Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6 [Dec. 13, 1862-Nov. 3, 1863].

Annotation

[1]   ALS, RPB. The despatch which Lincoln forwarded was received from Representative Abel C. Wilder and Senator James H. Lane on August 26 at 8:45 P.M., and read: ``The result of the massacre at Lawrence having excited feelings amongst our people, which makes a collision between them & the military probable, the imbecility & incapacity of Schofield is most deplorable. Our people unanimously demand the removal of Schofield, whose policy has opened Kansas to invasion & butchery'' (DLC-RTL).

On August 28, General Schofield replied to Lincoln as follows:

``Since the capture of Vicksburg a considerable portion of the rebel army in the Mississippi Valley has disbanded, and large numbers of men have come back to Missouri . . . some . . . under instructions to carry on a guerrilla warfare, and others, men of the worst character, become marauders on their own account. . . .

``Under instructions from the rebel authorities, as I am informed and believe, considerable bands, called `Border Guards,' were organized in the counties of Missouri bordering on Kansas, for the ostensible purpose of protecting those counties from inroads from Kansas, and preventing slaves of rebels from escaping from Missouri into Kansas. . . .

``Upon the representation of General Ewing and others . . . I became satisfied there could be no cure for the evil short of the removal from those counties of all slaves entitled to their freedom, and of the families of all men known to belong to these bands, and others who were known to sympathize with them.

Accordingly I directed General Ewing to adopt and carry out the policy he had indicated, warning him, however, of the retaliation which might be attempted. . . .

``Almost immediately after it became known that such policy had been adopted, [William C.] Quantrill secretly assembled from several of the border counties of Missouri about 300 of his men. They met at a preconcerted place . . . near the Kansas line, at about sunset, and immediately marched for Lawrence, which place they reached at daylight the next morning. They sacked and burned the town and murdered the citizens in the most barbarous manner.

``It is easy to see that any unguarded town in a country where such a number of outlaws can be assembled is liable to a similar fate, if the villains are willing to risk the retribution which must follow. . . .

``I am officially informed that a large meeting has been held at Leavenworth, in which a resolution was adopted to the effect that the people would assemble at a certain place on the border, on the 8th of September, for the purpose of entering Missouri to search for their stolen property. Efforts have been made by the mayor of Leavenworth to get possession of the ferry at that place for the purpose of crossing armed parties of citizens into Northern Missouri.

``I have strong reasons for believing that the authors of the telegram to you are among those who introduced and obtained the adoption of the Leavenworth resolution, and who are endeavoring to organize a force for the purpose of general retaliation upon Missouri. Those who so deplore my `imbecility and incapacity' are the very men who are endeavoring to bring about a collision between the people of Kansas and the troops under General Ewing's command. I have not the `capacity' to see the wisdom or justice of permitting an irresponsible mob to enter Missouri for the purpose of retaliation even for so grievous a wrong as that which Lawrence has suffered.

``I have increased the force upon the border . . . and no effort will be spared to punish the invaders of Kansas and to prevent such acts in future. . . .'' (OR, I, XXII, II, 482-84).