=End of the Reign of Violence, September, 1856.= On the morning of September 15, Governor Geary marched out to the Missouri army encamped about three miles from Lawrence, held a conference with the leaders, and insisted that his orders for disbanding be obeyed. The Missourians consented, and the force of twenty-seven hundred well-equipped men went home. Thus ended the four months’ reign of violence[13] that had begun with the sacking of Lawrence in May. The threatened attack on Lawrence was the last organized effort of the Missourians to take Kansas by force. Both sides soon gave up their plundering expeditions, travel became safer and property more secure. For a time peace settled down over the Territory, and Governor Geary, believing that order was entirely restored to Kansas, appointed November 20 “as a day of general praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God.” With the close of the period of violence a little less than two and a half years had passed since the organization of Kansas as a territory in the spring of 1854. SUMMARY Hostilities were renewed in the spring of 1856. The Missourians prepared for invasion, and the free-state people for defense. Several minor conflicts were followed by the sacking of Lawrence, to which the free-state people offered no resistance. This policy was not approved by John Brown. He counseled revenge and the Pottawatomie massacre followed. Then began a four months’ “reign of terror.” Several conflicts followed, among them the battle of Black Jack. An army was hurriedly gathered by each side, but Governor Shannon ordered them to disperse. The sympathy of the whole North was aroused, and men and money poured into Kansas. This led to the closing of Missouri to free-state travel, and the newcomers entered Kansas through Nebraska. During this time both sides were committing many outrages and there was a constant condition of lawlessness. The coming of the “Army of the North” resulted in the gathering of a large army from Missouri called “the 2700.” Governor Shannon resigned, and Acting Governor Woodson permitted this army to enter Kansas, and it marched toward Lawrence, pillaging Osawatomie as it passed. While Lawrence was awaiting attack, Geary, the new Governor, arrived and ordered the army disbanded. This ended the period of violence. REFERENCES Prentis, History of Kansas, pp. 93-108. Spring, Kansas. Robinson, The Kansas Conflict. Mrs. Robinson, Kansas――Its Interior and Exterior Life. Blackmar, The Life of Charles Robinson. Connelley, James Henry Lane, the Grim Chieftain of Kansas. Connelley, John Brown. Andreas, History of Kansas, pp. 120-125. Ingalls, Writings, pp. 76-92, 228-262. McCarter, A Wall of Men. (A novel.) QUESTIONS 1. When did the Wakarusa War close? 2. Describe the winter of 1855-’56.