Jayhawker
Jayhawkers was a term used before the Civil War to describe a group of robbers who worked with the free-slave cause by rustling cattle and stealing property. They often would be found in Missouri and in the territory of Kansas. They were often seen as heroes for those who wanted Kansas to be free and villains for those who wanted it to become a slave state.
Online Resources
Online Resources
Primary Sources
Primary Sources
Pamphlet recruiting men to be Jay-walkers
Print of the Jennison's Jayhawkers
Bird's Eye View of Kansas (to give you an idea of what the land was like back then)
Leaders
Leaders
Of course, this band of outlaws tried to stay undercover. Not much is known about many of them but one name does come up all the time as a leader of the Jayhawks, Charles R. 'Doc' Jennison.