Writing to his wife on April 7, 1856, he said: "We hear that preparations are making in the United States Court for numerous arrests of free-state men.

For one I have not desired (all things considered) to have the slave power cease from its acts of aggression.

'Their foot shall slide in due time.'" This letter of Brown's indicates that the writer was pleased at the prospect of approaching trouble.
When, six weeks later, notice came of the attack upon Lawrence, John Brown, Junior, went with the company of Osawatomie Rifles to the relief of the town, while the elder Brown with a little company of six moved in the same direction.

In a letter to his wife, dated June 26, 1856, more than a month after the massacre in Pottawatomie Valley, Brown said: "On our way to Lawrence we learned that it had been already destroyed, and we encamped with John's company overnight....

On the second day and evening after we left John's men, we encountered quite a number of pro-slavery men and took quite a number of prisoners.