This piece was written for a History College Class. It is based on Historical Events on a disturbing piece of American History that brought about the Civil War. The student was to provide facts from an event but write it as a newspaper account, whether as a reporter, editor, citizen, etc. Sources are provided on the bottom by the student.
To the Editor of the New York Tribune:
December 9, 1856
Given as a report from Reporter Reb S.
Dear Sir,
In this letter I have included diary entries of a Penny Foryer Thohtts. She was obliged to give them to me, really Sir, she nearly demanded I take them and give them to you to read and do with as you please. She did hint that she would like to see them in print. Everything she has stated I have checked with other citizens. There are no dates as you will see, as her mother was against her writing for the paper, therefore, what she wrote was done hastily and in secret; she read several articles later on and wanted to have a say as a citizen of Kansas what she thought. I am sending these to you and will return to New York once I have finished my reporting here.
Yours Truly,
Reb S.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you of the events that happened in the state of Kansas from August to October of this year 1856. I could go back even further, but I do not think you would take the time to read this letter. Do not ask me my name Sir, but you shall refer to me as Penny Foryer Thohtts. Clever is it not?
I have been reading Sir, of the articles that have been placed in newspapers on Kansas for the last several months. I must say, Sir, that many of them I do not agree with. I happened upon one of your articles dated the 8 of September, of this year, 1856.
Where I obtain my information, only I have the right to know, but I can assure you that they are accurate, despite what your papers print. I with my own eyes have seen some of these devastations placed upon this state. They are horrendous. The information that I was not witness too, I simply acquired from some close acquaintances.
I shall start at the beginning of my journal entries, of some of these incidents. Mind you, these are not all, for you probably would not read them nor dare print them.
-From a concerned Citizen, Ms. Penny Foryer Thohtts
Entries for the year 1856 from August-October-
-Reverend Nute sends letter and it appears in the newspapers. Nute’s brother in law was murdered. Cold blooded murder and left for dead. His body was found but in a grotesque manner. Nute vows for revenge but more so for the ability to give his brother in law the proper burial and return the body home. A posse of fifty men is settled upon in hopes of the recovery of the body, but they cannot do this alone and seek for help.
-The citizens have been pleading for help, their cries are being heard, but not by the government as they hoped. Can the government not see what is happening to the city, yet alone, the state? These men are murderers, thieves, looters. They raid homes and steal. Many citizens have lost their homes due to the fires by these wicked men. You can smell the smoke and see the ashes as they are carried by the winds. The citizens, yes, my friends, the citizens threaten to take things in their own hands if government does not intervene.
-Several passengers are taken hostage by raiders. As to the reason why, it is not known. The means of transportation had an approximate number of twenty passengers, included among them were women, three to be exact. As to when they will be released, it is not yet been said. Nor, if they shall live or die a martyrdoms death. By what means and rights do these raiders think they can take innocent people? Oh, what has this world come to.
-A certain emigrant, from Germany is what was said, last name Pimpel. Whether or not he was with the men as stated and fraternizing with them, is unknown. His death was due to his “supposed friendships’” among men that these ruffians disagreed with, they were said to disagree with their rules and leadership. Man’s death, he was shot. If buried properly, I do not know. I only hope that condolences were sent to his family or have these men, no heart?
-The citizens of Leavenworth look to Jim Lane as their hope in saving them from these terrible men. Some say that Lane is not receiving messages, perhaps they are followed and murdered, I know not.
-The citizens are being threatened, perhaps these are rumors…I think not!
-There is an outcry here in the state of Kansas, a cry to arms! People must defend their homes! They cannot look to others to help them or they turn a deaf ear. I wonder, is it not a just and right cause then for the people to defend themselves?
-Civil war, my friends, yes, a civil war is coming. Or has it always been here? Since the hard times came by us in the month of March. Government has been ignoring these problems for too long. Where is our help?
-Our voting polls are being tampered with. Why can these men not be stopped?
-John Brown-John Brown-oh may the generations to come, remember that name. The man who slaughtered many innocent people. He terrorized everyone. He burned homes and stole from the people.
-Attacks, attacks? Seems that is all I hear is attacks, but as to whom and by whom, the citizens are confused. They say it is Lane. Jim Lane? How obsurd, I thought he was here to help us. Then, they say, tis’ John Brown and his Abolitionists.
-The men who are for pro-slavery are threatened. Someone wants them all dead. Can one group of ruffians do such a thing?
-Hurrah for the Free-state men, they have driven out the guerilla from the lands.
-A cannon has been stolen as well as other ammunition.
-Lecompton is still free, she has not been overtaken by the ruffians.
-Rumors again of ruffians on the borders. They are close to the Kansas River as well as parts of Missouri. The number seems to grow, the more I hear.
-General Lane is now invading others. He is burning some out of their homes. Many battles have started. Brown is still menacing wherever he goes.
-Mr. Crane’s wife is taken hostage, as to her whereabouts, is not known. Crane is in search of her.
-Marshal is given a warrant, but later turns out to be a fraud. He claimed to have had Brown and other ruffians in prison, which was proven false as Brown was elsewhere.
-One cry is heard, “Where are the troops?”
-Finally, President Pierce writes a letter in which the governor read to all; as was the letters were published in the papers. He threatened or should I say warned the ruffians not to mess with our state Kansas. Perhaps, he shall now send troops to help us? Quickly Sir, or we shall all perish.
-We have a new Governor as former Governor Shannon could not seem to do his duty of protection for us. The President himself appointed the man. Hope is coming!
-The troops are pouring in, finally someone to save us.
-The citizens are restless. All around us, seems to be the sounds of gunshots fired. Smoke everywhere. The city is burning, our hearts our burning…Lord help us!
-Brown has been captured? Hmm, one can only hope. The supposed capturers say they will hang him and his men regardless of what the law does…hang him, hang him…wait what cruel thoughts those are, forgive me.
-Jefferson Davis writes several letters to the officers from the President himself to rally the troops. Form groups, battalions, etc.
-We are saved, the President has finally intervened. Heaven be praised! May our city and state be like she once was…but that cannot be, it will never be the same. All is lost, many have been killed.
-Well said, Kansas Citizen. One cannot understand my feelings after reading the paper. It is dated November 15, 1856. I happened upon this paper from a friend of mine, who was sure to send it speedily to me. What excited me? Why the letter my dear friends from the Kansas Citizen, describing how we feel of what has been done to our state. He gave the amounts of what was stolen from us. He mentioned the lives lost; our land destroyed. Our homes broken…need I go on? No, I shall not.
Primary Source:
Correspondence of The, N. Y. Tribune. "MORE OF THE KANSAS OUTRAGES--BRUTAL MURDER: THE CONDITION OF LAWRENCE TO THE PUBLIC LANE'S MEN HAVE ARRIVED! CIVIL WAR IS BEGUN! LATER PRO-SLAVERY ACCOUNTS VALUE OF THE ABOVE CORRESPONDENCE LATER FROM THE IOWA BORDERS--LAND ROUTE TO KANSAS BLOCKED UP HABEAS CORPUS IN TILE UNITED STATER DISTRICT COURT--INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS BEFORE JUDGE CURTIS NO WRIT CAN REACH KANSAS DOCUMENTS IN RELATION TO KANSAS A PROCLAMATION CAMP NEAR LECOMPTON, K.T., AUG. 17, 1856 WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, SEPT. 3, 1856 WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, SEPT. 3. 1856." New - York Daily Tribune (1842-1866), Sep 08, 1856. Accessed July 14, 2020. https://lccc.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.lccc.idm.oclc.org/docview/570413646?accountid=29648.
or
New-York Daily Tribune New-York N.Y. -1866. (New York, NY), Jan. 1, 1842. Accessed July 14, 2020. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn83030213/.
Secondary Source:
The Kansas Herald of Freedom Wakarusa, Kan. Territory -1860. (Wakarusa, KS), Jan. 1, 1854. Accessed July 14, 2020. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn82006863/.