The free State men, for the last year, had been passing through the furnace-fires of a vigorous discipline, and they would have fought as the Tennessee and Kentucky backwoodsmen of Andrew Jackson fought behind their cotton bales at the battle of New Orleans.  They had seen their rights wrested out of their hands by a mob of ruffians, and now they were proposing to settle the matter in that court of last resort that is the final and ultimate appeal of the nations.  Except Gen. Lane, they had small knowledge of military tactics, but they knew how to look along the barrel of a rifle; moreover, they would fight behind breastworks, and this to raw troops would have been an immense advantage.

It is probable that the first intimation that Gov.  Shannon got of the real state of affairs at Lawrence was conveyed to him in the following letter, written by Brig.  Gen. Eastin: 

GOVERNOR SHANNON:—­Information has been received direct from Lawrence, which I consider reliable, that the outlaws are well fortified with cannon and Sharpe’ rifles, and number at least 1,000 men.  It will, therefore, be difficult to dispossess them.

The militia in this portion of the State are entirely unorganized, and mostly without arms.  I suggest the propriety of calling upon the military of Fort Leavenworth.  If you have the power to call out the government troops, I think it would be best to do so at once.  It might overawe these outlaws and prevent bloodshed.

S. J. EASTIN,
Brig.  Gen. Northern Brigade, K. M.

Gen. Eastin is mistaken in putting their number at 1,000, but whether many or few they certainly would have fought a hard battle.  They were picked men from all the Kansas settlements.  Our old friend, Caleb May, was there, as grim and as self-possessed as Andrew Jackson.  So also Old John Brown was there with his four sons, though they did not arrive until Gov.  Shannon had made overtures for peace.

The Governor telegraphed to Washington to obtain authority to call out Col.  Sumner with the United States troops at Fort Leavenworth.  He also wrote to Col.  Sumner to hold himself ready to march at a moment’s notice.  And now this simple-minded Gov.  Shannon, Ex-Governor of Ohio, who had come to Kansas to waste in a few short months the ripe honors he had been so carefully hoarding up for a life-time, bethought himself that it was time for him to go and look with his own eyes after this rebellion he had so foolishly and recklessly stirred up.

We have already remarked that Gen. James H. Lane was the most conspicuous figure in the defense of Lawrence.  It is proper to pause and consider the character of this man, who shone for a time like a brilliant meteor, and then had his light quenched in the blackness of darkness.