U. S. CAMP —DISPERSION OE THE LEGISLATURE. 305 
was still insane from the ill-treatment received while in charge of 
the troops. These gentlemen, upon hearing of the intended attack 
upon Lawrence in May, had, in company with one hundred others 
from the region of Osawattomie, left their homes for her defence. 
Having heard, when a few miles distant, that the people of Law¬ 
rence would make no resistance to the force brought against them, 
they returned to their homes. Fifteen of them were at first taken 
prisoners by a part of Whitfield’s gang of ruffians. Seven were 
rescued, and eight taken for trial to Tecumseh, after being kept in 
irons two weeks, under the guard of United States troops, Capt. 
Wood, of company C., commanding. 
Capt. Brown had a rope tied around his arms so tightly, and 
drawn behind him, that he will for years bear the marks of the 
ropes, where they wore into his flesh. He was then obliged to 
hold one end of a rope, the other end being carried by one of the 
dragoons; and for eight miles, in a burning sun, he was driven 
before them, compelled to go fast enough to keep from being tram¬ 
pled on by the horses. On being taken to Tecumseh, they were 
chained two and two, with a common trace-chain, and padlock at 
each end. It was so fixed as to clasp tightly around the ankle. 
One day they were driven thirty miles, with no food from early 
morning until night. The journey in a hot June day was most 
torturing to them. Their chains wore upon their ankles until one 
of them, unable to go further, was placed upon a horse. 
The testimony at Tecumseh was general against them, all alike; 
but five were released, while the three, who are members of the 
Topeka Legislature, were retained. 
The people of Lecompton, hearing of the new arrival of the 
free-state men in the territory, were in continued fears of attacks. 
Their days were filled with rumors of intended attacks, and their 
nights with vigils. For several days before the 3d of July, Col. 
Titus, and other choice spirits, had called upon Capt. Walker move 
frequently than usual, and the 31st of June w r as spent by them in 
consultation. July 1st, about eleven and a half o’clock, Mr. P., 
of the N. Y. Tribune , and E., the young lady who had been part 
of my household, came from Lawrence. Our plan had been for E. to 
remain with me a few days, while Mrs. J. could go down to look 
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