AmericanCivilWar.com

INTRODUCTION.

It is a fact not generally known that no complete account of this massacre has ever been published. The letter furnished by Rev. R. Cordley to the "Congressional Record" a few days after the event and before all the facts and incidents had become known, and which was republished in Boughton & McAllister's Directory of Lawrence 1865, is about all the literature we can find in regard to it. Mr. Cordley's letter is made the basis of this history, to which is added the personal experience and observations of a number of residents who providentially escaped the general slaughter and who now recall the terrible events of those few hours as though they occurred yesterday.

We would like to give the personal experience of every one of the survivors and especially record in detail the deeds of heroism enacted by the brave women of Lawrence who in that fearful hour saved many a precious life, and extinguished the flames in nearly a hundred burning dwellings. But volumes would be required for such an undertaking.

THREATENINGS.

Still many of the citizens did not feel that the place was entirely safe. Mayor Collamore, early in the summer, prevailed upon the military authorities to station a squad of soldiers in Lawrence. These soldiers were under the command of Lieut. Hadley, a very efficient officer. Lieut. Hadley had a brother on General Ewing's staff. About the first of August this brother wrote him that his spies had been in Quantrell's camp- had mingled freely with his men- and had learned from Quantrell's clerk, that they proposed to make a raid on Lawrence about the full of the moon, (2) which would be three weeks before the actual raid. He told his brother to do all he could for the defense of the town, to fight them to the last, and never be taken prisoner, for Quantrell killed all prisoners. Lieut. Hadley showed the letter to Mayor Collamore, who at once set about the work of putting the town in a state of defense. The milita was called out, pickets detailed, the cannon got in readiness, and the country warned. Had Quantrell's gang come according to promise, they would have ben "welcomed with bloody hands and hospitable graves." Someone asked Quantrell, when in Lawrence, why he did not come before when he said he would. He replied "You were expecting me then- but I have caught you napping now."

It may be asked, why the people of Lawrence relaxed their vigilance so soon after receiving such authentic evidence of Quantrell's intentions? The city and military authorities made the fatal mistake of keeping the ground of apprehension a profound secret. Nobody new the reason of the preparations. Rumors were afloat, but they could not be traced to any reliable source. Companies came in from the country, but could not ascertain why they were sent for, and went home to be laughed at by their neighbors. Unable to find any ground of alarm, people soon began to think that the rumors were like the other false alarms by which they had been periodically disturbed for the last two years. The course of the military authorities tended to strengthen this view.

Mayor Collamore sent to Fort Leavenworth for cannon and troops. They were at once sent over, but were met at Lawrence by a dispatch from Kansas City, ordering them back. A few days after, the squad of soldiers under lieut. Hadley was ordered away. It was evident, therefore, that the military authorities at Kansas City, who ought to know, did not consider the place in danger. The usual sense of security soon returned. Citizens were assured that Quantrell could not penetrate the military line on the border without detection. They felt sure, too, that he could not travel fifty miles through a loyal county without their being informed of the approach of danger. The people never felt more secure, and were never less prepared, than the night before the raid.

THE APPROACH.

Quantrell assembled his gang about noon the day before the raid, and started towards Kansas about two o'clock. They crossed the border between five and six o'clock, and struck directly across the prairie toward Lawrence. He passed through Gardner, on the old Sante Fe wagon road, about 11 o'clock at night. Here they burned a few houses and killed one or two citizens. The passed through Hesper , ten miles southeast of Lawrence, between two and three o'clock. The moon was now down and the night was very dark and the road doubtful. They took a little boy from a house on Captain's Creek, near by, and compelled him to guide them into Lawrence. They kept the boy during their work in Lawrence, and then Quantrell dressed him in a new suit of clothes, gave him a horse and sent him home. they entered Franklin about the first glimmer of day. They passed quietly through, lying upon their horses, so as to attract as little attention as possible. The command, however, was distinctly heard- "Rush on, boys, it will be daylight before we are there! We ought to have been their an hour ago." From here it began to grow light, and they travelled faster. When they first came in sight of the town they stopped. Many were inclined to waver. They said: "They would be cut to pieces and it was madness to go on." Quantrell finally declared that HE was going in, and they might follow who would. Two horsemen were sent ahead to see that all was quiet in town. Those horsemen rode through the town and back without attracting attention. They were seen going through Main street, but their appearance there at that hour was nothing unusual. At the house of the Rev. S. S. Snyder a gang turned aside from the main body, entered his yard and shot him. Mr. Snyder was a prominent minister among the United Brethren. He held a commission as lieutenant in the Second Colored Regiment, which probably accounts for their malignity.

Their progress from here was quite rapid but cautious. Every now and then they checked up their horses as if fearful to proceed. They were seen approaching by several persons in the outskirts of the town, but in the dimness of the morning and the distance, they were supposed to be Union troops. They passed on in a body till they came to the high ground facing Main street, when the command was given- "Rush on to the town!" Instantly they rushed forward with the yell of demons. The attack was perfectly planned. Every man knew his place. Detachments scattered to every section of the town, and it was done with such promptness and speed that before people could gather the meaning of their first yell, every part of the town was full of them. They flowed into every street. Eleven rushed up to Mount Oread, from which all the roads leading into town could be seen for several miles out. These were to keep watch of the country round about, least the people should gather and come in on them unawares. Another and larger squad, struck for the west part of the town, while the main body, by two or three converging streets, made for the hotel. They first came upon a group of recruits for the Kansas Fourteenth. On these they fired as they passed killing seventeen out of twenty-two. This attack did not in the least check the speed of the general advance. A few turned aside to run down and shoot fugitive soldiers, but the company rushed on at the command- "To the hotel!" which could be heard all over the town. In all the bloody scenes which followed, nothing equalled, in wildness and terror, that which now presented itself. The horsemanship of the guerrillas was perfect. They rode with that ease and abandon which are acquired only by a life spent in the saddle amid desperate scenes. Their horses scarcely seemed to touch the ground, and the riders, sat with bodies and arms perfectly free, with revolvers on full cock, shooting at every house and man they passed, and yelling like demons at every bound. On each side of this stream of fire, as it poured toward the street, were men falling dead and wounded, and women and children half dressed, running and screaming- some trying to escape from danger and some rushing to the side of their murdered friends.

THE CAPTURE OF THE HOTEL

They dashed along the main street, shooting at every straggler on the sidewalk, and into almost every window. They halted in front of the Eldridge House. The firing had ceased and all was quiet for a few minutes. They evidently expected resistance here, and sat gazing at the windows above them, apparently in fearful suspense. In a few moments, Captain Banks, Provost Marshal of the State, opened a window and displayed a white flag, and called for Quantrell. Quantrell rode forward, and Banks, as Provost Marshal, surrendered the house, stipulating the safety of its inmates. At this moment the big gong in the hotel began to sound through the house to arouse the sleepers. At this the whole column fell back, evidently thinking this the signal for an attack from the hotel. In a few moments, meeting with no resistance, they pressed forward again, and commenced the work of plunder and destruction. They ransacked the hotel, robbing the rooms and their inmates. These inmates they gathered together at the head of the stairs, and when the plundering was done, marched them across the street on to Winthrop street under a guard. When they had proceeded a little distance, a ruffian rode up, and ordered a young man out of the ranks, and fired two shots at him, but with no effect. One of the guards at once interposed, and threatened to kill the ruffian if one of the prisoners was molested. Quantrell then rode up and told them the City Hotel, on the river bank, would be protected, because he had boarded there some years ago and had been well treated. He ordered the prisoners to go there, and stay in, and they would be safe. The prisoners were as obedient to orders as any of Quantrell's own men and lost no time in gaining the house of refuge. This treatment of the prisoners of the Eldridge house shows that they expected resistance from that point, and were relieved by the offer of surrender. They not only promised protection, but were as good as their word. Other hotels received no such favors, and had no such experience of rebel honor.

At the Johnson House they shot at all that showed themselves, and the prisoners that were finally taken and marched off, were shot a few rods of the house, some of them among the fires of the burning buildings. Such was the common fate of those who surrendered themselves as prisoners, Mr. R. C. Dix was one of these. His house was the nest door to the Johnson House, and being fired at in his own house, he escaped to the Johnson House. All the men were ordered to surrender. "all we want," said a rebel, "is for the men to give themselves up, and we will spare them and burn the house." Mr. Dix and other gave themselves up. They marched them towards town, and when they had gone about two hundred feet, the guards shot them all, one after another. Mr. Hampson, one of the number, fell wounded, and lay as if dead till he could escape unseen. A brother of Mr. Dix remained in the shop, and was shot four times through the window, and fell almost helpless. The building was burning over his head, and he was compelled to drag himself out into the next building, which fortunately was not burned. The air was so still that one building did not catch from another.

THE CARNAGE- "HELL LET LOOSE."

After the Eldridge House surrendered, and all fears of resistance were removed, the ruffians scattered in small gangs to all parts of the town in search of plunder and blood. The order was "to burn every house, and kill every man." Almost every house was visited and robbed, and the men found in them killed or left, according to the character or whim of the captors. Some of these seemed completely brutalized, while others showed some signs of remaining humanity. One lady said that as gang after gang came to her house, she always met them herself, and tried to get them talking. If she only got them to talking, she could get at what little humanity was left in them. those ladies who faced them boldly, fared the best.

It is doubtful whether the world has ever witnessed such a scene of horror- certainly not outside the annals of savage warfare. History gives no parallel, where an equal number of such desperate men, so heavily armed, were let perfectly loose in an unsuspecting community. The carnage was much worse from the fact that the citizens could not believe that men could be such fiends. No one expected an indiscriminate slaughter. When it was known that the town was in their possession, everybody expected they would rob and burn the tow, kill all military men they could find, and a few marked characters. But few expected a wholesale murder. Many who could have escaped, therefore, remained and were slain. For this reason the colored people fared better than the whites. They new the men which slavery had made, and they ran to the bush at the first alarm.

A gentleman who was concealed where he could see the whole , said the scene presented was the most perfect realization of the slang phrase, "Hell let loose," that ever could be imagined. Most of the men had the look of wild beasts, they dressed roughly and swore terribly. They were mostly armed with a carbine and with from two to six revolvers strapped around them.

The surprise was so complete that no organized resistance was possible. Before people could fully comprehend the real state of the case, every part of the town was full of the rebels, and there was no possibility of rallying. Even the recruits in camp were so taken by surprise that they were not in their places. The attack could scarcely have been made at a worse hour. The soldiers had just taken in their camp guard, and people were just waking from sleep. By some fatal mistake, the authorities had kept the arms of the city in the public armory, instead of in each man's house. There could be no general resistance, therefore, from the houses. When the rebels gained possession of the main street, the armory was inaccessible to the citizens, and the judicious disposition of squads of rebels in other parts of the town, prevented even a partial rally at any point. There was no time nor opportunity for consultation or concert of action, and every man had to do the best he could for himself. A large number, however, did actually start with what arms they had towards the street. Most saw at once that the street could not be reached, and turned back. Some went forward and perished. Mr. Levi Gates lived about a mile in the country, in the opposite from that by which the rebels had entered. As soon as he heard the firing in the town, he started with his rifle, supposing that a stand would be made by the citizens. When he got to town, he saw at once that the rebels had possession. He was an excellent marksman, and could not leave without trying his rifle. The first shot he made the rebel jumped in the saddle, but did not kill him; and when he was dead brutally beat his head in pieces.

Mr. G. W. Bell, County Clerk, lived on the side hill overlooking the town. He saw the rebels before they made their charge. He seized his musket and cartridge box with the hope of reaching the main street before them. His family endeavored to dissuade him, telling him he would certainly be killed. "They may kill me, but they cannot kill the principals I fight for. If they take Lawrence, they must do it over my dead body." With a prayer for courage and help he started. But he was too late. The street was occupied before he could reach it. He endeavored then to get round by the back way, and come to the ravine west of the street. Here he met other citizens. He asked, "Where shall we meet?" They assured him it was to late to meet anywhere, and urged him to save himself. He turned back, apparently intending to get home again. The rebels were no scattered in all directions, and he was in the midst of them. A friend urged him to through his musket away, which he did. Finding escape impossible, he went into an unfinished brick house, and got up on the joists above, together with another man. A rebel came in and began shooting at them. He interceded for his friend, and soon found that the rebel was an old acquaintance who had often eaten at his table. He appealed to him in such a way that he promised to spare both their lives, for old acquaintance sake, if they would come down. They came down, and the rebel took them out to about twenty of his companions outside. "Shoot him! Shoot him!" was the cry at once. He asked for a moment to pray, which they granted, and then shot him with four balls. His companion was wounded and lay for dead, but afterwards recovered. The treacherous rebel who deceived and murdered him afterwards went to his house, and said to his wife, who was ignorant of her husbands fate: "We have killed your husband and now we come to burn his house." They fired it, but the family saved it. Mr. Bell was a man of excellent character, and left a wife and six children to miss and mourn him.

What little resistance was offered to the rebels, developed their cowardice, as much as their general license given them developed their brutality. On the opposite bank of the river twelve soldiers were stationed. when the rebels first came into town, they filled Massachusetts street. They even attempted to cut the rope to the ferry. But these brave boys on the opposite side made free use of their rifles, firing at every butternut that came in sight. Their minnie balls went screaming up the street, and it was not many minutes before that section of the town was pretty much deserted; and if one of the ruffians by chance passed along that way, he was careful not to expose himself to the bullets from across the river. The result was, all that section of the town which stretched along the river bank was saved. In this section stood Governor Robinson's house, which was inquired for. Here was the armory, which they took possession of early, but left it with the most of its guns unharmed.

Another evidence of their cowardice was shown in the fact, that very few stone houses were molested. They shunned almost all houses which were closed tightly, so that they could not see in, when the inmates did not show themselves. There is a deep ravine, wooded but narrow, which runs almost through the center of town. In this many citizens escaped. They often chased men into this ravine, shooting at them all the way. But they never followed one into the ravine itself, and seldom followed up to the brink. Whenever they came near to it, they would shy off as if expecting a stray shot. The corn-field west of the town was full of refugees. The rebels rode up to the edge often, as if longing to go in and butcher those who had escaped them, but a wholesome fear that it might be a double game, restrained them. A Mrs. Hindman lived on the edge of this corn-field. They came repeatedly to her house for water. The gang insisted on knowing what "was in the corn-field?" She brave woman, replied, "Go in and see. You will find it the hottest place you have been in to-day." Having been to carry drink to the refugees, she could testify to the heat. The rebels took her word and left. So every little ravine and thicket around the outskirts of the town were shunned as if a viper had been in it. Thus scores of lives were saved that would otherwise have been destroyed.

In almost every case where a determined resistance was offered, the rebels withdrew. Mr. A. K. Allen lives in a large brick house. A gang came to his door and ordered him out. "No!" replied the old gentleman, "if you want anything of me, come where I am. I am good for five of you." They took his word for it, and he and his house were thenceforth unmolested. The two Messrs. Rankin were out in the street trying to gain a certain house, when they were overtaken by six of the ruffians. They at once faced their foes, drew their revolvers, and began to fire, when the whole six broke and fled. The cowards evidently did not come to fight, but to murder and steal.

SCENES AND INCIDENTS.

We can only give a few incidents of the massacre as specimens of the whole. The scenes of horror we describe must be multiplied till the amount reaches one hundred and eighty, the number of killed and wounded.

Gen. Collamore, Mayor of the city, was awakened by their shouts around the house. His house was evidently well known, and they struck for it to prevent his taking measures for defense. When he looked out, the house was surrounded. Escape was impossible. There was but one hiding place- the well. He at once went into the well. The enemy went into the house and searched for the owner, swearing and threatening all the while. Failing to find him, they fired the house and waited round to see it burn. Mrs. Collamore went out and spoke to her husband while the fire was burning. But the house was so near the well that when the flames burst out they shot over the well, and the fire fell in. When the flames subsided, so that the well could be approached, nothing could be seen of Mr. Collamore or the man who had decended into the well with him. After the rebels had gone, Mr. Lowe, an intimate friend of Gen Collamore, went at once down the well to seek for him. The rope supporting him broke, and he also died in the well, -and three bodies were drawn from its cold water.

At Dr. Griswold's there were four families. The doctor and his lady had just returned the evening before from a visit east. Hon. S. M./ Thorp, State Senator, Mr. J. C. Trask, Editor of State Journal, Mr. H. W. Baker, grocer, with their wives, were boarding in Dr. Griswold's family. The house was attacked about the same time as Gen. Collamore's. they called for the men to come out. When they did not obey very readily, they assured them "they should not be harmed- if the citizens quietly surrender it might save the town." This idea brought them out at once. Mr. Trask said, "if it will help save the town, let us go." They went down stairs and out the doors. The ruffians ordered them to get in line, and to march before them towards town. They had scarcely gone twenty feet from the yard before the whole four were shot down. Dr. Griswold and Mr. Trask were killed at once. Mr. Thorp and Mr. Baker wounded, but apparently dead. The ladies attempted to reach their husbands from the house, but were driven back. A guard was stationed just below, and every time any of the ladies attempted to go from the house to their dying friends, this guard would dash up at full speed, and with oaths and threats, drive them back. After the bodies had lain about half an hour, a gang rode up, rolled them over, and shot them again. Mr. Baker received his only dangerous wound at this shot. After shooting the men, the ruffians went in and robbed the house. They demanded even the personal jewelry of the ladies. Mrs. Trask begged for the privilege of retaining her wedding ring. "You have killed my husband let me keep his ring." "No matter," replied the heartless fiend, and snatched the relic from her hand. Dr. Griswold was one of the principal druggists of the place, Mr. Thorp was State Senator, Mr. Trask Editor of the State Journal, and Mr. Baker one of the leading grocers of the place. Mr. Thorp lingered in great pain till the next day, when he died. Mr. Baker, after long suspense, recovered. He was shot through the lungs.

The most brutal murder was that of Judge Carpenter. Several gangs called at his house and robbed him of all he had- but his genial manner was too much for them, and they all left him alive and his house standing. Towards the last, another gang came, more brutal than the rest. They asked him where he was from. He replied "New York." "It is you New York fellows that are doing all the mischief," one replied, and drew his revolver to shot him. Mr. Carpenter ran into the house, up stairs, then down again, the ruffian after him and firing at every turn. He finally eluded them and slipped into the cellar. He was badly wounded, so that the blood lay in pools in the cellar where he stood for a few minutes. His hiding place was soon discovered, and he was driven out of the cellar into the yard and shot again. He fell mortally wounded. His wife threw herself onto him and covered him with her person to shield him from further violence. The ruffian deliberately walked around her to find a place to shoot under her, and finally raised her arm and put his revolver under it, and fired so she could see the ball enter his head. They then fired the house, but through the energy of the wife's sister, the fire was extinguished. The Judge had been married less than a year. He was a young man, but had already won considerable distinction in his profession. He had held the office of Probate Judge for Douglas county, and a year before was candidate for Attorney General of the State.

Mr. Fitch was called downstairs and instantly shot. Although the second ball was probably fatal, they continued to fire until they lodged six or eight balls in his lifeless body. They then began to fire the house. Mrs. Fitch endeavored to drag the remains of her husband from the house, but was forbidden. She then endeavored to save his miniature, but was forbidden to do this. Stupefied by the scene, and the brutality exhibited toward her, she stood there gazing at the strange work going on around her, utterly unconscious of her position or her danger. Finally one of the ruffians compelled her to leave the house, or she would probably have been consumed with the rest. Driven out, she went and sat down with her three little ones in front, and watched the house consumed over the remains of her husband. Mr. Fitch was a young man of excellent character and spirit. He was one of the "first settlers" of Lawrence, and taught the first school in the place.

James Perine and James Eldridge were clerks in the "County Store." They were sleeping in the store when the attack was made and could not escape. The rebels came into the store and ordered them to open the safe, promising to spare their lives. The moment the safe door flew open, they shot both of them dead, and left them on the floor. They were both very promising young men, about seventeen years of age.

Mr. Burt was standing by a fence, when one of the rebels rode up to him and demanded his money. He handed up his pocket book, and as the rebel took the pocket-book with one hand, he shot Mr. Burt with the other. Mr. Murphy, a short distance up the same street, was asked for a drink of water, and as the fiend took the cup with his left hand he shot his benefactor with his right. Mr. Murphy was over sixty years of age. Mr. Ellis, a German blacksmith, ran into the corn in the park, taking his little child with him. For some time he remained concealed, but the child growing weary began to cry. The rebels outside, hearing the cries, ran in and killed the father, leaving the child in its dead father's arms. Mr. Albach, a German, was sick in his bed. They ordered the house cleared that they might burn it. The family carried out the sick man on the mattress, and laid him in the yard, when the rebels came out and killed him on his bed, unable to rise. These are species of cruelty to which savages have never yet attained.

One of the guerrillas went to the stable of J. G. Sands, corner of Pinckney and Tennessee streets- stole his carriage horse and the pet pony "Freddie," while engaged in this, four others came up the alley, one of them was heard to say, "why in h___ are not these houses burnt." Dismounting to execute their threat, they were met by "Freddie" running past them, who had escaped from his captor, they were urged to assist in securing the runaway, at once remounting they all followed him, who lead them away from this part of town and before he was again secured they were engaged in other scenes of murder. This providential escape of the pony undoubtedly saved, not only the houses, but also the lives of Dr. Fuller, B. W. Woodward and J. G. Sands.

G. H. Sargeant's was on New Hampshire street between Winthrop and Henry. Early in the day the guerrillas entered the house and robbed the inmates of all their valuables. Notice was given them to remove furniture as the house would be burnt. Before applying the torch one of the party assisted in carrying out the piano. During the burning Mr. Sargeant, Charley Palmer and a Mr. Young, a printer, were in the yard, also Mrs. Sargeant, a sister of J. G. Sands Esq., and Mrs. Mary Hanom. A squad of ruffians fired a volley into the men killing Mr. Palmer, wounding Mr. Sargeant, but missing Mr. Young, who dropped and feigned death. Noticing life in Mr. Sargeant one of the men coolly reloaded his pistol saying he "would soon finish him." Mrs. Sargeant at once fell on her husband's prostrate body, begging for his life, but the murderer placed the pistol above her shoulder and sent a ball crashing through his head. Mr. Sargeant survived eleven days. By this time the body of Mr. Young was terribly scorched by his nearness to the burning building, but his presence of mind saved him. The ladies dragged him into the weeds, in line with the other bodies, covered them with sheets and were know more molested.

The courage shown by these ladies is seldom matched by the soldier's in the excitement of a battle. On every side men were falling, close to them Mr. Williamson was killed, near them Mr. Hay was shot down. Bullets were flying all about them, but they stood guard over the dead and dying.

The residence of F. W. Read was probably visited by more squads than any other place, as it is situated in the heart of the city. Seven different bands called there that morning. Mr. Read had been drilled with his company the day before and had left his gun in the store, he started for it but was met at the door by robbers and retreated back into his house. He ran up stairs and raised his head up to look out of the window, when a bullet struck the window sill within six inches of his right eye, the squad piled bedding and books at the foot of the stairs and set it on fire to burn him out but Mrs. Read put the fire out.

The next squad were for stealing, after demanding as they all did fire arms at first, they wanted money next and then helped themselves to whatever they could find. They found in the back side of a bureau drawer a little box containing a pair of gold and coral armlets used to loop up the dress at the shoulder of their little girl Addie who had died a few months before. Mrs. Read begged very hard that he would please not take them as they had been her little dead child's and she wanted them to remember her by, the brute replied with an oath "Damn your dead baby, she'll never need them again." The next squad went in the bed-room, turned the clothes all down, one took out a big bowie knife and cut the mattress for a yard while another lit a match to set it on fire, it proved to be a hair mattress and would not burn, they set the clothing on fire but it was put out.

The next squad that rode up, only came in the house, he looked and seemed satisfied that there was not much left in the house worth carrying off, on looking around he coolly said "this is all I want Madame" and stepped up to the piano and with one jerk pulled off the piano cover which was a new and very nice one, walked out took the saddle from his horse and put it on for a saddle blanket. The next squad were half drunk and demanded with an oath who had put the fire out, Mrs. Read told them she did and would do it again, the order was given to hold that woman, a villain grabbed her by the wrists and held her in a vice like grasp, while the others piled up bedding and books on a cotton lounge under a window and set it on fire and remained inside until the smoke drove them all on the porch where Mrs. Read was dragged and held till the casing, curtains and drove them all on the porch where Mrs. Read was dragged and held till the curtains and lounge were burning up and out of the top of the window, when they let her go and said, "Damn you, you can have your home now, if you will put it out," and went away.

Mrs. Read rushed through the smoke into the bed-room, grabbed a pillow in each hand, and thus protected, shoved against the window which was so burned that it fell out on the ground and the home was saved. The next squad was commanded by and officer who inquired for Mr. Read, and was told that he had gone east for goods. "Where was your store?" She pointed to where Woodward's Drug Store now is, corner Massachusetts and Henry street, and replied there it is all burning up. One man in his squad immediately replied yes there has some one gone east from that store, there had, it was P.R. Brooks who was then clerking for Mr. Read, which showed how well posted they were and that their spies had been here and done their work only too well.

Mrs. Read said "you seem to be an officer, look at this house and at that burning store and say if you have not punished us enough." The officer turned to his men and gave the command, "men go away from here and tell all the other squads no to molest these premises any more to-day, this family has been punished enough," and he remained on the porch for one half hour. He was the only one Mrs. Read saw that day that did not act the brute, and is believed to be a man who is of high respectability now living in Missouri. The last man that came was named Skeggs, to tell what he done would make this story too long, he was fiendish and brutal, he staid too long and was killed, the only one of the rebels known to have been killed.

Mr. Thornton had remained in his house till it was in flames. He then ran out and they shop him three times in the hips. Another shot struck him back of the shoulders, and passed clear down his back. Another shot struck his head. The rebel then leaped from his horse with a brutal oath exclaimed: "I can kill you," and pounded him over the head with the butt end of his revolver till he fell senseless from exhaustion. The man was going to shoot again, but Mrs. Thornton ran between them and prevented him, and the brute soon left. Though so terribly shot Mr. Thornton still lived, but two bullets in the hip joints could never be extracted, and he was a cripple for life.

D.W. Palmer, a gunsmith, was wounded and thrown into the flames of his burning shop. Mr. Langley lived about a mile from town. He was a fine old gentleman of sixty. He was a peaceable man, taking no special part in public affairs. He and wife lived by themselves on a small farm. Two of the pickets stationed outside the town came to the house. Mrs. Langley begged them "to be merciful: they were old people and could not live long at best." But her entreaties had not effect, they hunted the old gentlemen around the house and shot him in the yard. The first shot not doing its work they shot him again and again. They then set fire to the house, but through the energies of the old lady the fire was put out and the house saved.

There were many hair - breadth escapes. Many ran to the cornfields near to town; others fled to the "friendly brush" by the river bank. The ravine which runs almost through the center of town, proved a safe refuge to scores. The cornfield west of town and the woods east, were all alive with refugees. Many hid in the "Park" which was planted with corn. Many others who could get no further, hid among the weeds and plants in their gardens. Mr. Strode, colored blacksmith, had a little patch of tomatoes, not more than ten feet square. He took his money and buried himself among the vines. The rebels came up and burned his shop not more than ten feet off but did not discover him.

Mr. Hampson, who had been, shot lay wounded close by a burning building. It would be certain death to show signs of life. His wife, therefore, who stood by him, asked on of the rebels to help carry her husband's body away from the flames. He took hold of Hampson and carried him out of reach of the fire without discovering that he was alive. As soon as she could, his wife helped him on a hand-cart, and covered him up with rags, and then drew the whole away out of danger. The rebels she passed thought her crazy for "drawing off that load of old rags."

One of the most wonderful escapes was that of Rev. H. D. Fisher. We give an account of it in his own words: "When Quantrell and his gang came into our town, almost all were yet in their beds. My wife and second boy were up, and I in bed, because I had been sick of quinsy. The enemy yelled and fired a signal. I sprang out, and my other children, and we clothed ourselves as quick as it was possible. I took the two oldest boys and started to run for the hill, as we were completely defenseless and unguarded. I ran a short distance, and felt I would be killed. I returned to my house, where I had left my wife with Joel, seven years old, and Frank, six months old, and thought to hide in our cellar. I told Willie, twelve years old, and Eddie ten years old to run for life, and I would hide. I had scarcely found a spot in which to secrete myself, when four murderers entered my house and demanded of my wife, with horrid oaths, where that husband of hers was, who was hid in cellar.

She replied, "The cellar is open you can go and see for yourselves. My husband started over the hill with the children." They demanded a light to search. My wife gave them a lighted lamp, and they came, light and revolvers in hand, swearing to kill me a first sight. They came within eight feet of where I lay, but wife's self-possession in giving the light had disconcerted them, and they left without seeing me. They fired the house in four places; but my wife by almost superhuman efforts, and with baby in arms, extinguished the fire. Soon after, three others came and asked for me. But she said, "Do you think he is such a fool as to stay here? They have already hunted for him, but thank God! They did not find him."

They then completed their work of pillage and robbery, and fired the house in five places, threatening to kill her if she attempted to extinguish it again. One stood, revolver in hand to execute the threat if it was attempted. The fire burned furiously. The roof fell in, then the upper story, and then the lower floor; but a space about six by twelve feet was by great effort kept perfectly deluged with water by my wife to save me from burning alive. I remained thus concealed as long as I could live in such peril. At length, and while the murderers were still at my front door and all around lot watching for their prey, my wife succeeded, thank God, in covering me with an old dress and a piece of carpet, and thus getting me out into the garden and to the refuge of a little weeping willow covered with morning glory vines, where I was secured from their fiendish gaze and saved from their hellish thirst for my blood. I still expected to be discovered and shot dead. But a neighbor woman who had come to our help, aided my wife in throwing a few things saved from the fire over and around the little tree where I lay, so as to cover me more securely."

Hon. S. A. Riggs, District Attorney, was set upon by the vilest ruffian of the lot. His wife rushed to his side at once. After a short parley the man drew his revolver and took aim. Mr. Riggs pushed the revolver aside and ran. The man started after him, but Mrs. Riggs, seized hold of the bridle rein and clung to it till she was dragged round a house, over a wood pile, and through the yard back on to the street again. Mr. Riggs was still in sight, and the man was taking aim at him again, when Mrs. Riggs seized the other rein and turned his horse round, and Mr. Riggs was beyond reach. All this time the man was swearing and striking at her with his revolver, and threatening to shoot her.

Old Mr. Miner hid among the corn in the Park. Hearing the racket around Mr. Fisher's house near by, he ventured to the edge of the corn to gratify his curiosity. He was seen and immediately shot at. He ran back into the corn, but had not preceded far before he heard them breaking down the fence. The corn was evidently to be searched. He ran, therefore, through the corn, and lay down among the weeds beyond. The weeds only partially covered him, but it was the best he could do. He had scarcely laid down when the rebels came dashing through the corn, and stationing a picket at each corner of the field to prevent escape, they searched the field through but found no one. They did not happen to look among the grass almost at their very feet.

Near the center of town was a sort of out door cellar with a very obscure entrance. A woman, whose name we have been unable to obtain, but who ought to be put on record as one of the heroines of that day, took her station at a convenient distance from that cellar. Every poor fugitive that came into that region, she directed into this hidden cellar. Thus eight or ten escaped from the murderers. Finally, the rebels noticing that their victims always disappeared when they came into this locality, suspected this woman of aiding in their escape. They demanded of her that she should show their hiding place. She refused. One of them drew his revolver, and pointing it at her said, "Tell us or I will shoot you." "You may shoot me," answered the brave woman, "but you will not find the men." Finding they could not intimidate her, the left.

Mr. Bergen was wounded and then taken off with six or eight other prisoners. After taking them a short distance, their captors shot all of them dead but Mr. Bergen. He was lying down exhausted from loss of blood, and for some reason they passed him by. There he lay among the dead, feigning death. After lying a short time, a rebel rode up, and discovering he was not dead, took aim at his head and fired. He felt the ball pass and instinctively dropped his head, and the rebel supposing he had completed his work, rode off. His head was now brought under the body of a young man who had been killed with the rest. There he lay, the living under the dead, till the rebels left town. At one time, the young man's mother came to wash the blood from the face of her murdered son. Mr. Bergen begged her not to move her son's body, as his only hope of life was in laying his head under the lifeless corpse.

Several saved themselves by their ready wit. An officer in the camp of recruits, when the attack was made, ran away at full speed. He was followed by several horsemen, who were firing at him continually. Finding escape impossible, he dashed into the house of a colored family, and in the twinkling of an eye, slipped on a dress and shaker bonnet, passed out the back door and walked deliberately away. The rebels surrounded the house, and then some of them entered and searched, but found no prey.

A son of John Speer hid for some time under the side walk. The fire soon drove him into the street, which was full of rebels. He went boldly up to them and offered his services in holding horses. They asked his name, and thinking that the name Speer would be his death warrant, he answered "John Smith, and he remained among them unharmed to the last.

One man was shot as he was running away, and fell into the gutter. His wife thinking him, killed, began to wring her hands and scream. The rebel thinking from this her husband was dead, left. As soon as he was gone, the man said, "Don't take on so, wife, I don't know as I am hit at all." And so it proved.

Mr. Winchell, being hard pressed, ran into the house of Rev. Charles Reynolds, Rector of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Reynolds at once arrayed him in female attire, and shaved off his moustache with a knife, and set him in a rocking chair with a baby in his arms, and christened him "Aunt Betsie." The rebels searched the house but did not disturb "Aunt Betsie."

Mr. G. Grovenor, had a narrow and almost providential escape. He lived where he now does corner of Berkely and New Hampshire streets. While standing on his porch a rebel rode up within ten feet of him and snapped his pistol at him, it missed fire. It failed the second time, but at that instant, another gang rode up and the leader said "don't shoot that man," and told Mr. Grovenor to go to the cellar or somewhere. The house was now in flames, but he secreted himself in the cellar under the back kitchen, until the danger had passed. One gang ordered Mrs. Grovenor to draw water for themselves and their horses. A young man, more human than the others alighted from his horse, and told her he would draw the water. This young man said he had no idea that any such murderous work was contemplated. He was told, they were going to re-capture some horses that had been stolen. He had not killed anyone nor set fire to any houses and was not going to.

General Lane, who was of course among the first sought for, hearing them coming, jumped from his bed, seized an ax and chopped the door plate from his front door and then fled in his night clothes to the corn field west of his house, taking the door plate with him; passing through the field he obtained clothes from a house on the outskirts of town and commenced to gather a posse for resistance and pursuit.

John Speer had a son 17 years of age who was sleeping in the Republican office building, and not the slightest trace of him has ever been found. Another son was also brutally murdered.

Mr. Joseph Savage who lives two miles southwest of town had just arose and was out back making his morning toilet. When he heard the tramp of horses feet coming up the road, and presently heard a loud knocking at the door. He supposed the horsemen were Union troops and the caller, a soldier who wished to make some inquiry. After completing his toilet he opened the door, and the man who had evidently come to murder him was just going out the gate. Mr. Savage owes his life to the deliberate manner in which he performed his morning wash.

Among the last brutal murders perpetrated, was the killing of Mr. Stone and two or three others at the City Hotel or Whitney House, where Quantrell had promised protection and as far as he knew evidently kept his word. But two drunken ruffians, came at the last and hearing the weeping and wailing of some women who had just heard that their husbands were lying in the street dead, demanded what all the fuss was about? On being told, they replied, "we'll give you something to cry for," and immediately commenced firing into the hotel which was full of people. The old man stone as he was called, was the first to fall, at least two others were killed and several wounded.

"As the scene at their entrance was one of the wildest, the scene after their departure was one of the saddest that ever met mortal gaze. Massachusetts street was one bed of embers. On this one street, seventy-five buildings, containing at least twice that number of places of business and offices, was destroyed. The dead lay all along the sidewalk, many of them so burned that they could not be recognized, and scarcely be taken up. Here and there among the embers could be seen the bones of those who had perished in the buildings and been consumed. On two sides of another block lay seventeen bodies. Almost the first sight that met our gaze, was a father, almost frantic, looking for the remains of his son among the embers of his office. The work of gathering and burying the dead soon began. From every quarter they were being brought in, until the floor of the Methodist Church, which was taken as a sort of hospital, was covered with dead and wounded.

In almost every house could be heard the wail of the widow and orphan. The work of burial was sad and wearying. Coffins could not be procured. Many carpenters were killed, and most living had lost their tools. But they rallied nobly, and worked night and day, making pine and walnut boxed, fastening them together with the burnt nails gathered from the ruins of the stores. (It sounded rather harsh to the ears of friends, to have the lid nailed over the bodies of their loved ones; but it was the best that could be done.) Thus the work went on for three days, till one hundred and twenty-two were deposited in the Cemetery, and many others in their own yards. Fifty-three were buried in one long grave. Early on the morning after the massacre, our attention was attracted by loud wailings. We went in the direction of the sound, and among the ashes of a large building, sat a woman, holding in her hands the blackened skull of her husband, who was shot and burned in that place. Her cries could be heard over the whole desolated town, and added much to the feeling of sadness and horror which filled every heart."

The rebels were in the town from about five o'clock until nine. About that time a body of United States mounted troops, who had left Kansas City the night before, as soon as Quantrell's movement were known, were seen approaching from the east about eight miles distant. The rebel pickets saw them first from the hill where the university now stands. The forces were at once called together and they left town by the road leading south, thus avoiding the troops. These latter struck across the prairie and overtook the rebels about ten miles south of Lawrence. For some reason, no attack was made, and the two bodies marched in sight of each other all day, and at night the rebels escaped to their hiding places in Missouri. The first ten miles of there route out of town was marked by burning farm buildings and haystacks- they continuing their murderous work.

The population of Lawrence was about 2,000, and there could not have been more than 400 men, a very large number being in the army. The proportion of killed among these was vastly greater than in the bloodiest battle of the war. There were left about eighty widows and 250 orphans. The whole number killed was about one hundred and fifty. One hundred and forty-three bodies were found and buried. Several were killed and burned in buildings and their bodies never found, twenty five were wounded, two of whom died a few days after.

There were between 300 and 400 in the company. About one-half were rebel cavalry thoroughly drilled; the other half were the ruffians of the border. They were the same clans who had disturbed the country in the early days of Kansas- "the border ruffians." They remembered their former defeat, and for all these years had been nursing their wrath to keep it warm. The former clan were the most effective, the latter, the most brutal.

Quantrell* was once a school teacher in Ohio. He came to Kansas before the war

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Since the first pages of this book was in print and stereotyped, the publisher has been shown, in the rooms of the state Historical Society, two autograph letters, signed W. C. QUANTRILL. He evidently spelled his name with an "I" instead of an "E" as it is usually written. One of the letters was written when a young man and was full of good advice to his younger brothers in regard to the importance of an education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and lived in Lawrence six months. He went by the name of Charly Hart. He boarded at the City Hotel, where he kept his prisoners during the slaughter. He became implicated in a horse stealing affair, which at that time was a fatal disease, and left for parts unknown. When the war broke out he found it convenient to take his place on the rebel side of the line. His fate has always been involved in mystery. He has been reported killed at a dozen different times, and has been reported as living in half a dozen different places. There is little doubt however, but he was killed or disabled in the spring following the raid. About June 1864 he very suddenly disappeared from the field of action, and was never present again. There is a belief that he died of wounds and disease some time after this in the hospital at Louisville, which is not unlikely.

CONCLUSION.

Many other states including Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania had severe raids during the war, but none that approached the Quantrell Raid in complete destruction of life and property. The Legislature of their states have assumed the losses and paid the sufferers, while the Legislature of Kansas have never done anything for the widows and orphans, whose husbands and fathers helped cut out from the "Great American Desert" the best and richest agricultural state that God's bright sun ever shone upon.

Notwithstanding there is about money enough in the State Treasury to pay it, or the fact that it would be only a tax of one mill on the dollar each year for four years, if it were necessary to raise the funds that way, there is a moral certainty that the United States would assume the debt and pay back to the state the just claim it has been reserved for the legislature of 1865 to immortalize themselves, by paying a bill for their relief, which in justice they should and we have no doubt but will do. (34)

Partial list of killed and wounded, taken from the Leavenworth Conservative of August 26, 1863:

• KILLED.

  Wm. Williamson. Jno. Green. Danial Palmer. Haron Halderman Mr. Lougley. Saml. Markle. Jno. Anderson. James Woods. Jas. O'Neil. Levi Gates. John Frawley. Watt Griswold. John Gill. Jno.Lawrie. Geo. Coates. Asbury Parker. Mr. Roach. L.L. Swann Fred. Klaus. S.H. Fritch. Fred. Kimball. Mr. Murphy. L. D. Coleman. Jas. Perine. Gen. Geo. W. Collamore. Jos. Lowe. Chas. Palmer. Pat Keiff. Unknown. Louis Wise. H.C.trask. S. S. Snyder. Dr. J.F.griswold. Jno. Speer, Jr.

  S.M. Thorp. Nathan Stone. Abner Griswold. Lemuel Fillmore. Jno. Zimmerman. Mr. Mc. Clellan. Carl Engler. Addison Waugh. Geo. Burt. D.C. Allison. A. reedmiller. Mr. Martha. Jas. Cooper. Eight in one place. Jno. Little. Five in another. Danl. Markle. Jno. S. Crane. Louis Markle. R. C. Dix Aug. Ehles. Young Dix. Henry (a German.) Seven negroes in one house. Saml. Bowers. eight colored in different places. chas. Riggs. Jas. Eldridge. Henry Linback. Judge Carpenter. Wm. Klares. Dulinsky. James Wilson.

  James Wilson. Saml. Jones. James Watson. R. Martin. Jno. Evans. Mr. MacFarland. J. McFradden. Negro. Ellis (colored). E. P. Fitch. ____Hendrix. Mr. Cornell. M. Meekly. J. Pollock. Saml. Reynolds. Rich Loomis. Phillip Albach. Antoney Giebal. Seven unknown (colored) in one house. Mr. Brant. Jas. Breckelsbauer. Four unknown Germans in other places. Eight unknown in one place. Five unknown in another. Eight unknown (colored) in other places. Four unknown at Hazeltines Boarding House.

• WOUNDED
  • G.H. Sargent, (died.)
  • G.E. Smith.
  • Young Callamore.
  • C. Livingston.
  • H.W. Baker.
  • Joe Eldridge.
  • Geo. E. Holt.
  • ____Holmes.
  • Jas. Brown.
  • ____Barnard.
  • Wm. Laman.
  • ____Bergen.
  • A.D. Lee.
  • ____Edwards.
  • Jas. B. Finlay.
  • ____Miers.
  • J.W. Thornton.
  • Dennis Berryman.
  • Jno. F. Hampson.
  • Jno. S. Drake.
  • Homer Hays.
  • R. H. Fitts.

• MISSING.
  • Mr. Becker
  • Wm. Klefizr.
  • Sanger

• Killed 134.
• Wounded 22.
• Missing 3.