The Biiford Expedition to Kansas 47 forced to live on the country by contributions made by sympathi- zers with their cause or forced from their enemies. On the night of June 4 a number of Alabamians at Franl<lin were attacked by a free-state company, who broke into the stores Buford had provided for the settlers and carried away provisions, arms, ammunition, etc. Four of Buford's men were wounded in this fight. Two of the Montgomery company (Powell and Vickers) with three Georgians were sent by Buford for a wagon and returning were captured by the free-state men, robbed of their arms, and tortured several hours before being released.' The first week in June a large part of Buford's men accompanied General Whitfield into Kansas to protect pro-slavery settlers who were being driven from their homes. The governor however or- dered all armed parties to disband, and Col. Sumner again sent the Alabamians back to Missouri. On this expedition into Kansas Captain Jernigan was captured by free-state guerrillas, but was re- leased by United States troops. Buford himself spent the first part of June in Westport and Kansas City consulting with the pro-slavery leaders, and endeavor- ing to devise some plan to support the failing cause of the South in Kansas. Alpheus Baker and Major L. F. Johnston had returned to Alabama soon after reaching the territory, for more men and more money. Now, on June 21, Buford and others sent an appeal to the South for more emigrants to check the abolitionists in their efforts to drive the pro-slavery party from Kansas." June 26, Buford left the territory on a mission to the South in the interest of Kansas. He visited Washington and the principal cities of the slave states. In Washington he remained several weeks endeavoring to interest the Southern leaders in his scheme for the colonization of Kansas. Robert Toombs, R. M. T. Hunter, J. B. DeBow and other prominent Southerners gave him valuable aid in forwarding his projects.' After an absence of several months spent in trying to arouse the South to a sense of her danger, Bu- ford returned to Kansas late in 1856. Meanwhile all had not gone well with the colonists he had left behind. Numbers had returned to Alabama after the first troubles in the territory in May. A state of civil war existed for months after the Brown murders and the raid upon Lawrence. The pro- slavery settlers lived in constant fear for their lives. Under such 1 Letter to Advertiser and State Gazette, from W. W. Cook, Westport, June 3. "^Alabama Joitrnal. Letter from J. JL Buford of Portland, Oregon, a brother of Major Buford. Professor Spring's Kansas. ' Letters belonging to Major Buford's daughter. Copies in possession of writer.
