The following brief article appeared in the Edgefield [S.C.] Advertiser, 20 Feb 1856, p. 2, c. 4:

"KANSAS

Mr. Editor: -- Having received many communciations in regard to Kansas and our Emigrating Company, and not hhing time to answere each by letter, I respectfully refer all applicants for admission into my Company to Maj. Buford's letter,published in your journal some weeks since. It contains the information solicited.

To those disposed to subscribe, I would state that we stand in need of considerable money, and any amount subscribed by our friends and well-wishers will be thankfully received and duly appreciated.

We will leave about the 25th March, and those who have so liberally subscribed may rest assured that we will go.

I have received letters from many gentlemen in different parts of the State offering to go, and I am satisfied that by the first of March, whne I anticipate closing my books, I will have a Company of as brave and honorable men as any State can afford.

All communications addressed to our Treasurer, Mr. Samuel H. Colcock, Graniteville, S. C., will be acknowledged through the Advertiser.

Respectfully, E. B. BELL,
Graniteville, Feb. 18, 1856"

Notes: I have not yet located the letter "published in your journal some few weeks since" at this time, but will try to do so.

Edgefield District was in 1856, the second largest district in population in the State (surpassed only by Charleston), and had the highest agricultural output, and the secodn largest industrial output of the districts of South Carolina. It encompassed not only present day Edgefield County, but the lower half of McCormick County, the lower 40% of Greenwood County, all of Saluda County, and the northwestern 40% of Aiken County.

The Graniteville Company apparently left as scheduled, but none of their letters written from Kansas were published in the Advertiser. I will post those items which would appear to have prelude to the Civil War conenctions. The Edgefield Advertiser, founded in 1836, is still published.