Sacking of Lawrence

Sacking of Lawrence
Part of Bleeding Kansas

Ruins of Free State Hotel after the attack
DateMay 21, 1856
Location
Result

Border ruffian victory

Belligerents
Free-Stater Border ruffians
Commanders and leaders
Samuel C. Pomeroy (de facto) Samuel J. Jones
Strength
abolitionist civilians 300
Casualties and losses
1 wounded 1 dead

The sacking of Lawrence occurred on May 21, 1856, when pro-slavery settlers, led by Douglas County Sheriff Samuel J. Jones, attacked and ransacked Lawrence, Kansas, a town that had been founded by anti-slavery settlers from Massachusetts who were hoping to make Kansas a free state. The incident fueled the irregular conflict in Kansas Territory that later became known as Bleeding Kansas.

The human cost of the attack was low: only one person—a member of the pro-slavery gang—was killed, and his death was accidental. However, Jones and his men halted production of the Free-State newspapers the Kansas Free State and the Herald of Freedom, destroying the presses and offices (with the former ceasing publication altogether and the latter taking months to once again start up). The pro-slavery men also destroyed the Free State Hotel and Charles L. Robinson's house.