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Wikipedia Page Evaluation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_fictional_detectives

The Wikipedia article entitled famous fictional detectives is a page with many problems, as attributed by the number of issues present on the warning banner. One of the major problems is the articles lack of neutrality. The writer was obviously a fan, and adds a biased viewpoint to many sentences throughout the article. One such sentence exists in the first paragraph and states that, "Stories involving individual detectives are well-suited to dramatic presentation, resulting in many memorable theatre, television, and movie characters." This entire sentence is unfounded and based entirely on the authors belief that detective characters are dramatic and make memorable characters. This type of writing takes credibility away from the article and lengthens it without adding any real pertinent information.

A second major issue are the lists on the page. All of the lists are laid out poorly in comparison to other lists on Wikipedia, such as the "List of The Office (U.S. TV series) characters" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Office_(U.S._TV_series)_characters). The detectives are all well described in their own various forms of media, but at best the article author gives a short, uninformative reference to each after their names in the list. As well, the different lists are unpleasant to look at because they lack balance. A table would add a great deal to the balance of the page, as well as allow for greater description of each detective. A final issue with the lists is that they are poorly defined, once again relying on the bias of the author to organize them instead of using more tangible headings, such as which detectives are from film, literature, television, etc.

The article also still requires a copy-edit to bring it up to an appropriate standard.

Overall this article is ineffective and in need of a full overhaul. It does not meet Wikipedia standards.

Wikipedia Article

Expansion of Battle of Fort Titus Stub

The Battle of Fort Titus was fought on August 16, 1856, in Douglas County, Kansas, between about 50 Free-State Abolitionists under Samuel Walker and 34 Border Ruffians (a pro-slavery force) under Henry Titus inside Fort Titus. Walker's men captured the fort, forcing Titus and his men to surrender, resulting in a Free-state victory. (Already Written)

Background
(new section)

Fort Titus was a fortified log cabin built about two miles south of Lecompton, on the east bank of Coon Creek. It was owned by pro-slavery Colonel Henry Titus and was used as a safe house and rendezvous point for Border Ruffians, as well as housed a large stockpile of weapons and ammunition, to aid in their defense of the region. Several other cabins were constructed in the surrounding area for the same purpose under various pro-slavery commanders.

Colonel Henry Titus, the owner of Fort Titus, was a major advocate of the pro-slavery movement in Kansas and has been attributed, along with Jefferson Buford of Alabama, in bringing nearly a thousand pro-slavery advocates into the Kansas Territory.

A few weeks after Colonel Titus' arrival in Kansas he participated in the Sack of Lawrence, a Free-State Abolitionist stronghold. In the sack it was reported that he ordered the destruction of the Herald of Freedom's printing presses "for the boys of South Carolina," as well as capturing a large quantity of armaments. The arms were taken to Fort Titus.

Attack
(New Section)

A Free-State militia was assembled to counterattack the Border Ruffian forces around Lecompton, a major Pro-Slavery stronghold. Several other fortified cabins were taken by the militia previous to their arrival at Fort Titus. The Free-State militia force stood at approximately four hundred men when Captain Samuel Walker took a contingent of fifty men and attacked Fort Titus.

The cannon "Old Sacramento," captured at another fort, was loaded with a shot made from the lead type of the Herald of Freedom Newspaper that Colonel Titus destroyed. These shots were used against the fort in the brief skirmish before Colonel Titus' surrender.

Charles H. Caulkins, a free-state man who had emigrated from Maine, later testified about what he had seen during the fighting at Fort Titus:

“Capt. Walker was in command...On Saturday 16th we were called up by daylight & marched off without any thing to eat about 2 miles to the house of Titus. The order was given by Walker for only the horsemen to go & for the infantry to remain behind. But Harvey said “gear up our teams we will go as well as horsemen” so we started leaving all the main body of infantry behind. We started ahead of the cannon. When within 20 rods of the house a messenger met us & told us to push on saying there was plenty of fun ahead – that Showbre was killed & 2 or 3 more shot. We were there in line when the cannon arrived though the cannon was drawn by horses.” “Harvey ordered us to fire low. We fired two more volleys: the cannon fired at the same time. This was about 6 in the morning. 4 rounds were fired from the cannon without taking effect. The 5th shot took effect entering the house just above 1st floor and knocking things about some. This ball was made of the type of the Herald of Freedom & was considered a successful edition ... After their white flag was observed, the fire ceased, and rushing up to the house our company were the first men in: one of us arrested Titus & MacArthur was placed guard over him by Harvey. The brave Col Titus was found secreted under the floor boards in a corner ... Capt Walker came up & took possession of Titus when a soldier rushed up with the butt of his musket raised to dash his brains out. Walker ordered him to desist & saved Titus’ life. We set fire to the house & retired. We reached Lawrence about 2 P. M. with our prisoners and met with a welcome reception from the inhabitants.”

Aftermath
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CAPTURE OF COL. TITUS-THE TREATY-THE EXCHANGE. The following was written by a correspondent of the New York Times dated Lawrence, Sunday, August 17, 1856.

"When the advance guard of the Free-State forces arrived at Judge Wakefield's, on the California road, they were fired upon by a company of Pro-slavery men under Col. Titus. The fire was returned, and Titus and his men retreated, leaving one of their number dead. Colonel Titus's cabin was within two miles of Lecompton, and like the other brigand leaders, he fortified it against attack. Early in the morning a party of Free-State cavalry made a charge upon some tents near the cabin, the inmates of which ran for the cabin, and were followed by the horsemen, who went too near the cabin, when they were fired upon by those inside, wounding four one, Capt. Shombre, from Indiana, mortally. The cannon was then brought up, and Cpt. Bickerton cooly brought his piece to bear upon it. Seven balls had been fired into it, when Col. Titus showed the white flag, and surrendered. Seventeen prisoners, twenty-five stands of arms and a quantity of provisions were taken; the cabin was then burned. During the attack, the United States troops, who were encamped near by, took a position between the Free-State forces and Lecompton, directly upon the road. Unwilling to attack the troops, as they feared they would be compelled to, instead, of attacking Lecompton the Free-State men with their prisoners marched to Lawrence. Col. Titus was wounded in the head and shoulder, another of his men was wounded, and two others killed. There were six wounded on the Free-State side. Col. Titus had taken an active part in the sack of Lawrence, and on that day publicly declared, That if he ever came into that place again he would kill every Abolitionist in it. Some of the prisoners taken with him participated in this sack and assisted in destroying the presses of the Herald of Freedom and of the Free-State, and throwing the type in the river. The cannon balls used in firing at the cabin of Col. Titus were made of the lead melted down from the type of those presses, dug from the sand on the bank of the river; and as they plowed their way through the walls of Titus's cabin, they shrieked, Surrender to Freedom! as they sped on their way. Capt. Bickerton, when he pointed his cannon sat the walls of the cabin, calmly announced that he should give them a new edition of the Herald of Freedom. Col. Titus, instead of coming to kill Abolitionists, came whiningly begging of the Abolitionists to save his miserable life. He was supplied with comfortable quarters, and a physician to attend him. The other prisoners were confined in the Herald of Freedom building, where, on the 21st of May, some of them thought they had struck a death-blow to the freedom of speech, with the blood-red banner of South Carolina disunion waving over them. How strange the contrast! Yet such is the fortune of war." — New York Times corespondent, 1856 (This Section of Aftermath already written)

From the battle, the Free-State Abolitionists collected 400 muskets, a large number of knives, 13 horses, several wagons, a large stock of household provisions, farm equipment and $10,000 in gold and bank drafts. Slaves and servants owned by Colonel Titus were set free and instructed to go to Topeka.

As well, in the battle Two Border Ruffians were killed and six others were seriously injured, including Colonel Titus. Eight Free-State Abolitionists were wounded and Captain Henry Shombre later died of his injuries.