Minister of the Devil

Early, before dawn on the cold winter morning of Dec.16, 1858; Captain James Montgomery and approximately 100 of his "Free State Raiders" attacked Fort Scott to rescue one of his men, Ben Rice, who was a prisoner in the "Free State Hotel" that was located on the northwest corner of Carroll Plaza. Rice had been arrested for robbing a citizen named Charles Poyner and was no angel because he had also been indicted for murder and two cases of assault with intent to kill! Guests at the hotel and neighboring citizens were dragged from their adjacent homes in their nightclothes and held hostage at gunpoint until Rice was rescued. The Dec. 23, 1858, edition of the Fort Scott Democrat, described this attack and is edited as follows:

Horrible murder mob law triumphant

Fort Scott invaded

A prisoner rescued from the sheriff

The reader of the Democrat will remember to have read in our columns that "Ben Rice" of the Osage, one of captain Montgomery's men was arrested by a few weeks ago by Capt. John Hamilton, a Free State man, on the charge of having assisted in the robbing of Mr. Poyner. When once in the hands of the sheriff, it became that officers duty to detain him, indictments having been found against him by a Grand Jury composed of active Free State Men with but a single exception, for murder in one case and in two others for assault with intent to kill and with writs for his arrest being then in the hands of the sheriff.

On Thursday morning the 16th inst., just at the break of day and before the citizens were up, our town was entered by Captains Montgomery, Stephenson and Bain with about 100 men under their command doubly armed with Sharps rifles and revolvers and sustained by a well mounted cannon. Our citizens had been thrown off their guard the previous night by a false alarm and were slow to be aroused to their danger. They did not suppose that the town could be approached without their receiving notice from the country. Before we knew it this armed gang had gained possession of what is known as the "Free State Hotel" in which Rice was imprisoned. The sheriff, unfortunately, was on his claim, a mile or more out of town and did not receive notice in time to prevent the rescue of Rice. Having thus secured everything, they effected an entrance into the room where Rice was imprisoned and easily succeeded in releasing and carrying him off.

One of the gang snapped a cap (fired a gun) at Mr. Diamon, Rice's jailor. There was but little choice for the inmates of the hotel to make resistance. All the rooms were surrounded before they could dress and arm (themselves) and effect a concert of action (because) the halls were in the possession of Montgomery's men.

It was to late to save Rice and life and property might be saved by non-resistance. A fire was kindled outside with which to burn the building in case a shot was fired. Besides many of our citizens had been taken and were in the midst of the bandits as hostages.

It was pre-arranged to disarm and imprison every man who made his appearance on the streets. They had a guard at every house and kept detailing men to assist. Col. Wilson, on of the leading merchants, with his wife and servant man were the first that were taken. They were marched into "the prisoner's ring", a circle formed on the pavement by about 20 of these ruffians, stationed with the points of their rifles towards the prisoners. They tried to persuade the Negro man to accept his freedom, but he refused.

Next, Gov. Ransom, the Receiver of the U.S. Land Office, came out of his house to investigate the cause of so early a noise. Three rifles were cocked upon him and he was ordered forward into the prisoner's ring, with a threat that they were going to hang him.

Mr. Alex McDonald stepped upon his porch to see what was going on, when he was called upon to surrender. Upon his refusal, he was instantly fired upon, the Sharps' ball passing through the door and barely missing him.

In another part of town, two or three of them were following Mr. Marble and firing at him. They probably would have hit him, but for a fortunate shot from one of our citizens which hit the bandit in the side when he was taking aim. At the same instant another of the gang sent a ball close past the citizen who was firing. The ball went through the store of Col. Wilson. Mr. Ray was also fired at.

Meanwhile the house and store of Dr. Blake Little, adjacent to the hotel, were the scene of intense interest. They were occupied by the Dr., his son John H. Little who was recently Deputy Marshall and the Black servant girl and boy. Mr. George A. Crawford had stayed with his friend John Little the night previous, to assist in the defense incase the long rumored attack should come. They were awaked, as day was breaking, by the little Black boy, announcing that the town was full of "jayhawkers" and the hotel was taken. As soon as they could dress, John stepped to the door with his gun to see the position of friend and invader. The guard appointed for that door advanced and was told not to come further. He did so and in an instant John fired, closing the door and remarking that he had shot one of them. Soon after, a Sharp's rifle ball was sent through the window, above the stove pipe and the partition wall. Spies were set to go watch every door and window. He [John Little] mounted a box and was looking to the hotel when a Sharp's rifle ball penetrated his forehead and landed against the ceiling. He fell instantly, his blood and brains pouring out upon the floor.

There was not the faintest hope of escape.

At last they heard threats of burning the house. Then the bringing and planting of the cannon close against the house and the investing of every door and window with another array of rifles.

Just at that moment Miss (Sene) Campbell raised the cry that women and children were in the house. A few minutes were given to get them out! During this pause it was ascertained outside that John Little was killed. The ladies rushed in and soon any further attempt at bloodshed was stopped.

The body of the dying young man was carried into the next room, not however, until some villain had despoiled him of his pistol and belt. Some of them fiend like, seemed to exult over his dying struggles.

We have since ascertained that their 2 men who were shot were not dangerously hurt. We wish to state that the pen that gives this hurried account of the free state ruffianismis welded by a free state hand."

Early in January 1859, Sene Campbell wrote the following letter to Captain James Montgomery

Fort Scott, Jan. 4, 59

A few days more and we were to have married, then go south to trouble you no more! But through your influence he was killed, sent to another world without even time to pray or say good bye to his friends.

But thanks to God, if you did kill his body, you can't touch his soul. No, No, it is in the Spirit land. Now the cry of "The Osages are coming" can awaken him no more, for he quietly sleeps in our little graveyard.

But remember this, I am a girl, but I can fire a pistol and if the time comes, I will send some of you to the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth; you a minister of God, you mean a minister of the devil, and a very superior one, too.

I have no more to say this time to you and your imps. Please accept my sincere regards for your future repentance.

-- Sene Campbell

The original Sene Campbell letter is located in the Manuscript Collection of the Kansas State Historical Society in Topeka and an original Dec. 23, 1859 edition of the Fort Scott Democrat is located in the Archive Collection of Fort Scott National Historic Site.

As a result of the dedicated research of Fred Campbell and Carolyn Cooper it is now known that John Little and Sene Campbell Stuart are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kan.