The Hunt for J.B. Swain

After being sentenced to death, (afterwards commuted to life at hard labor), Joseph B. Swain, the most sadistic of all the Kansas Red Legs, escaped from Fort Leavenworth. The authorities at Fort Leavenworth were convinced that their detectives could not be trusted so they sent for a “real” professional from St. Louis, Missouri.  United States Detective H. W. Huthsing arrived at Fort Leavenworth on April 7^th 1865. His report on his pursuit of Swain is a historic gem. Here are a few excerpts.

I seized all letters in the Post-Office directed to Mrs. Swain and from these, and other circumstances I became convinced that Swain had crossed the river at Weston on 31^st of March and was at his home [City of Leavenworth] on the 1^st and 2^nd days of April - and that on the 3^rd of April he left for Paola and Mound City where his old camp was stationed and where he intended to stay until he could hear from his wife in relation to a petition for his pardon, to the President which had been gotten up and signed by a large number of citizens, who as a general thing were all in complicity with him, and are willing to do anything to obtain his release – these men together with a great portion of the officers and soldiers now stationed at Leavenworth and along the border, formerly belonged to an association called the Red Legs and of which, Capt. Swain was an active and leading member. I presume you have long been familiar with the history of this association and I will not therefore give any details of their purposes and doings…

I arrived at Mound City on the 17^th of April and left my escort at some distance from the town, in camp – I soon made acquaintance with some of the citizens and soldiers, and to my great astonishment, I found that it would not be safe, with the small force at my command, to attempt to arrest Swain, even if we should discover his hiding place – Both soldiers and citizens were determined  to resent his arrest and openly avowed their intention to meet and oppose anybody who came for that purpose…

It is almost impossible to give any adequate idea of the feelings among these people , not only in regard to Swain, but in respect to the execution of law and the maintenance of good general order generally – This vicinity was settled principally by a lot of unprincipled men – outlaws and robbers, murders and thieves – who openly uphold, protect and boast of every man who has robbed or murdered the people of the neighboring Border – is has become a noted home and shelter of criminals and fugitives from justice.