Pottawatomie Rifles facts for kids

The Pottawatomie Rifles were a group of about 100 settlers who believed in ending slavery. They lived in areas of Kansas like Franklin and Anderson counties, near Pottawatomie Creek. This group formed in the fall of 1855, during a very troubled time called Bleeding Kansas. They were an armed group, like a local defense team, created to stand up against the growing number of people who supported slavery. These pro-slavery individuals, often called border ruffians, came from the nearby slave state of Missouri.

The Pottawatomie Rifles were led by John Brown's son, John Jr.. Members of this group were involved in many violent events during the Bleeding Kansas period. These included the Battle of Osawatomie and the Pottawatomie massacre. Even though John Brown Sr. was famous for his own actions, like the raid on Harpers Ferry, he did not consider himself a member of the Pottawatomie Rifles, even when he joined his son.

What Was Bleeding Kansas?

Kansas was a new territory in the 1850s. People had to decide if it would become a state where slavery was allowed or forbidden. This decision led to a lot of fighting and violence, which became known as "Bleeding Kansas."

Settlers from both sides moved into Kansas. Those who wanted slavery to spread often clashed with those who wanted Kansas to be a free state. The Pottawatomie Rifles were one of the groups formed to protect the free-state settlers. They believed strongly that slavery should not be allowed to expand into new territories.

Why Did People Fight in Kansas?

The main reason for the conflict was the issue of slavery. The United States was deeply divided over whether slavery should be allowed to continue and spread. When new territories like Kansas were being settled, the question of their future status became a major point of disagreement.

People from both the North and the South moved to Kansas. They wanted to influence the vote on slavery. This led to a tense situation where arguments often turned into violence. Both sides formed armed groups to protect their views and sometimes to attack their opponents.

The Pottawatomie Massacre

The Pottawatomie massacre was a very serious event that happened during the night of May 24-25, 1856. It was a response to an earlier attack by pro-slavery forces on the town of Lawrence, Kansas. In that attack, the sheriff, Samuel J. Jones, led a group that damaged newspaper offices and a hotel.

In revenge for the attack on Lawrence, John Brown Sr. and several other abolitionist settlers, many of whom were part of the Pottawatomie Rifles, took action. They killed five pro-slavery settlers. This event happened north of Pottawatomie Creek, in Franklin County, Kansas.

Who Was Involved in the Massacre?

Some historical records suggest that John Brown Sr. led this event. He started his journey on May 22 with some of his sons: Oliver, Watson, Owen, and Frederick. His son-in-law, Henry Thompson, was also with them. Two other men, James Townsley and Thomas Winer, helped by transporting the group in their wagons. Interestingly, John Brown Jr., who led the Pottawatomie Rifles, was not part of this specific action led by his father.