Ewing, Thomas, 1829-1896 to Thomas Ewing

General Ewing, commander of the District of the Border (Kansas-Missouri), writes to his father following the Lawrence Massacre. States "I have received your two letters from Washington, and am glad to be assured that the demoniac ravings of the rabble in Leavensworth over the Lawrence Massacre and their threats of ill directed vengeance, have only created with the Administration contempt for the base demagogues who make the excitement their stock in trade." Writes that United States Senator, James Henry Lane, criticized General John McAllister Schofield following the Massacre and Ewing's issue of orders expelling persons from the border area. Encloses a newspaper clipping (not included) with proceedings of the Union League of Kansas City discussing his expulsion orders. States "The truth is, both populations on the two sides of the border, were being worn & thinned out by abrasion- and the Missouri side becoming rapidly deserted by all except the families of guerillas. The inevitable fate of the population on the Missouri side- especially after the Lawrence Massacre- was, removal..." States that in his opinion, Schofield is supportive of the expulsion orders, and that Schofield formerly advised a similar order which would have allowed neutral families to remain in the border area. Discusses the impracticality of allowing neutral families to remain in the border area. Written on Headquarters District of the Border stationery.