Tabor Iowa, Thursday Aug. 21st 1856
Mr. Hyatt,
Dear Sir I arrived here from Chicago on Monday; on Tuesday we
received a letter
from Kansas, a copy of which I send enclosed. The messenger who brought
it was
Mr Buchanan of the Wisconsin party; he said there had been a skirmish
between
the Emigrants and Missourians on the Kansas River, between Lawrence
& Topeka,
that Lane was in it, and that they took some 80 guns one cannon and a
quantity
of ammunition and whipped the Missourians badly; Lane had been at
Lawrence &
Topeka, and came to Buchanans house and started him off for this place
with
the letter, B------ lives in the first settlement across the
Kansas line, which is some 10 miles in the Territory. The Emigrants
made another
settlement between the first & Topeka. I could not get the
particulars of
the battle from the messenger he did not see Lane more than half an hour
before
he started; Lane was to wait at his house till he returns and then he
was going
back to the Kansas valley. I raised Teams to take on what stuff there
was here,
which consisted of 100 guns one Bbl. Powder & 100 Knives; I went
with them
to Nebraska City and there got other teams to take them on and a safe
number
of men to accompany them; I put them in charge of Mr. Moore and he will
see
them through; I returned to this place this morning. The camp below
Nebraska
City did not break up until
about a week after we started for the East; a day or two after they
broke up
a party from Lawrence & Topeka arrived and persuaded Lane to go with
them
to Kansas promising they would see him through independent of the
emigrant train.
Lane had decided to go east but finely consented to accompany them Dr
Blanchard
(from whom I got this statement) disguised him in such a way that his
most intimate
acquaintances could not recognize him, he goes by the name of
“Spanish
Joe” in the Territory. Blanchard accompanied him one day. Buchanan
said
but few of the emigrants knew Lane was in the Territory.
The messenger which Lane sent to Smith returned a few days after we
started
East. I tried to get a copy of Smiths reply but could not. Blanchard
sayes
it was a cold and insulting letter
Buchanan sayes the emigrants are well and in good spirits, but they
are out
of money and nearly out of provisions It seems to me that something must
be
done and that too soon, to secure provision for them for the winter if
we intend
to have them remain there; large quantities can now be bought up here
cheap,
our emigrants will suffer unless something of this kind is
done—you are
aware of the state of our friends here and at Chicago.
After you left me at Chicago I proceeded to look up the knives and
had engaged
about 100 when I went to the Com. Rooms to get my money, there they
informed
me
they had held a meeting that morning and decided not to purchast any
knives
but if I had engaged any they would pay for them; the reason they gave
for changing
their decision was that they had seen in the morning paper a statement
that
our men had arrived safely in Kansas and they thought – there was
no need
of buying them Knives. – so instead of getting 184 knives I had to
come
off with about 100. They gave me $75. for expenses which I have used up
besides
nearly all my own funds in expenses and sending forward the stuff that
was here.
Mr Jones advanced $56.25 for the man who brought those guns from Iowa
City.
I have a letter authorizing Eldridge to draw for $1000. which is the
extent
of our funds here, and no more at Chicago
I learn from various reliable sources that large quantities of
provision are
being bought up along the Missouri line and that a large number of
waggons with
tents and camping fixtures are being fitted out at Doniphan Stichan and
other
points along the Missouri, and that quite a force is collecting on the
Big Blue,
what the objects of these movements are I cannot learn.
While I was gone to Chicago word came here that there was five
suspicious boxes
at Plattsmouth, left there by a man who got frightened and was afraid to
take
them further; The Law & Order men had threatened to open them; Mr
Jones
thinking they might be guns sent a man to look after them and gave him
an order
to get them if they proved to be what they were reported
The man returned the day I arrived here and reported that he found
the boxes
but that one day a short time since when the man in whose care they were
left
was gone, a party of “Law & Order” men came and opened
them
and found they contained plows chains and other property of an honest
old bachelor
who had started for Kansas to settle but got frightened and left his
things
with a free state man at that place, and is now at work over the river
waiting
for matters to get quiet so he can go into Kansas so you see the
property of
an honest emigrant going to Kansas is not safe from the hands of the
Ruffins
even up as far as Plattmouth. and the Law and Order party are allowed to
commit
their depridations in Nebraska as well as in Kansas: the resolutions of
a meeting in Cass Co. (a report of which you will see in the N Y
Tribune or
National Era. – I think Plattsmouth is in Cass Co.) to the
contrary notwithstanding
I am waiting anxiously Eldridges return he will probably be here in
a few days.
The company of Emigrants we met at Iowa City will be along soon.
I would like to hear from you – I feel anxious to know what is
going
on at the East and what the prospects of our cause are. it seems to me
that
unless funds are forthcoming to purchase provision and establishing a
depot
here there is no need of any one staying here for nothing can be done
unless
there is something to do with. Whatever I can do to be of any service to
the
com. either here, in the Terriitory or elsewhere I am at their service
Hoping
to hear from you soon I remain Your Truly A D Searl
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/2436/text
