Branson replied:  “Yes, I am here and a prisoner.”

Wood replied:  “Well, come out here among your friends.”

Jones threatened with oaths and imprecations to shoot.  The rescuing party leveled their guns and said:  “Well, we can shoot, too.”  Nobody was hurt, no gun was fired, and Jacob Branson, coming out from among his captors, walked away.

It will be seen that this was a clear and palpable violation of the plan of procedure which the free State men had agreed upon among themselves, and this act made Kansas for three years a dark and bloody ground, and concentrated on this Territory the eyes of the whole nation.  Of the rescuing party only three were citizens of Lawrence.  Sam Wood was in his element.  He was a man overflowing with patriotism, yet succeeded in doing more harm to his friends than to his enemies.  He possessed unmistakable talent; he was a clown and a born actor, and as a public speaker was sure to bring down the house; he was a pronounced free State man; yet in this act he made himself the marplot of his party.

CHAPTER X.

Sheriff Jones went away, vowing that he would have revenge, and sent the following dispatch to Gov.  Shannon: 

DOUGLAS CO., K. T., NOV. 27, 1855.

SIR:—­Last night I, with a posse of ten men, arrested one Jacob Branson, by virtue of a peace warrant regularly issued, who, on our return, was rescued by a party of forty men who rushed upon us suddenly from behind a house by the roadside, all armed to the teeth with Sharpe’s rifles.

You may consider an open rebellion as already having commenced, and I call upon you for THREE THOUSAND MEN to carry out the laws.  Mr. Hargis, the bearer of this letter, will give you more particularly the circumstances.  Most respectfully,

SAMUEL J. JONES,
Sheriff Douglas County.

To His EXCELLENCY, WILSON SHANNON, GOVERNOR KANSAS TERRITORY.

On receipt of the above dispatch, Gov.  Shannon wrote to Major-General William P. Richardson, reciting the story told him by Sheriff Jones, together with additional stories (equally false), told him by Hargis, and closed his letter with the following order: 

You are therefore hereby commanded to collect together as large a force as you can in your division, and repair, without delay, to Lecompton, and report to S. J. Jones, Sheriff of Douglas County, together with the number of your forces, and render him all the aid and assistance in your power in the execution of any legal process in his hands.  The forces under your command are to be used for the sole purpose of aiding the Sheriff in executing the law, and for no other purpose.

I have the honor to be
Your obedient servant,

WILSON SHANNON.