Record Data
Source citation
Sara Tappan Doolittle Lawrence Robinson, Diary of Sara Tappan Doolittle Lawrence Robinson, December 4, 1855, Kansas: Its Interior and Exterior Life, 4th edition, Boston, MA: Crosby, Nichols & Company, 1856, p. 366.
Type
Diary
Date Certainty
Exact
Transcriber
Michael Blake
Transcription date
Transcription
The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.
-- Early morning calls are all I see of the doctor now, as there is continually something in the council-room to demand attention, and last night they held a council of war to decide upon what further measures shall be taken for our defence.
Forts and entrenchments are to be thrown up, under the direction of Col. Lane. Reports have come in of three hundred men between here and Westport, three hundred at the Wakarusa, some two hundred now crossing the Delaware Reserve towards Lawrence, -- the Platte County Rifles being of the number, -- making in all a force eight hundred strong for the destruction, the annihilation of Lawrence.
Our guard are now fired upon nightly. Last night a bullet passed through the hat of one of the guard, instead of his head, for which it was doubtless intended.
The chilly breath of the last few days has given place to the warm, balmy airs of September. I watch the guard upon the hills, and stationed at different points in the prairies -- foot guard as well as mounted. Some are standing quietly, while the two hours of some others have expired, and they are going through a rapid change of position. There are horsemen, also wagons, passing up over the Lecompton road, to reïnforce the company at Lecompton, and swift riders are going in and out of town, while the falg -- the sign of invasion -- floats over our house. This flag was run up days ago, and can be seen at a great distance.
In the midst of my reveries arising from all this strange scene, the uncouth face of a Missourian presented itself close by me, only the window between. That we looked at each other, I am sure, and from the looks of his physiognomy, and from a certainty as to the nature of my own feelings, I am equally sure neither of us were pleased. He, however, seemed strongly attracted towards the house, was only content after taking a general survey of three sides of it, and came a little nearer than any rules of propriety would allow. He passed on, at length, and seated himself in the tall grass on the top of the hill for half an hour. He was evidently a spy, not upon us only, but the whole town.
While we were at dinner, two other men, evidently in authority, rode out on the point of the hill, to take a survey of the town. They rode very slowly past the house, examining the whole premises, and looking backwards, until they reached the summit of the hill beyond. It looked like a silent threat, coming at the hour, too, when they supposed we would have company to dine, and the leaders of the defence.
Just before noon one of the "staff" (just appointed) came up, and, upon my opening the door, he said, "Good-morning, Mrs. R.; the doctor sent me after his horse;" and, as he vaulted into his saddle, with a ringing laugh he said, "Excuse me, Mrs. R., I meant the general."
So I suppose that the quiet doctor, who has always been remarked for the meekness of his bearing, is metamorphosed into a general. He was appointed last evening. To the never-failing question, "Is there anything new?" he tells me, "The men are anxious to form companies of riflemen, and go down to Franklin;" that "with one round the Missourians would fly like frightened hares." "The people are getting impatient, and nothing but giving up their position, of acting strictly upon the defensive, keeps them from driving them out of the borders."
Soldiers are on drill all the afternoon. A cavalry company is also formed. There are about four hundred armed men in Lawrence now, and if there is a fight there will be terrible slaughter among the Missourians. This they know, and they are still waiting for reïnforcements. What an unheard of sheriff's posse this will be! The companies have been firing at a mark set on the hill near us, and the rifle-balls went far beyond.
Forts and entrenchments are to be thrown up, under the direction of Col. Lane. Reports have come in of three hundred men between here and Westport, three hundred at the Wakarusa, some two hundred now crossing the Delaware Reserve towards Lawrence, -- the Platte County Rifles being of the number, -- making in all a force eight hundred strong for the destruction, the annihilation of Lawrence.
Our guard are now fired upon nightly. Last night a bullet passed through the hat of one of the guard, instead of his head, for which it was doubtless intended.
The chilly breath of the last few days has given place to the warm, balmy airs of September. I watch the guard upon the hills, and stationed at different points in the prairies -- foot guard as well as mounted. Some are standing quietly, while the two hours of some others have expired, and they are going through a rapid change of position. There are horsemen, also wagons, passing up over the Lecompton road, to reïnforce the company at Lecompton, and swift riders are going in and out of town, while the falg -- the sign of invasion -- floats over our house. This flag was run up days ago, and can be seen at a great distance.
In the midst of my reveries arising from all this strange scene, the uncouth face of a Missourian presented itself close by me, only the window between. That we looked at each other, I am sure, and from the looks of his physiognomy, and from a certainty as to the nature of my own feelings, I am equally sure neither of us were pleased. He, however, seemed strongly attracted towards the house, was only content after taking a general survey of three sides of it, and came a little nearer than any rules of propriety would allow. He passed on, at length, and seated himself in the tall grass on the top of the hill for half an hour. He was evidently a spy, not upon us only, but the whole town.
While we were at dinner, two other men, evidently in authority, rode out on the point of the hill, to take a survey of the town. They rode very slowly past the house, examining the whole premises, and looking backwards, until they reached the summit of the hill beyond. It looked like a silent threat, coming at the hour, too, when they supposed we would have company to dine, and the leaders of the defence.
Just before noon one of the "staff" (just appointed) came up, and, upon my opening the door, he said, "Good-morning, Mrs. R.; the doctor sent me after his horse;" and, as he vaulted into his saddle, with a ringing laugh he said, "Excuse me, Mrs. R., I meant the general."
So I suppose that the quiet doctor, who has always been remarked for the meekness of his bearing, is metamorphosed into a general. He was appointed last evening. To the never-failing question, "Is there anything new?" he tells me, "The men are anxious to form companies of riflemen, and go down to Franklin;" that "with one round the Missourians would fly like frightened hares." "The people are getting impatient, and nothing but giving up their position, of acting strictly upon the defensive, keeps them from driving them out of the borders."
Soldiers are on drill all the afternoon. A cavalry company is also formed. There are about four hundred armed men in Lawrence now, and if there is a fight there will be terrible slaughter among the Missourians. This they know, and they are still waiting for reïnforcements. What an unheard of sheriff's posse this will be! The companies have been firing at a mark set on the hill near us, and the rifle-balls went far beyond.