue for slavery. The shrewdest men in the land were planning together for the summer campaign. The general idea was to make it so uncomfortable for the free-state men that they would flee the country, and so that others would not come.
History of Lawrence by Rev. Richard Cordley
Before we go onto the sacking of Lawrence, I guess I should tell you that in the fall of 1855 the free-staters held a constitutional convention and adopted the Topeka constitution. It was sent to Congress with the request of being admitted into the union. The House of Representatives passed the bill, the Senate rejected it. Now, there is a bunch of stuff that I don't quite understand that went on during all this time, but from the sound of it the pro-slavery people had a judiciary ally. The Douglas County grand jury met in Lecompton, Kansas where Judge Samuel Lecompte (guess he was pretty powerful had a town named after him) set the line for treason, which specifically pointed fingers at free-staters.
  "This territory was organized by an act of congress, and so far its authority is from the United States. It has a legislature elected in pursuance of that organic act. This legislature being an instrument of congress by which it governs the territory, has passed laws. Those laws, therefore, are of. United States authority and making, and all who resist those laws resist the power and authority of the United States, and are therefore guilty of high treason. Now, gentlemen, if you find that any persons have resisted these laws, then you must under your oath, find bills against them for high treason. If you find that no such resistance has been made, but that combinations have been formed for the purpose of resisting them, and individuals of notoriety have been aiding and abetting in such combinations, then must you find bills for constructive treason."
History of Lawrence by Rev. Richard Cordley

 After a few incidences, all of which seemed to be provoked by 'Bogus' Sheriff Jones, 800 men, led by Jones himself, rode into Lawrence, Ks, all bearing arms and cannons. Most of these men were Southerners and very few, if any, intended on staying in Kansas. They were there for one reason only, to strong arm Kansas into the Union as a slave state.

It's said once they 'sacked' Lawrence, which included destroying two abolitionist newspapers and the Free State Hotel (which by the way took over fifty cannon shots and several kegs of powder with little damage) the Southerners hoisted a 'blood red' flag with the words 'Southern Rights' on it. It flew right beside the 'stars and stripes' flag. Homes, churches and schools were taken over. Many free-staters were taken prisoner and charged with high treason.

It wasn't looking good for the free-staters.

Prize day! One commenter will receive a $10 GC to Amazon.

 Born and raised in Kansas, where she currently lives with her husband and children,
Christina loves to read stories with happily ever afters, research,  take photos, knit scarves, dig into her ancestry, fish, visit the ocean, write stories with happily ever afters and talk about her family and Jesus.
 

A semi-finalist in the Genesis, she just recently signed two contracts with Love Inspired Historical for a Biblical romance. You can find her at http://christinarich.wordpress.com/


33 comments:

  1. I remember a little about Kansas from school, but don't remember enough about it. I remember its being called Bloody Kansas. This is really interesting what happened to the Free Staters.
    I'm reading a Love Inspired novel now by Lyn Cote. It's really good. I look forward to reading more Love Inspired novels. Good luck with your writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tea, they don't teach a lot about Bleeding Kansas, at least not the in-depth sort and it's absolutely fascinating. Just think, if Kansas would have been admitted as a slave state how things would be even now. It's sad to think on, and I'm grateful that those settlers chose to fight for what they believed in.

      Delete
  2. I have enjoyed your posts on Kansas..... never been there though. Live in GA. I see you lots on Seekers.......congrats on your books....I look forward to reading them!
    Blessings! Please enter me for the GC!! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jackie. I've been to Atlanta once. I didn't step foot outside the terminal and I suffered a bit of cultural shock. Big place.

      Delete
  3. I think your posts on Kansas have been so interesting. There is so much history that this country has evolved from. To take a look back we can see what terrible times people had to go through and certainly, how blessed we are today. Thank you for what you do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you are enjoying the posts, Melanie. We are certainly blessed.

      Delete
  4. I love your Kansas posts, Christina. Congratulations on your new contracts!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Goodness gracious, it never ceases to amaze me the things the people of this country did. Sad how men basically forced others (by violence) to their views. Very interesting to read, though, how our nation came to be in all ways and forms thru the years. Great post!
    lattebooks at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think of some of the , political chaos we deal with today and realize some things haven't changed. Now, that's sad.

      Delete
  6. Christina, I enjoy your Kansas posts and look forward to the next installment! Such a wonderful way to learn more about the history of this great state and our country! I especially love the letter you included in this post. I have always LOVED old letters and collect them when I can. It is fascinating to read a first-hand account of events.

    Congratulations on your recent contracts! I look forward to reading your Love Inspired Historicals!

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Britney, I think the letters are some of my favorite pieces of research to read. I don't think there is a better way to really get steeped in the era and the culture.

      Delete
  7. I love the posts about Kansas. So interesting. Thank you so much for sharing.
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've enjoyed your postings of Kansas. As a child, we visited Kansas many times because my Mother had a brother living there. I've enjoyed learning the history. Congratulations on your new books. Please enter my name in the giveaway. Thank you!
    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbara, when I was a kid I always dreamed of traveling to far off places. Now that I'm older, I'm learning to appreciate my home state and her history.

      Delete
  9. Chriistina, congratulations on your contract. This is interesting about Kansas. I have never read any of this history before. I lived in Elgin, Kansas for 16 years, where my husband was born and raised. It had a lot of history also. His grand,or great-grandfathr was a tough Sheriff back in his day. This was the town where cowboys from Texas drove their cattle to put on the train. They were walked through a deep vat to kill all of the ticks before they could be loaded. There is still a sunken place in the grown where it was. We lived across the road from it. You know how roudy those cowboys could be and the many fights. I heard so many stories rom the old-timers who grew up there, and so wish II could have recorded them. I told my girls if I could have written a book would have been a good one. But my memory wouldn't let mr remember them. I do know even those kids who grew up there when my husband was small and later, did so many things that I told them it's a wonder any survived. I wish someone would research that little town.
    It was also only a hr. drive from Coffeyville, Ks. and it has a lot of History also. I have family living in Kansas. Maxie Anderson
    mac262(at)me(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maude, I love your tidbits. I'll do some research on Elgin and see what I can find. I have several stories based off a little town called Carbondale and then Valley Falls, which at one time was known as Grasshopper Falls. I have a character who takes off, and I had thought to send her to Abilene or Dodge City, but I just might send her to Elgin.I've been wanting to incorporate some of Watie's history into my stories and that just might be a good opportunity to do so.

      Delete
  10. Thanks for this interesting posts! Love hearing about Kansas.
    tscmshupe [at] pemtel [dot] net

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can see you love history and so really great reviews. I know very little about Kansas and found this interesting. I would love to win the Amazon gift card! sharon, ca wileygreen1(at)yahoo(cot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can see you love history and so really great reviews. I know very little about Kansas and found this interesting. I would love to win the Amazon gift card! sharon, ca wileygreen1(at)yahoo(cot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Kansas was always interesting to me...thanks for the great post.

    truckredford(at)gmail(Dot)Com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, Christina!

    Looking forward to those biblical romance stories from you - love them!

    Thanks for the post - I enjoy learning more about Kansas, especially since my son & family were transferred there with his job - several years ago.

    bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Bonnie. I can't wait to get my hands on copies of those biblical stories. I just sent in my dedication page and it really started to hit me. I'm glad you enjoy my posts.

      Delete
  15. I didn't think I would but I really have enjoyed this blog, the background of so many things that I just ASSUMED happened all by their little selves. Thanks for sharing.

    missionwife AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I don't have much familiarity with Kansas, but have enjoyed your posts. It's always interesting to read more about our nations history!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I, for one, am enjoying your Kansas posts. We zip across the southern part as one of our routes from Chimney Rock, Colorado to Ponca City, Oklahoma. Thanks for your posts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Linda. Maybe one day I'll make it to southern Kansas and do some exploring. I know the original Little House on the Prairie house is still in Independence, Ks and it'd be nice to see it up close.

      Delete