ARREST OF GOV. ROBINSON. 
271 
but just as he was retiring for the night to his state-room, Col. 
Preston altered his mind, and they returned to the town. Col. 
Preston and Win. Donaldson, with the prisoner in a carriage, left 
Lexington on the 19th, and reached Independence the same night. 
The next day they went to Westport, and remained there until the 
22d, they declaring, without any hesitancy, that “ Lawrence would 
be attacked, and they wanted him to remain in Westport until 
after it was done.” On the night of the 22d, having had the 
additional guard of Capt. Long’s party of Wyandot Indians, they 
arrived at Franklin. They told him repeatedly that in case his 
friends attempted to rescue him, they should kill him the first 
thing. About midnight, all having retired for the night, at 
Franklin, word came from Gov. Shannon, to Col. Preston, to re¬ 
turn to Leavenworth by way of Kansas city, as there was danger 
of a rescue ; that “ he should hold him responsible for Gov. Ilobin- 
son’s safety, and if any harm befell him it would bring on civil 
war.” (At Leavenworth he was informed that Gov. Shannon 
feared a rescue from his own men.) 
So, the long way to Westport and Kansas city, through the 
swollen creeks and deep ravines, and in the darkness of the night, 
was to be retraced. They reached Kansas city the next evening, 
having taken a longer route to avoid the Westport and Kansas 
city road. Whether this was done through fear of attacks from 
the bands of South Carolina foot-pads infesting the usually trav¬ 
elled way, was not stated. After a little rest, a boat-whistle 
sounded on the night air. The officers, with their prisoner, were 
again astir, and the morning of the 24th found them at Leaven¬ 
worth. The prisoner was delivered into the hands of the deputy 
sheriff of Leavenworth, who appointed Capt. Martin, of the Kick- 
apoo Hangers, and three others, his guard. On the 28th, when 
the general reign of terror commenced at Leavenworth, those who 
had constituted themselves a committee of vigilance were deter¬ 
mined to drive from the country every free-state man, and they 
made many threats of taking my husband from the hands of his 
keepers, and hanging him. Capt. Martin, learning of this inten¬ 
tion, and determined no ill should come to him while in his 
charge, sent for more of his men. The marshal and Judge Le« 
compte came into Lawrence in the afternoon, and the threats of 
