Sumner's rudeness caused outrage amongst many, most notably Butler's nephew, Preston S. Brooks, a fiery South Carolina Congressman. Knowing that Sumner would refuse a challenge to a duel, he finally confronted Sumner at his Senate desk on May 22, accused him of libel against South Carolina and Butler, and began beating him about the head with a cane while stunned senators looked on. Sumner, struggled to rise, wrenched the desk from the floor and collapsed. A gloating Brooks reported: 'Towards the last he bellowed like a calf', and 'I wore my cane out completely but saved the head which is gold.'
For two and a half years Sumner's empty seat was a solemn reminder of the violence done to him. Some thought the senator was feigning injury, others that he really was physically disabled. In fact, although his injuries were bad enough, including two gashes to the skull, he seems to have suffered psychosomatic shock which left him incapable of functioning adequately.
Sumner was to become a Northern anti-slavery martyr. According to Gienapp 'bleeding Sumner' outrage Northerners more than 'bleeding Kansas'. Gienapp also claims the anger in the North was so great that 'Almost overnight the entire complexion of the Presidential campaign was transformed'. Here was