He had just dispatched a military force in another direction to intercept and disarm a raid about to be made by a detachment of Lane's men, when news came to him that the Missourians were still moving upon Lawrence, in increased force, that his officers had not yet delivered his orders, and that skirmishing had begun between the outposts.
[Sidenote] D.W.Wilder, "Annals of Kansas," p.108.Gihon, p.

152.
Menaced thus with dishonor on one side and contempt on the other, he gathered all his available Federal troops, and hurrying forward posted them between Lawrence and the invaders.

Then he went to the Missouri camp, where the true condition of affairs began to dawn upon him.

All the Border-Ruffian chiefs were there, headed by Atchison in person, who was evidently the controlling spirit, though a member of the Legislature of the State of Missouri, named Reid, exercised nominal command.

He found his orders unheeded and on every hand mutterings of impatience and threats of defiance.