The disaster in its effect upon Lane was, however, little short of exhilarating.  It brought him sympathy, understanding, and a fair measure of support from people who, not until the eleventh hour, had really comprehended their own danger and it inspired him to redouble his efforts to organize a brigade that should

[Footnote 97:  Official Records, vol. iii, 430.]

[Footnote 98:—­Ibid., 446.]

[Footnote 99:  The Daily Conservative (Leavenworth), October 5, 1861.]

[Footnote 100:—­Ibid., August 30, 1861, quoting from the Fort Scott Democrat.]

adequately protect Kansas and recover ground lost.  Prior to the battle, “scarcely a battalion had been recruited for each” of the five regiments, the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Kansas, which he had been empowered by the War Department to raise.[101] It was in the days of gathering reinforcements, for which he made an earnest plea on August 29,[102] that he developed a disposition to utilize the loyal Indians in his undertaking.  The Indians, in their turn, were looking to him for much needed assistance.  About a month previous to the disaster of August 10, Agent Elder had been obliged to make Fort Scott, for the time being, the Neosho Agency headquarters, everything being desperately insecure at Crawford’s Seminary.[103]

[Footnote 101:  Britton, Civil War on the Border, vol. i, 122.]

[Footnote 102:  Official Records, vol. iii, 465.]

[Footnote 103:  The following letter, an enclosure of a report from Branch to Dole, August 14, 1861, gives some slight indication of its insecurity: 

OFFICE OF NEOSHO AGENCY
Fort Scott, July 27, 1861.

Sir—­I deem it important to inform the Department of the situation of this Agency at this time.  After entering upon the duties of this office as per instructions—­and attending to all the business that seemed to require my immediate attention—­I repaired to Franklin Co.  Kan. to remove my family to the Agency.

Leaving the Agency in care of James Killebrew Esq the Gov’t Farmer for the Quapaw Nation.  Soon after I left I was informed by him that the Agency had been surrounded by a band of armed men, and instituted an inquiry for “that Abolition Superintendent and Agent.”  After various interrogatories and answers they returned in the direction of Missouri and Arkansas lines from whence they were supposed to have come.  He has since written me and Special Agent Whitney and Superintendent Coffin told me that it would be very unsafe for me to stay at that place under the present excited state of public feeling in that vicinity.  I however started with my family on the 6th July and arrived at Fort Scott on the 9th intending to go direct to the Agency.  Here I learned from Capt Jennison commanding a detachment of Kansas Militia, who had been scouting in that vicinity, that the country was full of marauding parties from Gov.  Jackson’s Camp in S.W.  Mo.  I therefore concluded to remain here and watch the course of events believing as I did the Federal troops (cont.)]