War Letters, "Bleeding Kansas"

Swift, Francis B.

Lawrence K.T., Feb 28 [1856]

Dear Brother Benny,

I suppose that you have received my 8^th letter --- the one I sent the day before yesterday. I thought I would write again. If you have not received that and don't get this just drop a line to a feller. Our new Legislature commences its session at Topeka next Tuesday and thirty picked men of the "Kansas Rifles, No. 1, i.e. company A," have received secret orders to march up there for their protection, and my name is among the number. We start Saturday morning about 8 o'clock, so that no one in Lawrence or out of it will know anything about it. The proslavery hounds from Missouri have been collecting at Fort Scott and other points in the

Territory and the word has gone been sent forth that the Legislature has shall not be permitted to exercise its legislative power. Frank Pierce, too has said so. We shall see. A great trouble is

brewing __ which, to tell the truth, I like to see If it wasn't for that I would get out of the Territory as soon as possible. ... I would desire nothing better than to belong to a company of Sharp's Rifles, which is the weapon of choice used by company A. Have you ever seen a "Sharpe"? Like nearly all good inventions, it is a Yankee Notion. With mine I can fire thirteen rounds a minute, and keep it up for 38 rounds -- when you have to stop and put in a fresh

supply of caps, which take from twenty to thirty seconds. ... Well, I have got to stew some slapjacks for supper and so I will knock off. Send my mail matter to Lawrence as heretofore, and the P.M. will send it to me, wherever I may happen to be. So goodbye. I have got to go to the election of officers for our company this

evening.

Good bye,

Frank

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