A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. HavilandHaviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Religion
A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. Haviland
Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Freed persons; Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith), 1808-1898; Underground Railroad
One hundred and four rations I ordered in Wyandotte. This timely relief
given, I crossed the river, and in Kansas City, Missouri, met brother
Copeland and wife, who were efficient agents and teachers in that
field. I secured a pass to Lawrence, where, late in the evening, I was
directed to a family that had suffered much in the Union cause. This
was the important stamping ground of Captain John Brown. This city had
passed through two terrible raids during the war. It is here that
Quantrell rushed upon the unsuspecting citizens with a host of
Confederate soldiers about daylight, and murdered men at their own
doors, and when they could not call them out they rushed into their
houses and made terrible havoc of human life. There was a woman here
who was a spy. She had been in the city a few weeks taking horse-back
rides two hours each morning, ostensibly for her health, but probably
to report the most favorable time for attack. She was never seen after
the raid. I attended the Methodist Episcopal Church, where seventy
wounded, dying, and dead soldiers and citizens were brought in after
that raid. The stains of blood were still left on the floor and some of
the seats.
The house where I was kindly invited to make my home was entered, and
the owner, brother Hockins, was demanded. His wife told them she saw
him run up the hill a few moments before, which was true; but on seeing
the Confederate soldiers entering the town he hastened back to his
house and ran down to the cellar. A squad of them entered and placed
the bayonet at his wife, and threatened her life if she did not tell
the whereabouts of her husband; but she persisted in pointing up the
hill. They went down the cellar, but returned without finding him, and
set the house on fire. Then they ran up the hill after him. She
succeeded in putting out the fire, and went into the cellar and called
her husband. He answered from between the earth and the floor. This was
his hiding-place until the Union soldiers rescued the city from further
trouble. A strong Union force was now kept at this point.
I found fewer suffering for want of rations at this town than in other
places I had visited, and took the stage for Fort Scott. We were
advised to keep out of sight any appearance of watches or any sort of
jewelry, as guerrillas were sometimes lurking in the woods and attacked
the stages. We came in sight of Indians on horses who darted into the
woods, fearing we were guerrillas, who had stolen or robbed them of
their ponies. One man shouted, "We are all for the Union." This was on
Price's track, where they lost their horses, and did not dare come in
sight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account