“It wasn’t normal to begin with.”
“This time, their intentions are obvious. Do you know what they are trying to incite by using their own newspapers?”
George Brown burst into laughter as he opened his mouth, as if he was dumbfounded just thinking about it.
“For this election, the free states are sending immigrants to Kansas. The number is 30,000. This is what they are reporting.”
“Wow, these guys are crazy.”
It is a typical example of false propaganda.
But it would be pretty effective.
What they’re after is.
They are planning to send 30,000 immigrants to the Free State for elections. If this continues, real slaves may be freed.
So, you slave advocates, get to Kansas quickly.
Go and vote.
Persist the slave state.
These messages were constantly being sent out through the newspapers.
“There are 27 days left until voting.”
“The governor told me to count the voters today. The votes should be based on those numbers.”
Composition of the Kansas Territory Legislature.
There is not much time left to vote to elect that representative.
Lawrence was relatively quiet, but tensions were rising in Leavenworth and other towns by the day.
Settlers were increasing throughout Kansas, most of whom were pro-slavery.
*
“What are you doing here?”
Max went to see James Henry Lane.
He made his home a mile from the center of Lawrence.
“Have you seen the newspaper?”
“I just read it. They’re doing a lot of agitation in the slave states.”
“That’s why I say.”
Max told us the idea he had in mind.
That’s the content.
“You want to create a militia? For the vote?”
Rain opens his eyes wide in surprise.
“If you were to form a militia in these uncertain times, no one would object. Your reputation would improve among the townspeople and the Free State.”
He was soon to become the commander-in-chief of the militia, but he had no idea that this vote would turn violent.
Historically, the militia would have been created after the vote, but Marx wanted to bring that date forward.
‘If you’re going to make it anyway, it’s better to make it in advance.’
There are two things to gain.
To ensure Lawrence’s safety, and to provide Max with a foundation for taking control of the militia that would later be corrupted by Lane.
“hmm.”
James Henry Lane’s troubles continued.
But he is also a politician who enjoys popular support. In the current atmosphere, creating a militia could be recorded as one of his achievements.
There was absolutely no reason to object.
“Let’s bring this up for discussion.”
That day, Lane proposed the creation of a militia at the meeting, as if on cue.
And the conclusion was easy to come to.
Creation of a militia in the town of Lawrence.
The discussion proceeded without objection throughout the meeting, and so Rain naturally assumed the position of leader of the militia.
And a few days later.
“Get in line!”
Under Max’s leadership, a militia was recruited.
Advance Border Ruffian
American history begins along the Atlantic coast.
Starting with Virginia in the East, the United States, which gained independence from Britain, became the United States of America, a federation of 13 states.
And the settlers in Lawrence were men who had come from the East for freedom and their beliefs, armed not with guns but with the Bible.
Tata tata tang!
That’s probably why I couldn’t shoot the gun properly.
Not a single person hit the target at 30 yards (27 m).
“Why did you all buy guns?”
“I said I was going west···.”
Max’s militia consisted of 12 members.
There were fewer people because they only pulled out the number of guns.
Besides, the guns are museum exhibit quality.
I was able to see the history of firearms development at a glance.
One of the antiques caught Max’s eye.
The 1725 Pennsylvania Rifle (later known as the Kentucky Rifle) that led the American Revolutionary Movement.
It was a gun with a relatively high accuracy rate, with fine rifling in the barrel.
“Did this just shoot out a bullet?”
“…… ok.”
“I think it was used during the American independence movement.”
The man nodded proudly.
“It was my grandfather’s gun. He killed 50 British soldiers with it at the Battle of Princeton.”
‘no way.’
After reloading 50 times, the war will be over.
Standing tall in the midst of a hail of bullets, he lifts the long barrel to reload and pours gunpowder into it and fires bullets.
A full-length pistol that can be fired by inserting a trigger and poking it into place.
The gunpowder had to be poured precisely and the lead bullets had to be wrapped in thin leather and stuffed in.
It didn’t even go in well, so I had to tap it with a hammer to get it to go in, so this could be considered an extremely bad loading speed.
Still, if you killed 50 people, there’s nothing to say.
Meanwhile, it’s a hot new product that’s not even two years old, but not an antique.
There was also an Enfield 1853 rifle.
Although it was a percussion cap, this gun was also a full-caliber rifle like the Pennsylvania rifle, so I didn’t find it very appealing.
What bothered Max was the fact that the Enfield rifle’s owner was Emilia Faun Fitch.
– Teacher? You should pick up a pen. What do you mean by a gun?
– It’s a teacher’s duty to protect the children. Are you saying that only men get that job?
– ……That’s not it.
– Then what’s the problem?
Max, who had been checking the guns of Peach and the other agents one by one, said with a sour taste in his mouth.
“It is important to be accurate even when shooting one shot. Please follow the posture I am showing you from now on.”
From gun handling, to grips and shooting posture.
Max walked among the militiamen, correcting each one’s posture.
“By the way, Sheriff Max?”
“Yes. Tell me, Peach.”
“I know you’re good at shooting a pistol, but I’ve never seen a rifle before.”
“Are you doubting my abilities?”
“It’s not a doubt, it’s a stimulus. Wouldn’t it be motivating to see someone who is good at something?”
I’m not just nitpicking.
Peach looked genuinely curious.
The militiamen’s eyes also sparkled. They stared at the Sharps rifle behind Max’s back and urged him to fire.
“Well, I was going to show you anyway.”
Max brought the rifle forward and looked at Peach.
“Set up a target at any distance you want.”
“Anywhere?”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s far. That won’t be right.”
Peach carried the empty can for quite some distance. It was about 300 meters.
It’s not a difficult distance for Max these days.
“Everyone, follow me.”
When Max took a stance, the militia took the same stance.
“Stand at an angle toward the target, then mount the buttstock on your shoulder to minimize recoil. Keep your back straight and…”
A bladed-off stance, so named because it involves looking at the target at an angle.
After explaining the breathing technique, Max pulled the trigger and fired at the target.
Taaaaang!
Bang!
“Oh!”
“That distance is right. Wow.”
A look of respect behind the admiration.
A smile appeared on Max’s lips as well.
“If you have good posture, you can easily get it right. So, everyone, practice···.”
“Huh? Hey, is that Peach Yang waving her hand?”
Peach set the can up from a further distance.
And then he was waving his hand at Max.
“Wow, that would be about 400 yards (365 m)?”
“What do you see?”
“How do I match that? I can’t even see the enemy.”
The agents blink their eyes.
‘Do you think I can’t match it?’
But there was no reason to match it.
Max nodded and said.
“You won’t be shooting at enemies that far away. Even if you were, just go forward and shoot. Now, should I repeat the pose I just did?”
“How much peach?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
After a while, Peach came. He must have run, because even though it was winter, his face was covered in sweat.
Max said, avoiding her gaze.
“It’s a very busy time, so let’s meet twice a week to train.”
There are many people who have just built or are in the process of building a house.
As they were a militia, not soldiers, they had to be content with just shooting guns and simple tactical training.
“Has anyone heard of the Minutemen?”
Half of them raised their hands.
In the early days of the Revolutionary War, settlers without a regular army organized militias to fight the British.
They were called Minute-men, meaning ‘people who can be dispatched within one minute.’
It had a similar meaning to the 5-minute standby system that every Korean soldier would know.
“You have to keep your gun ready to use at all times, and be ready to fight within a minute when the situation arises.”
So after completing his first day of training, Max headed to the sheriff’s office.
Peach followed along beside him.
But he brought up something else, not the tin can thing.
“When are you going to teach me how to use a pistol?”
“why?”
“Because I want to learn. Everything about guns.”
“Is there anyone you want to kill?”
“Maybe. Anyway, I’d like you to teach me how to use a pistol. See you at training, Sheriff.”
With Peach gone, Max pondered the pistol.
‘It’s not a situation where we can even consider close combat.’
Max’s goal is to prevent the Border Rufians from entering the village in the first place. This can be done simply by showing the militia with rifles.
If they stormed the polling place and a shootout broke out, that would be the worst possible situation.
‘The result of the vote has already been decided, so there is no need to shed blood.’
*
It’s been two weeks since the militia was organized.
Holiday said, patting Max on the shoulder.
“The agents all talk about you. You explain things so well that it sticks in their ears, and they feel like they’ve become gunmen in the West.”
“It’s good to have confidence.”
In addition, their skills have improved.
In particular, Peach’s shooting skills were amazing, and he hit 250m targets in succession.
– Should I try something further away?
In addition, Morgan and Holman also showed talent in shooting.
‘This is why instructors are important.’
Max and Holiday were busy reading the newspapers on the table.
Lawrence has three newspapers.
Herald of Freedom, Kansas Tribune, Kansas Free State.
And what these three places have in common is the voters in this election.
“The total population of Kansas is 8,601, of which 2,905 are eligible voters.”
“The population is small.”
“It’s only been half a year since we became the governor. Anyway, how many of the 39 legislators do you think we’ll bring?”
Just two people.
It ends with a complete victory for slavery.
“Well, who knows?”
“But Max, you predicted the land dispute accurately a while ago, right?”
“Was it so?”
“As soon as construction started, the governor sided with us so desperately that it was just as you said.”
“But why?”
“Considering that they even did this early voter poll, it seems like the governor is close to us, just like you said. They’re trying to be fair.”
‘What good is it if you protect it alone?’
In fact, the 14th President of the United States, Franklin Pierce, was a Democrat who had the support of the South.
He believed that the abolitionist stance advocated by free states was dividing the country.
Unlike Max, who had a bitter look on his face, Holiday was optimistic about the outcome.
“If Kansas becomes a free state, the Missourians will be happy to see it. They won’t be able to come here and bring slaves with them.”
In effect, a victory in the referendum would mean complete freedom for Kansas.
People tend to flock to places full of freedom and vitality. As the population grew, the time it took for a province to be promoted to a state could be shortened.
Holiday was confident of a vote victory, and so were the townspeople.
Rather, they were concerned that slave states that were dissatisfied with the results might riot.
Kansas settlers were overconfident in their beliefs.
But what if that belief is shattered?
*
Jackson County, on the border of Kansas and Missouri.
As the election approached, the square began to fill with speakers and people.
“Black thieves are coming to Kansas! The damned Northerners are trying to take our property to fill the labor shortage, and they are trying to deceive the people by hiding behind false propaganda about emancipation!”
The speaker spewed out harsh words, the blood running down his throat.
“What we need now is your guns and knives! We need to win against those damn abolitionists!”
“That’s right! Let’s make Kansas a slave state!”
“I’ll aim for their hearts with this revolver!”
A square overflowing with madness.
A man looks at this and sneers.
‘Those crazy guys.’
Bouncer at Kelly Inn.
The man, buried in a chair with his face covered by a newspaper, had his feet hanging over the railing.
