The autumn of 1855 witnessed escalating tensions in Kansas, culminating in a pivotal, bloodless confrontation known as the Wakarusa War. This conflict, centered around the Free-State stronghold of Lawrence, was a dramatic early chapter in the violent struggle between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions battling for control of the Kansas Territory, a period famously dubbed Bleeding Kansas.
The Seeds of Conflict
The deeply entrenched divisions between Free-State and pro-slavery advocates fueled intense animosity throughout Kansas in 1855. A dispute over a land claim tragically escalated on November 21, 1855, when Charles W. Dow, a Free-State man, was shot and killed by Franklin N. Coleman, a prominent pro-slavery figure from Hickory Point. This murder ignited a volatile series of events. Dow had resided with Jacob Branson, a Free-State sympathizer. Following Dow’s death, Sheriff Samuel J. Jones of Douglas County arrested Branson. However, Free-State men promptly rescued Branson from custody. Infuriated, Sheriff Jones, with his posse, retreated to Franklin and urgently dispatched a plea for assistance to his father-in-law, Colonel Boone, in Westport (now Kansas City), Missouri, seeking help to recapture Branson and assert pro-slavery authority.
Governor Shannon’s Call to Arms
The news of Branson’s rescue and the subsequent plea from Sheriff Jones quickly reached Governor Wilson Shannon at Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Reports, possibly exaggerated, depicted the Free-State men as rebellious and aiming for the destruction of Lawrence. Some contemporary observers believed that the entire affair was a calculated trap, designed to ensnare Free-State proponents and provide a pretext for an attack on Lawrence. Without fully investigating the actual state of affairs, Governor Shannon precipitously issued a proclamation, mobilizing the Kansas militia. In practice, this call was predominantly answered by fervent pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri. Historian Holloway, in his History of Kansas, recorded that “For two or three counties back from the western line of Missouri, troops were sent fully equipped and expecting to fight.” Within three days, an estimated 1,500 armed Missourians had poured across the border, converging on Lawrence. Governor Shannon himself noted the fervent response, stating: “Missouri sent not only her young men, but her gray-haired citizens were there. The man of seventy winters stood shoulder to shoulder with the sixteen-year-old youth.” The primary encampment of these besiegers was near Franklin, about three miles southeast of Lawrence, with another wing positioned near Lecompton, under the command of Strickler and Richardson.
Lawrence Fortifies Itself
Anticipating a full-scale invasion, the residents of Lawrence immediately began preparing their defenses. To demonstrate that the town officially disavowed any involvement in Branson’s rescue, those directly implicated in the event were urged to leave Lawrence. A Committee of Safety was swiftly established, organizing citizens into small squads of 15 to 20 men. These units were enrolled, their addresses recorded, ensuring they could be summoned at a moment’s notice while still continuing their daily lives. As word of the threatened destruction of Lawrence spread, Free-State men from across the territory rushed to aid the besieged town. Approximately 800 armed and equipped defenders ultimately gathered within Lawrence. The Committee of Safety appointed Dr. Charles Robinson as commander-in-chief of all forces, with Colonel James H. Lane serving as second in command. Various companies from surrounding areas joined the defense, including the Lawrence Stubbs under Lyman Allen, the Bloomington company under Samuel Walker, the Wakarusa company under Major Abbott, the Ottawa Creek company under Shore, and the Palmyra company under McWheeney. Notably, the Pottawatomie company arrived under the leadership of John Brown, accompanied by his four sons, bringing vital arms and ammunition just as peace negotiations were about to commence.
The Standoff and Fortifications
Every available house in Lawrence was filled with soldiers, and the Free-State Hotel served as a primary barracks. The defenders rapidly constructed five redoubts, strategically positioned to command every approach to the city. The most substantial redoubt was a circular structure of hewn timber erected on Massachusetts Street, near the intersection with Pinckney. It featured an earth embankment approximately five feet high and four feet wide at the top, surrounded by a deep entrenchment. This fort was designated as a safe retreat for women and children in the event of an assault. A second defensive line was established along Massachusetts Street, consisting of three rudimentary forts running across Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Streets, coinciding with Henry Street. A third circular redoubt was built on an elevated position north of Henry Street, between Massachusetts and New Hampshire Streets. A fourth fort, south of the main Henry Street fort, was constructed to repel any attack originating from Mount Oread. The fifth redoubt was located on Kentucky Street, controlling an entrance from a western ravine. Furthermore, a cannon that had been initially sent to Kansas City was successfully smuggled into the beleaguered town, significantly bolstering its defensive capabilities. The siege officially began on Saturday, December 1st, and persisted for approximately one week. Both sides were fully prepared for armed conflict. The defenders meticulously drilled and strengthened their positions, while the invaders awaited Sheriff Samuel Jones’s order to advance upon Lawrence. The presence of Sharps rifles, clandestinely shipped to Lawrence from New England, proved immensely valuable, as the mere threat of their firepower deterred the enemy from launching a sudden attack.
A Diplomatic Resolution
As historian Blackmar noted in his Life of Charles Robinson, the situation was a “strange spectacle, almost a comedy had it not been so near a tragedy, and in any case was certainly a travesty on free government.” U.S. Senator Atchison commanding the Missouri horde, while Governor Shannon frantically sought to manage the crisis, underscored the extraordinary nature of the Wakarusa War. Despite the ongoing siege, Sheriff Jones was able to travel through Lawrence unmolested, performing his duties, indicating that the town’s defenders were indeed focused on defensive measures rather than aggression. Governor Shannon, increasingly concerned for the safety of both the attacking Missourians and the residents of Lawrence, requested United States troops from Colonel Sumner in Leavenworth. Sumner, however, refused to act without direct orders from Washington. Meanwhile, Lawrence continued to receive reinforcements, with new arrivals often surprised to discover the town’s defensive, rather than aggressive, posture, contrary to pro-slavery reports. Eventually, Lawrence citizens dispatched a delegation to the governor to present the true state of affairs. Initially incredulous, Shannon was persuaded to visit Lawrence himself. Upon witnessing the situation firsthand, he was reportedly astonished. He then brought the opposing commanders to a conference. Governor Shannon, accompanied by Colonel Albert Boone of Westport, Missouri, Colonel Kearney of Independence, Missouri, and General Strickler of Kansas, was formally escorted to Lawrence and to the Committee of Safety’s rooms within the Free-State Hotel. Dr. Robinson and Colonel James Lane represented the Free-State men in these critical negotiations. After thorough discussions, the governor proposed a treaty, which was subsequently drafted and signed by the leaders. Blackmar characterized this as “an excellent way out of a dilemma, but here was another scene in the drama of spectacular government; the town of Lawrence in rebellion, treating with the Kansas militia, the latter commanded by officers living in Missouri.”
Conclusion: The Unfinished Battle
The treaty underscored the good faith of the people of Lawrence and their genuine desire to resolve the conflict peacefully. Following the signing, Robinson and Lane accompanied Governor Shannon to the militia camp, where the Governor successfully persuaded the Missourians to accept the treaty and withdraw. This was not an easy task, but eventually, the pro-slavery forces began their journey home. Although the Wakarusa War concluded without significant bloodshed, it stands as a profoundly significant event. It was a crucial precursor to the full-blown violence of Bleeding Kansas, characterized by numerous subsequent assaults, including the devastating Sacking of Lawrence by Sheriff Jones just a few months later, on May 21, 1856. This episode cemented Lawrence’s reputation as a bastion of the Free-State movement and highlighted the deep-seated ideological clashes that would ultimately plunge the nation into civil war. The events of the Wakarusa War demonstrated the intensity of the struggle and the lengths to which both sides were willing to go, even in the absence of direct military engagement, making it a pivotal moment in American history.
