William H. Leeman, a follower of John Brown in Kansas Territory,and an eventual casualty of the raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, writes this letter to his mother while "traveling across the prairies of Iowa" in July, 1856. Although he briefly mentions an encounter with "2,000 border ruffians," he assures his mother that he is safe, in good health, and well armed, and that he is much happier in this "adventure" than had he stayed home and "worked in a shop."