330 
KANSAS. 
us with the whole force under your command (meaning the troops), 
and, if not, you will allow us to be murdered ? Is that your posi¬ 
tion ? ” Woodson replied, “ The laws must be obeyed, and writs 
executed.” The committee concluded that they must depend 
wholly upon the strength of the free-state men, if Lawrence was 
attacked. Volunteers were continually arriving, and Lawrence 
again looked warlike. The forts built last winter were repaired, 
and new ones were built. Wheat and hay were carried in so near 
town that they could not be destroyed by the marauders. The 
wheat was ground as a substitute for tine flour, and many cattle 
were driven in near town. A strong guard was again placed 
around the town, while the scouting guard were on duty miles 
away. It was estimated that in twelve hours’ time from fifteen 
hundred to two thousand men could be rallied to defend Law¬ 
rence. 
On the twenty-fifth, Col. Cook, commandant at Fort Filey, 
arrived at the sppt where Capt. Sackett was in charge of the state 
prisoners. He came with a large additional force, which num¬ 
bered, with the companies called in from different parts of the ter¬ 
ritory, about five hundred troops. They had five pieces of artil¬ 
lery, and, as they came in over the hills to our quiet little camp, 
they looked quite formidable. The care of the prisoners at once 
devolved upon Col. Cook. He manifested the responsibility he 
felt by putting on an extra guard, with another to stand by to 
listen to conversation when any company was in the tents. Capt. 
Sackett, with thirty-five men, had found, for seven weeks, one 
guard all-sufficient for (he protection of the prisoners. Col. Cook, 
with five hundred, must have felt strangely insecure. 
On the twenty-seventh, Mr. Nute, with his widowed sister-in- 
law, and John Wilder, a merchant of Lawrence, with a number 
of teams for provisions, started for Leavenworth. They had been 
advised by the military commanders to attempt this journey. 
When near Leavenworth the whole party were captured by a band 
of ruffians under Capt. Emory. The body of Mr. Hops had been 
buried, by the troops, in Pilot Knob cemetery, and his widow was 
denied the consolation of looking ipon his grave. After con- 
