Shannon wrote to Major-General William P.Richardson, reciting the story told him by Sheriff Jones, together with additional stories (equally false), told him by Hargis, and closed his letter with the following order: You are therefore hereby commanded to collect together as large a force as you can in your division, and repair, without delay, to Lecompton, and report to S.J.Jones, Sheriff of Douglas County, together with the number of your forces, and render him all the aid and assistance in your power in the execution of any legal process in his hands.

The forces under your command are to be used for the sole purpose of aiding the Sheriff in executing the law, and for no other purpose.
I have the honor to be Your obedient servant, WILSON SHANNON.
Gov.

Shannon knew, as well as he knew his name was Wilson Shannon, that this meant another invasion of Kansas Territory.

There was no organized militia in Kansas.Gen.Richardson did not live in Kansas; he lived in Missouri, and it meant Missouri militia and not Kansas militia.
Moreover, the Governor knew, or at least ought to have known, what an unreliable man this Sheriff Jones was.

Jones was Postmaster at Westport, and Shannon was living at Shawnee Mission, in the neighborhood of Westport.