However, the 1855–56 violence in "Bleeding Kansas" did reach an ideological climax after John Brownregarded by followers as the instrument of God's will to destroy slaveryentered the melee. His assassination of five pro-slavery settlers (the so-called "Pottawatomie massacre", during the night of May 24, 1856) resulted in some irregular, guerrilla-style strife. Aside from John Brown's fervor, the strife in Kansas often involved only armed bands more interested in land claims or loot.