13
JOHN GEARY, KANSAS. AND THE 1856 NATIONAL ELECTION
by Tony R. Mullis
JOhn While Gt'ary during
(he Amerie:>" Ci"il W;]r
Co"n~sy
of rhe Kamas
SUllO H~"ori((li
SOC;l'I)', Topeka
"Penre now reigns in Kansas," I
tcrritorial Governor John W. GeJry proudly
wrote Secretary of StJte WillialD Marcy on
September 30. 1856. nardy a month before
the
1856 national
elections,
Ceary
accomplished what no lerri[orj~l governor
before him coutd-·thc quelling o!"l'iolellre ill
"Oleeding K~[lSas," The liming o[ Geal)"S
success was politically si gni firal1l, 13)'
denying the Republic<lIl Pany its most
potenl campaign issue, GC:Jry vinu:Jlly
assured
James
Duchanan
and
the
Democratic [';'In)' success ill Novcmber.
l'residelll Franklin Piercc's \I'illingncss (0
gi\-e Geary undh-ided authority OIU federal
and te rritorial ofJicials. coupled v.i th
Geary's decisil'e leadership and prudent use
of federal power, pacified Kansas long
enoug,h to ensure Duchanan's election.
lluee days afler the election, Geary's
privatc secrelary succiflClly expressed the
significance of his accomplishment: "Your
fame is widely spread, and it is often said
thal you made the President: 2
From James Ford Rhodes to James
McPherson, historians agree that Kansas
was lhe central issue of the 1856 campaign,
and Ihat it superseded local issues in all
sections of the country, For months prior to
the election, Ihe RepUblican ParI)' press
adeptly squeezed "Dleeding K:Jnsas" for its
maximum political advantage, By mid·
summer or 1856, the Democrats dearly had
10 ~meliora[e the Kansas situation or "lhe
chances of a Democratic victory at the next
clcccion would be Small indeed:'
Only a few historians. however,
acknowledge Geary's role in securing
Duchanan's eleCtion. Many, like Allan
Ne\ins., suggest that electing the Dcmocratic
president ia1 t icke t was
a secondary
consideration in Geary's appointment as a
territorial governor.' Jame~ McPherson, on
Ihe other hand, states that Geary
"reportedly said that he wcot to Kansas
'earrying a candidate on his shoulders:"1
Geary, moreover. firmly believed that
Buchanan owed "his present pOSition [the
Presidency] to [his] exertions in Kansas: 6
\Vith h:allsa.~ pacified by early OClober,
Ge31)' effectiVely denied the Republicans
their most powerful campaign issue, and
contributed to Duchanan's corresponding
\ic!OJ)'_
Allhough President Pierce left no
e,'ideoce of his exact motiv,nion \lith
respect to Geary's appointment, lhe liming
of his selection, the increase of federal
support for Gcary before the election, and
14
his gradual abandonment <J[terv.'nrd, lea'-e
no reason<iliJe eonclll5ion olher than his
primary mission as territorial governor was
to deny Republicans lhe c;.omp<ligll issue of
Kansas.
Prior to Geary's appointment, hO\"l.'ever,
'Uleeding Kall5as" h:l.d effectively ended
Pierce's hopes of renomination in 1856.
After he signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act
into law in May \854, the Democratic Pany
ardently supported popular s.overeig1lty,
Whereby tcrritorial \"orns would determine
the statll5 afslavery. Popnlar sovereignty led
to intense and oflen violent competition
between Kansas pro-sla~'ery and free-sw!e
fal"tions. Republican nl""'...papers diligently
e1ploited the turmoil in Kansas to lry and
win the White Holl5l' in 1856. Rqlublican
orf-year congressional suceesses ;n 1854
combined "'ith strong showings in northern
state elections in 1856 heightened
Democratic concern. As a direct result of
the political consequences of "Uleeding
Kansas,' the Democrats by-passed both
Pierce and Stephen Douglas of Illinois, the
author of !he Kansas·Nebraska Act, and
nominated James Ouchanan, a candidale
y,ith no eonnection 10 Kansas affairs.
Pierce, disappointed bnl still loyal 10
the Democratic party, realiled (hat victory
in November nccessitated quelling the
violence in Kansas. Pierce's efforts had
failed to pacify the territory since the [jrst
fraudull"nl territorial election in March
1855. His first two territorial governors,
Andrew Recder and Wilson Shannon, were
also unsuccessful peacemakers. A partiS:l.n
Congress given its uncompromising nature
during the 18505, offered no solution_ Evcn
the U.S. Arm)·, lhe only apparent imp:lItial
force in rhe territory, had embarrassed
Pierce and the Democrats when federal
troops dispel'Sed the free-stall.' legislature at
Topeka on In\~' 47 , providing the
RepUblicans \/rith even more eampaign
fodder.
To den~' the Republieans their
s(fongest campaign issne, Pierre had to
pacify the territory quickly. What he and the
Democrals needed in Ihe summer of 1856
was a terrilori;.o\ go~'ernor possc!.Sing the
nbilitil.'.5 not merely 10slOP the violence, but
to earn the respect and submission of the
warring factions in Kansas. On July 28,
Pierce officially remo'-ed lhl' ineffective
Shannon and nominated John W. Ge;.ol}' oC
Pennsylvania to be the territory's third
governor.1
Pierce had decided to remove Shannon
at least a week earlier, as e,idenced when
Democratic Senator William Bigler of
Penl1'>)'lvania told Geary on July 23 that he
would be chosen {or the job_ In addition to
Digler's effon~ on Geary's behalf, 5halor
Eldridge, a prominent Cree-state Kall5an,
supponed Geary's nomin;.otion, and pointed
10 his sucecssful worll: on a Penn~)'I\"ania
railroad contract and reputation as the first
mayor of San Francisco during its formati~'e
years as suitable qualificatjoll5.~ Having
offered Geary the Utah governorship a year
earlier, Pierce was undoubtedly familiar lIrith
his repntation for kadership and courage
during the Mexican War. (,_.olone! Geary
served bravely at OJ.alpultepec and Belen's
Gate during the American siege 01 MCJ\ico
City. Geary was an energetic, efficient, alld
prudenl man who almO~1 always succeeded
at any endeavor he tried. Additionally, his
....ork with slaves in the coal mines of
Virginia soothed the minds of sll5picious
Southerners. Acceptable to politicians wilh
differing ,ie\/r'S and possessing, a reputation
for at>ility and Si\Vl--Y, thc Pennsyl,·anian was
a sound choice.
Geary was an excellent choice in a
number of other way~. Dorn in western
Pennsylvania in 1819, he possessed the
personal qualifications ;llId background
Democrats wanted in a territori"l executive.
Pierce could have found no man better
filled to serve in Kansas.
Political soundness,
loo, was a
rcqnirement. Senator John Crittenden of
Kentud;y had advised Pierce in June 1856
to rna!;!'" General of the Army Winfield
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16
slavery man, Woodson, as Acting GOvernor
while Shannon was out of the territory in
July, had condoned Sumner's actions at
Topeka. Pierce had ample reason to be
concerned about the immediate future of
the territory with WoodSOn as governor.
The last thing Pierce and the Democrats
needed in Augusr of 1856 was another July
4 inddenr.
Congress for its part seemed (0 be
doing ils best to compound the potential for
disaster in Ka nsas. The ant i-slavery
members of the House of Representatives
attached a rider 1O the Army appropriations
bill pre\'Cnting Pierce from using. ;lny federal
troops to enforce "any enactment of the
body c\<liming 10 be the Terrilorial
Legislature of Kansas, unlil such enactment
shall have been afJinned and approved by
Congress: lO Pierce could not halt the
violence in Kansas by military force, if so
restricted without yielding to the dictates of
the anti.slavery·dominated
House, but
neither could he achieve peace in Kansas
without the Army.
The Democratic controllcd Senate
balked at the appropriations bill with the
House rider, and the 34th Conyess
adjourned in mid-August \lithout providing
funds
for Army operations.
Pierce
immedi3tely c311ed for;) second session of
the Congress to persuade it to s;)ve the
Anny and, as he saw it, the counlry. Pierce
cired hostilities with lndians in Oregon and
Washington as the primary threat ro lhe
peace and tranquiliry of the nation, but he
also made a vague reference to the situalioll
in Kansas.)' Seemingly con,inced by Pierce's
appeal to national ~urity, Q:lngrcss passed
the Senate version of lhe Army DiH on
August 30 ""lthout restriccions on the use of
federal troops in Kansas.
Events in the troubled territory,
however, soon overshadowed
Pierce's
victory in Congress. On August 22, General
Smith expressed his concern over the lack of
sufficient troops in the territory. He
informed Colonel Samuel Cooper, Adjutant
General of the Army, thaI only a "large
force might prevent any violence; a small
one might tempt the commission of ir:12
Smith knew the small Army comingcnt
scattered throughout Kansas could not keep
the free-state and pro-Slavery forces {rom
fighting--bllf how m3ny troops would be
enough? There were an estimated 1,300
soldiers avai1LJble for dury in the territory.Z1
H states needed more, rhey traditionally
called out their local militia; that option
however, was extremely dangerous in
Kansas in 1856.
That danger materialized on August 25
when Acting Governor Woodson declared
the territory to be in open rebellion. He
the n called ou t I he pro-sl ave!)' terri lorial
militia to suppress the "rebels· (free-state
men).'"
As
head of the territorial
government, Woodson could not legally be
stopped. General Smilh and the Annycould
o[\ly Wiltch and obey their ci\ilian masters.
The pro-slavery members of the ~nsas
militia from both Kansas and Missouri
clearly intended to eradicate the free-state
"rebels," and the Army was powerless.
General Smith correctly warned Colonel
Cooper:
'ft';;
"f.'rcc·Slate prisoners on
their WllY 10 Lecompton"
ec"msy of !I,t MfUIli Sum HIS/orical Sodety, Top,ka
As the Army can only act in aid
of. ami subordinate to, the civil
authoriry, it cannot arr:!y itself
against the representatives of that
very authoriry (Kansas militia),
and I see no way In which it can
prevent a collWiion brought about
17
~eneral
of the Army, that only a "large
oree might prevent any \lo1ence; a small
lOe might 'tempt the commission of ic''''
;mith knew the small Army conlingent
ealtered throughout Kansas could not keep
he free.state and pro-slavery forces from
ighting--bu.l how many troops would be
'nough? There werc an estimated 1,300
oldiers available for duty in the territory.D
r states ne.ed'ed more, they tr3ditionally
ailed out their local militia; that option
lo\\'e\'er" was extremely dangerous in
~:lltsas
in 1856.
'}l1a[ danger materialized on August 25
,hen ACting Governor Woodson declared
he territory to be in open rebellion. [-Ie
hen called out the pro-slavery territorial
~iljtja to suppress the "rebels" (free-state
len)." As head of the territorial
o\'emmem, Woodson could not legally be
lopIX'd. General Smith and the Army could
!nly watch, and obey their civllian masters.
l.11e pro-slavery members of the Kansas
rillilia fJom both Kansas and Missouri
l.carly illlended to eradicate the free-state
rebels: and (he Army was powerless.
Jcneral Smitlt correctly warned Colonel
roper:
"Free·Stale prisoners on
their way 10 Lecompton"
'Q~"'s)"Qflh, NmJ<2S
Slnl' f1isJocjcal Sociery. Toprkil
As the Army can only act in aid
of, ami subordinate to, the civil
authority, it cannot array itself
againsl the represent:!t ives of that
very authority (Kansas militia),
and I see no way in which it can
prevent a collusion brought about
by the government of the tcrrilOry
itself, and in the exercise of i Is
function.:1S
With Woodson in charge and Geary slill
over a week from the territoT)', the situation
looked bleak for a peaceful Kansas and
subsequent Democratic hopes for victory in
November.
Legally powerless, the Ann)' could as
well, exert lillie moral influence on the
militia. As Lieutenant Colonel Philip St­
George Cooke, Commander, 2nd Dragoons,
stated, "I suspect that my presence (and that
of the Army] emboldens lhe militia and
others to these outrages."16 Since Pierce
subordinated the Army to the territorial
governor, Cooke was helpless to lL<;(; his
troops imparli<llly as long as Woodson was
in charge. Despite Pierce's hopes that
General Smilh would prevent Violence,
Woodson efiectively rendered the Army
vinu<llly useless_ On September 1, the
Acting Go\'unor ordered Colonel Cooke to
march on Topeka and disarm the
insurrectionists and armed invaders. Cooke
refused on Ihe grounds of previous
instructions
that
authorized
Army
interference '''only when armed resistance is
offered to the laws and against the peace
and quiet of the lerritory.'"17 Explaining his
refusal
to
Woodson, the Colonel
summarized the Army's dilemma in Kansas:
H the Army be useless in the
present unhappy crisis, il is
because in our Com;litulion and
laws, cilil war was not foreseen,
nor
the
contingency
of a
systematic resistance by the people
to the government of their own
creation. 18
Cooke righlly reg<lrded Woodson's order as
merely a "call ... to make war UPOII the
town
of Topeka.">9
but
fOlWarded
Wood..'illn's request to General Smith for
considera I ion.
General
Smith,
meanwhile.
had
received Ilew inslruCtions from Jefferson
Davis in response to his August 22
complaints o[ inadequate manpower. Davis
informed the General that the President
had authorized the use of militia units from
Kentucky and Illinois should the Anny need
lhem. 30 Smilh never called on either state's
militia, but Pierce's decision authorizing
additional forces within three months of the
presidential election revealed his increased
willingness to impose peace on Kansas
through increased military pressure.
General Smith also supported Colonel
Cooke's rejection of Woodson's order to
disarm the [ree-slaters at Topeka. He
directed all subordinate commanders to
carry out only direct orders from the
President thai were transmitted through
proper channels. J1
More importantly,
however, Smith's support of Cooke
regarding Topeka effectively prevented
unbridled civil war in the territory prior to
G cary's arrival.
John Geary made his first appearance
in the Kansas territory at f'Orl Leavenworth
on September 9. Tension between free-stale
and pro-slavery faclions in the territory had
never been fiercer. News of the initial
failure of Ihe Army appropriations bill on
AUglL~t ] 8 appea rs to have encouraged
increased resistance by pro-slavery and free­
state forces alike. The possible absence of
federal intervemion inflated the willingness
of both faclions (0 resolve the slavery issue
by direct violence. With the eleclion nearing
and colder temperatures on the horizon.
each side believed it was its last oppoflunity
in ]856 to determine the tcrritoT)"S future
slntus. Fortunately for Kansas, Pierce, and
the Democrats, John Geary hnd arrive<i in
time to prevenl a potentially bloody
encounter.
Secretary of $t;lle \Villiam M;Jrcy
instructed Geary to maintain order and
quiet in the territory and punish offenders
of Ihe pence." If he succeeded in pacifying
quickly the terrilory.13uchanan's charKes for
lhe presidency would markedly improve. To
aid Geary, Marcy authorized the raising of
a territorial militia to suppress whoever
18
resisted the 'legilimate' laws of the
territory.J:3 But Geary wanled imparlial
federaJ forces, not partisan militia that
would only increase tensiollS. According to
the new Governor: 'The presence of
additioual government troops will ocrt a
moral infiuence (hat cannot be obtained by
any militia that can here be called in
requisilion:J< The statement reflected his
belief thm a strong military presence would
substantially reduce friclion in the (erritory.
Jefferson Davis, meanwhile, also issued new
instructions for General Smith:
It is the purpose of the Presidem
10 secure to you all the military
force necessary to maintain order
and suppress insurrection, and
that no military operatlons shall
be carried on in the Territory of
Kansas othe""i.se than under your
instruC[ions and orders. YOll will
not permit the employment of
militia, or of any bodies of men;
unless they ha,'c been regularly
mustered into the service of the
United States.»
Piercc's order centralized control of all
authorized federal and territorial mililary
for("es under General Smith and Governor
Ge~ry.
With Geary as Governor and Smith as
Commandcr of the Department of the
West. Pierce had capable civilian and
militar), leadership in Kansas. The two
native PeJ\nsylvani~l1S I.vorkcd well together.
Smith had indicated his disdain for
\Voodson, who, "did not seem ... (0 ta\"c a
right I.iew of affairs."Ji, Despite Smith's and
ultimately Geary's low opinion of thc Acting
Governor, Woodson stayed on as Secreta!)'
of State throughout Gcary's administration.
Smith, on the ctner hand praised Geary and
statcd thaI the new Governor could count
on him as a 'sure ally . ... for all is at stake
in the coming election and the enemy are
moving here Wilh a view to the 4th of
November."P Gea!)' had offered his
cooperation to Smith earlier, also "''ith the
hope of "bringing about the triumphant
election of Mr. Buchanan:J8 Geary and
Smith agreed that violent panisan politics
must cease if peace was to come to Kansas,
and both were confident of success.
The Governor's mansion in ucompton
U>linuy of tl,,' KallSaJ
SJaI~
HiJloriCQI Socil'l)',
To~~
Arriving at the territorial capital of
lecompt on on Septcmber 11, Gea ry
cOllSultcd "'ith Smith and issued two
proclamations. The first disbanded the
militia called by Woodson, and the second
requested the formation of a new militia of
bona tide male citizens bet\veen the ages of
eighteen and forty.five, to be organi7..ed and
mustered into the US Army upon Smirh's
request. J9 Gea!)'s procl :llnat lons. coupled
with Smith's latest gUidance from Davis,
revealed the Governor's decisive nature and
his intent 10 pacify the territory v.;lh federal
forces.
A significant question is why did the
Geary.Smith combinatioll succeed where
previous leaders had failed~ Above all,
inslead of waiting for "armed resistunce' to
occur as Shannon had donc wilh the "Sack
of Lawrence" in May,l() Geary, in using
federal troops, adopted a preventive
strategy. Geary was also effective because
he reestablished the moral authority of lhe
territorial government through impartial
administration of Kansas affairs, and by
properly employing moral suasion and the
Army to restore order and maintain {Jeace.
Geary's II rst CIUcial resc as te rri torial
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61
20
of lluc1:anan's election, Genry reminded the
Prc.>id"':'l-cliXt 01 thaI bet:
I can ilSSurc yOIl lh:lt no lI1~n ill
lhe country felL more solieitol,;S fa!
thi~ a~f-'iciolLS resnlt (han my;;.elf,
and as (he r,lablish1:lcut <;If
tranquility in h:ansa.... prc\io\:S \0
the elect(un, was supposed \0
r-;l\\lT you, I hltmr",d '''It}, intellse
eller~ toanomrlish thaI objerL. 4Ol
fluch:lI\;ln and the Democratic rarty
were gre~lly indebted to John Geary. As [or
his suecesoful, albch temporary, pac;[jc;l;iol1
of };;ansas. which U/;douored:y aided in
viclory, especially in Pcmtsyl\'ania where
fluchanan :lad Il:ss lhan a three thol1Sand
VOle majority over Frem;:,nt and tm,
Americ-.Jn Partynominee Millard Fillmore,"
GE'ary could be pleud. With the clec[iOli
obtailJ('j
hov,'e~·er.
PlelfE'
gradnaH)'
wiHldr<.".... Sll?port froln Geary. Frustraled by
in;\;l"qu:lle S'UppoIl, renewej conIlin ir.
KafLS:J.5,
iln
uneoojJCmtino
terrilorial
legi,l::l.lure a.udjudicinr)', and c'oncemcd \.lith
(hre~t.<
agail;st his Lfe, Geary
uncharacterislically resigned on March 4,
1857. rIe retnrnood to his beloved
Penn..;y)vania [0 enjoy a PC;ll'C lh:!( was nit
,hort by another Presldcm's, ca.11 to ~r.t .. b\{~n
uLlme5(ic tr,mquility. I'., howe\'cr, came from
Republie'm Abraham Lincoln.
!'iOTES
1. John GihlJl\ to John Geary. 7 Nr"embcr 1856, Jollil While Geary Pape:-s, Weslern
American Collel"tja(l. [)ein'~l"ke Rare Book and ManlSrripl library, Yule Ullhersi[)',
!-lerr,hcr tiled as t/'/1c. I would also like 10 thalli.: lhe Fr~l\k J. Seiler Research CcIl:N
for re;earrh fUlldillg fN Ih:, article, the USAf ACJUcmy Depanmellt of Histery, Ihc
I JiSlOllcal Society (If Pennsyl~'ania, lhe Be:neckc Rare Book ;\Ild M:I\1\lSnipt I.ibra,y, ,\\ld
(he K.1n~a< Sratc !,isw,;cal Society lor (heir outsta.nding support.
2. Geary {(] Willi-am ~hrq, 30 September B56, in FG. Adams. rompiler, Tm"sau;u/ls 0/
tile Klm"l< SlllI' HUh";",) S"cirly t:IIl!Jraring Ihe Fiji/! alld SiHh Biennial Reports, 188f.r
1888, Vol IV (Topeka, KS: Kansa5 Vtlhli,hing H0l.L'>e, 18')O) p. 572, Herea[rer eiled as
K5115.
3. l-lilrry Marlin Tinkcom, la/III Whilc Gt'f1I)', Sohlie~St{/t("'UIl, lS!9-j,'Jn (Plulade!phia:
UniH~n;ilY of Pellruyl\"~ni3 Pres.>, 194U), p. 59. Tinkcom t~ GfOlry'> most \loled
bio1!;r:lpher. S,..e ,,1£0 Willi"tn M";Ul'y lO GC(1[ge M. D",llas, 13 July 1856, ,\IMC)' Collee/ion,
Library of C.()llgrcs.s, W~sllillll.toll DC, foe 11\" SCCfctillY \Jf Slate's view of Fremont.
l..;:;Hl~>I~, aile! the npeomiJ:[; ekniGll.
4. Albn Nevin,i, 0 . dr111 of .'111' Union: A llol<\p Dh'id,'"g, 1852-1857, Vol IJ (New York:
ChaJle~ ScriJl1er'£ Suns, 19751, p. ./-B./-.
5, hmes M. McPherson, BOllle Cry o{Freedom (Ne"" York: O,,[oru
p. 161. Hereafter cited as McPher.>on. Bal!.'e,
Ul1i~'('fsity
Press, 198&),
6. John Geary to Edward Ge<lry, 13 Septemher 1:,\-7, MG-56, P(nn-'i)I"alllJ IJislorical and
Museum CUlmni~ioll, PcnnsyhalllOl Stale Ar(hh-es, lIa.rri'b'Ur~ Pellnsylvani~, l-lere:J[ler
cited ~ PHMc.
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22
~6.
Ibid. See also B"llimure Republica'" Scrapbook, HSP, p. 34 and Harrisburg Democrat,
Scrapbook, HSl', p. 36.
l7. Speech at Mississippi City, 2 October 1857 in Lynda L.as:,.--v,'ell Crist, ed., The Papm vf
Jej}ersoll Do~is, Vol 6, (Baton Rouge, lA: Louisiana State University Press, 1989) p. 149.
18. Nichols, Frcmklilll'krre, pp. 474-5. See also
19. Shnnnon
(Q
Davi~
to Smith, 27 June 1856, KSH5, p. 426,
Pierce, 18 Augt1'>l 1856, KSHS, p. 403.
20. Sherman I\mendmem, 28 July 1856, COlIgre:;.siollal Globe, 34th Congress, 1s[ Session, p.
1790 and Arm)' Oil!, 22 August ]856, COllgressiollll/ Globe, 34th Congress, 2ud Session,
p.9.
21. Pierce Proclamation, 25 AUgllit 1856, COllgre.>.,io/la/ Globe, 3'hh Congress, 2nd Session,
p.lilnd5.
22, Smith to Cooper, 22 August 1856, KS!lS. p. 461.
23. McPherson, Btl/llr, p. 161.
24. Wood<;on ProelamaLion, 25 AugusL 1856, KSHS, p. 471.
25. Smith to CDopc"r, 29 August 1&56, KSHS, p. 4(,9.
26. Cooke
lO
Deas, 31 Angu't 1856, KSHS, p. 478.
27. Woodson to Cooke, I September 1856, KSHS, p, 479. S<cc also Cooke to Wood.<.on, 2
September 1856, Lel/ers Selll Imd Orders Issu.ed, 211d CaY.Jlry (2nd DragoollS Q/ld
RIj1l'1Ilell), Vol I, RG-391, Nmional Archives, Washington DC. HereJ[{er cited as LSOJ.
2~.
C'.ooke to \\'0000;0\\,2 Seprembcr 1856,LSOJ.
29. Ibid.
30. Dal'is
to
Smith, 3 September 1856, KSllS, pr. 426-7. See abo 10hn Gihon, Geary alld
Krl/lsns (l'hil~delphiJ: Chas C. Rhodes, 1857) pp. 274·5.
31. Peas to
32.
~brcy
Coo~e,
3 September 1856, KSUS, p. 482.
to Geary, 26 August 1356, KSHS, p. 521. Sec also Gihon, p, 272.
33, Marcy 10 Ge"ry, 2 September 1&56, KSllS, p. 521.
34. Geary to Marcy, 9 S<cptfOlber 1856, KSlfS. P 52.1. See also Gihon, p, 120,
35. Dali, [0 Smith, 9 Sl'plember 1856, KSllS, p. 428.
1
23
:. HSP, P. 34 and llarroburg Democrat,
36. Smith to CDoper, 10 September 11l56, KSHS, p. 472.
37. Smith to Geary, 28 September 1856, HjelC.
Lynda ~well Crist, ed., The Papers of
iana State University Press, 1989) p. 149.
is 10 Smith, 27 June 1856, KSHS, p. 426.
38. Geary to Smith, 19 September 1856, John W. Geary, Letter 10 Major General Persiror
Smith, Western Americana Collection, Beine;:ke Rare Book and Manu;;eripc Library,
Yale University.
403.
39. Geary Proclamation, 11 September 1856, KSHS, p. 527. S<-e also Gihon, pp. 126·7.
'Ill/ Globe, 34th Congress, 1st Session, p.
:llla/ Globe, 34th Congress, 2nd Session,
40. Prior to the "Sack of Lawrence," Colonel Sumner had reeommended to Shannon that
he authorize the Q<;e of federal troops to prevent hostilities. Sumnn wankJ 10 tal.:c
preventive action by placing federal soldiers at key locations lhroubhoul lhe tenilory in
hopes they wonld prevent both factions in Kansas from Ilghtin&. Shannon ""a.~ relnctant
to follow Sumner's ndviee without express approval from Pierce and diiJ Jillk to prevent
violence at L:J.wrence prior to 21 May. Geary would Inter use lhi~ ~lratel'.)' 10 achieve a
temporary peace in J.:ansas. For more on the "Sack of Lawrence" see Sumner to
Shannon, 12 May 1856, LRAGO, p. 0250; Shannon (0 Sumner, 2 I May 1856, LRAGO,
pp. 0284-5; Sumner to O:xJper, 2 lune 1856, LRAGO, p. 0345; Cilizl'flS of Lawrence 10
Shannon, c( aI, 17 May 1856, KSHS, pp. 397-8; Pierce to Shannon. 23 May 1856, KSJ/S,
p. 414; and Davis to Sumner, 23 May 1856, KSHS, p. 425.
0/10/
Globe, 34th
Congre~,
2nd Session,
51.
$', p. 471.
41. O:xJke (0 I3vr Major F.I. Poner, Asst Adj Gen, Dept. of the West, 13 September 1856,
LSOl and Geary to O:xJke, 13 Sep(ember 1856, KSHS, p. 530-1.
59.
42 C,.(X)ke to Captain T.J. Woods, 14 Septelnber 1856, LSOl <lnd KSHS, p. 534. See also
Geary to Marcy, 14 September 1856, 1l'/lC.
p, 479. See al.>o O:xJke to Woodson, 2
1Ued, 2/1d Cavalry (2nd DmKur:.n.s Dnd
'ashington DC. Hereafter riled as LSOI.
426-7. See al.>o John Gihon, Geary
'P. 274-5.
82
alld
43. Gihon, pp. 152·}. See also Smith to O:xJper, 15 SeptClrlber 1856, KSHS, p. 498.
44. O:xJke to Porter, 16 September 1856, L'lOl. See also ""'oods to Cooke, 16 September
1856, KSJ/S, pp. 502-4
45. Smith to Geary, 17 September 1856, a5 quotcd in Gihon, pp. 276-7. See also Geary to
Donaldson, 21 Sep(ember I 85tJ, KSJlS, p, 548 and GeMy to Cooke, 27 September 1856,
KSlIS, pp. 565_6.
46. PI/blic Ledger (Philadelphia), 16 Octobn 1856, Vol XLII. No 22, p. 1 and JUl/fIlal of
Cummerce, 3 October 1856, Sr:ml'book. IISP.
1~56,
l. See also Gihon, p. 272.
47. John Gihon to Geary, 29 October
;21.
48. Geary to Buchanan, 24 Novcwher 1856,
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Pcnn,,),\vania
H'/lC.
BU,)lflJtDIl
Papers, Historical Society of
;23. See also Gihon, p. 120.
".
49. James Ford Rhodes, HiJlury Of/he United Stales from Ihe Compromise of 1850, Vol U,
1854-1860 (New York: Harper and I3rothers Publishers, 1893), p. 229 and pp. 232-4.