Franklin's Fort

Franklin was a small town established in 1854 in Douglas County, Kansas Territory. It was established by settlers, mostly or all from the nation's south, who wanted the territory admitted to the Union as a slave state. By late 1855 Franklin had about a dozen homes and businesses and a post office. It became a center devoted to the southern cause in Kansas.^[1]

Sheriff Samuel Jones headquartered his cause in Franklin by spring 1856. Jones was partially disabled by a sniper at that time, but Franklin's status as a center for the southern cause in Kansas grew. By May 1856 a blockhouse was built inside Franklin. The blockhouse was used to store arms and a cannon seized during an attack on nearby Lawrence. The blockhouse was built to be defended in the event of attack by forces from Lawrence.^[2][3]

Two attacks were made on Franklin's fort during summer 1856. The first attack was made on June 4 by about fifteen members of the Lawrence Stubbs, a free-state militia based in Lawrence. The free staters entered town after dark to search for "Old Sacramento," the cannon taken during a southern raid on Lawrence. Some sleeping defenders at the fort were aroused by noise and what was termed the First Battle of Franklin erupted. The cannon was fired once without injuring any free staters. Town residents shot from their houses at the free staters, town, forcing their retreat. One Franklin man was killed and a few persons were wounded. Some Franklin men may have been captured by the Lawrence men.^[4][5]

After this battle, Franklin's fort was made more defensible. On August 12 the Second Battle of Franklin took place. Possibly two companies, at least 75 men, left Lawrence after dark to capture or destroy the fort. Free-state leader James H. Lane led the march on Franklin. Apparently only about 20 men were defending Franklin and the fort. For several hours the battle was waged with opposing forces shooting at each other in the dark. Not much damage was inflicted to either side at this point, but one free stater was killed and several were wounded, as was one of Franklin's fort defenders.^[6]

A man from Franklin was sent to travel to a company of U.S. cavalry camped approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) away and seek help. The cavalry reached Franklin just before dawn. By then the battle was over. Although the town's defenders fought determinedly, the Lawrence men finally made progress when they set a wagon loaded with hay afire and moved it to the front door of the fort. The heat and light caused the defenders of the fort to escape into the night, as they thought they may be burned alive.^[7]

While the adjoining post office was damaged by fire, the fort was damaged by bullets, not fire. The free staters entered it and took fifty to eighty muskets, ammunition and the cannon. They took much food stored there and 14 prisoners, while suffering one man killed and several wounded. The fort was left, but this ended its use as a town defense. It was converted to use as a residence. It was occupied by Dr. R. L. Williams until probably the 1870s. Franklin itself disappeared about 1867.^[8][9][10]

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