The following letter, signed "E. B. B.," and undoubtedly written by E. B. Bell, appeared in the Charleston Daily Courier, 10 June 1856, p. 1, c. 4. The microfilming obliterated most of the first line of the letter, so that it is not possible to determine what office Bell was writing from. Note that Bell writes this in the thrid person. It reads:
"___ ___ OFFICE,LECOMPTON, K. T., May 24.--
Messrs. Editors: On last Wednesday we receiuved orders at Franklin to March to the heights near Lawrence to unite with the U. S. Marshal's forces. 4 companies, with one 6-pounder, under command of Gen. Buford and Maj. E. B. Bell, started. As we neared the heights a magnificent view was presented to our sight. 150 horsemen and some 200 footmen drawn up in battle array. At 12 o'clock another horse company of some 50 joined us. We had four 6-pounders. The U. S. Marshal entered the town with a small posse and took two or three prisoners; of course the balance could not be found. The Sheriff then took us as his posse, and marched on the town. They ahd promised us a fight if we dared enter the town, and we certainly expected it; we halted on the outskirts of the town, and the Sheriff, with a small posse, entered and demanded their arms. They gave us three small swivels and one small howitzer. We then marched into the town, and the hotel and two printing offices were declatred nuisances according to the decision of the Grand Jury. In a few moments the contents of the offices were cast to the four quarters of the earth. The proprietor of the hotel was allowed until 5 o'clock to remove his furniture. Our emen went to work and assisted in removing it. At 5 o'clock I fired a signal gun to clear the way; we then fired some 40 balls at the front of the building, but it was built for a fort, and very little injury was done. Two kegs of powder were then put in the building and a slow match applied, and even that had no exterior effect; however, it set the building on fire and soon destroyed it. No other builidings were destroyed, and no citizen's property or person were molested. This can be substantiated. Just before dark we retired in good order. At dark Bogus Gov. Robinson' house, half mile from Lawrence, was burnt down, and it is supposed the free State men did it themselves for effect. As regards the destruction of the "Herald of Freedom," I am confident that the proprietor, Brown, is rejoiced at it, for he told me so himself [this last phrase is italicized]. Public sympathy at the North will be roused in his behalf, and he will pocket some twenty or thirty thousand dollars by his operation. He has lost money by his paper, and it now appears he is going to recover through the influence or rather actions of his enemies.
On Thursday morning I started to Westport with two of my sick men. We were detained at Bean's Station that night. The next morning, while we were cooking our breakfast, the news arrived that one of our men had been murdered about two and a half miles from us, at an abolition house. We mounted and hastened over; it was as much as I could do to prevent the house from being burnt down. It proved to be only a fight between two men on the raod, neither one dangerously wounded. This morning, after seeing my sick men on their way to Westport, I, with a party of ten, turned my way to Lecompton. On the way, we took dinner at Judge Wakefield's, a hot Free State man. We got a good dinner and proceeded to Lecompton, where we arrived just before sun down. It is only a little village, though on paper it looks ["looks" italiced] well. The Governor is a fine looking old man, jovial and free and easy. There are so many talking around me, that I know not what I have written, still they are facts. The end of this cannot be foreseen, but Kansas is a slave State certain.
If any thing worthy of note should happen, I will give it to you. YOurs, E. B. B."