“The post was this day broken up, pursuant to Dept. orders.”
Auctioneer: “Officers Quarters number 1, sold for $350.
This officer’s quarters became the Free State Hotel while the barracks across the parade grounds
became the Pro-Slavery hotel.
Free or Slave?
The acquisition of Mexican lands reopened this debate.
Fort Scott along with the rest of Kansas Territory was drawn into the controversy.
“The whole nation is interested that the best use shall be made of these territories.
We want them for the homes of free white people.
This they cannot be… if slavery shall be planted within them.”
In response to this national dilemma, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, implementing “popular sovereignty.”
“The great principle of popular sovereignty…
the right of the people to establish Free States or Slave States as they choose…
the right of every community to judge and decide for itself.”
Settlers on both sides began streaming into the Kansas territory to tip the balance of
the vote in their favor.
“The extension of slavery… promotes the prosperity of the farmer.”
“Slavery was the great national curse…it must be overcome and extirpated…
the way to do this is to go to the prairies…”
“I advise you one and all to enter every election district in Kansas… and vote at
the point of Bowie knife or revolver.”
“…in the name of freedom… we will engage in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas,
and God give the victory to the side which is stronger in numbers, as it is in right.”
-- “If murder and assassination is the programme
of the day, we are in favor of filling the bill… Let our motto be written in blood
upon our flags, ‘Death to all Yankees and Traitors in Kansas.”
The flocking of settlers into Kansas during the 1850s contributed to the rapid growth of the new town of Fort Scott.
The growing conflict over slavery inflamed hostilities and brought terror to this pro-slavery town.
(sound of owl hooting at night)
“Judge Williams represents the neighborhood of Fort Scott to be under a reign of terror…
business suspended and women and children removed to a place of safety…citizens under
arms and on guard day and night.”
“The US troops came in there…having been sent…
to prevent the free state men from destroying the town”
(sounds of men running upstairs,
sounds of gunfire, people screaming)
"On Monday night a Free State man was brought in by a company of guerrillas and sentenced
to be shot. A company of seven took him down into the timber and drew lots who should kill him. "
Under the leadership of James Montgomery, Fort Scott became a target of free-state violence.
“Montgomery’s gang ran a load of hay up against the west side of the pro-slavery hotel
and applied a lighted torch to it… It did not set the building on fire.”
In a later raid, one man would be killed, leaving his fiancé behind.
(sound of gunfire)
“Oh, the anguish you have caused…
But remember this, I am a girl but I can fire a pistol. And if ever the time comes, I will send some of you to the place where there
is "weeping and gnashing of teeth". --