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[143]

Chapter 9: battle of Ossawatomie.

Captain Brown, after the fourth of July, returned to Lawrence. Early in the month of August, General Lane entered Kansas by the way of Nebraska Territory. The confidence that the fighting men felt in his military ability, made his return an event of historical importance. Several revolting atrocities β€” the mutilation of Major Hoyt, for example, the scalping of Mr. Hopps, and a dastardly outrage on a Northern lady1--aroused once more the military ardor of the Free State men. Aggressive hostilities began. The cowardice that the Southerners, now vigorously assailed, displayed at every point, has never probably been equalled in American history:

1 β€œOn the following morning, a young lady of Bloomington was dragged from her home by a party of merciless wretches, and carried a mile or two into the country, when her tongue was pulled as far as possible from her mouth, and tied with a cord. Her arms were then securely pinioned, and, despite her violent and convulsive struggles β€” But let the reader imagine, if possible, the savage brutality that followed. She had been guilty of the terrible offence of speaking adversely of the institution of slavery.” Gilson's Geary in Kansas, p. 98.

Thayer and Eldridge, 1860.

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