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Osawatomie, Oct. 17. 1856 Dear Cynthia & Jennie-

I can hardly find time to write at all, but must scribble a few lines in answer to yours I will tell you how we happened to get poor wounded George - He was shot about 1 1/2 miles above the town as "the Ruffians" came in and laid there till almost night before his / leg was set or his wounds dressed - the people near him were either afraid to take him in, lest some calamity should befall them from the Ruffians or else too stingy for they were able to take him - perhaps a little of both, so they advised him to be sent down to a house about 2 miles where a lady was keeping house for 6 or 7 bachelors. - He was sent page torn there below town accordingly. This Lady's husband torn page free state men for torn page must retreat he in the flight got separated from every one else, and not knowing the course pursued by the Ruffians remained hid till Sabbath evening, But this is a digression - when he returns rumors were afloat that another set were coming in to wipe out the remnant that remained of this invasion, so they concluded that it would be best to break up housekeeping and retire to a less exposed position.
 David Mendenhall (one of our Quaker friends 3 miles beyond us) was down to town that day (Monday) with his team and they told him their intentions --- he took the wounded man in his wagon and started - He had been sent down from above, there was no use in taking him again in that direction - there was but one family left in town and they were many of them sick and beside it was an exposed point if the place were attacked again, and was also the only place for the scattered straggling free