In this letter to Reverend Thomas W. Higginson, who was an agent of the Massachusetts Kansas Aid Committee, Mr. Dunn writes from Oskaloosa, Iowa, about his attempts to gather together a company of men as a response to Gov. Gary's [sic] election and the U. S. Army's efforts to arrest many prominent free state men. According to the author, "the U. S. troops by the order of Gary [sic] are taking every free State man they can get hold of." He is eager to hear advice from Higginson about the best way to proceed, and he lays out his plan to amass about 60 men to fight against the border ruffians who have invaded the territory. He hopes that Higginson would support him in this matter by obtaining provisions. Dunn maintains that this plan comes from his sense of duty; it does not arise from a warlike spirit.