Description
The Troubles in Kansas - Quantrill's Retaliatory Orders. - - [Special Correspondence of the Missouri Democrat] - - Leavenworth, Kansas, Sept. 12. - Quantrill, when he read Ewing's order depopulating Jackson, Cass, and Bates Counties in Missouri, immediately tried the application of the lex talionis (the law of retaliation), and promulgated far and near that any male person found in the border counties of Kansas after the 15th inst. would be put to death.
By some means the citizens of Platte County were advised that Jennison had issued an order of similar import to that of Quantrill, naming Platte County as the place, and the citizens thereof as his victims – time expiring September 15. Jennison didn't issue the order, but the residents of Platte County supposed that he had, and it answered the same purpose.
The consequence is that within 10 days 67 Negroes, men, women, and children, have been brought to the river by their masters and sent to this city (Leavenworth), the masters fearing to retain them. Some of the Negroes were sent here in a most helpless condition.
The Mayor (of Leavenworth), however, has taken a special guardianship, and in three cases wrote polite notes to their former owners, inviting them to send or bring their furniture to the river.
The slave owners of Platte County have a high degree of respect for law and order, and complimented the Mayor of Leavenworth by hauling the dunnage to the river, themselves driving the teams. And so it goes.Date(s) of Creation
9/27/1863
