Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-12-27
From the ST. Louis Democrat, Dec, l7th.l
+ II O Nj X A y SA 5.
Highly Interesting.
Excitement at Leav wentworth

GTeat Excit en- nt at Leav enworth.
By the politeness of a gentleman in this city
We have been shown a private letter from Leav-
enw"rth, under date OF Dec. Sth, giving the iol-
lowing startling intelligence.
The people OF LeayenwOrth are greatly eXci
ted-bands of Missourians from the border
counties, known here "a "rufians," have come
over into Kansas and are threatening Lawrence
with destruction. A company of some hiiy,
headed by a man called Eastin, editor of the
Herald of this city, all drunk, and a majority OF
them border Missourians, started from here and
marched off for the seat Of ioar, as our sister city
is now called.
The origin Of the grave calamity which now
threatens To stir up strife was IA As follows: A
private difficulty arose between two individuals
about the rights Of both 10 a claim. The up
shot of the matter was that one Of the two got
killed. A false rumOr, from this circumstance.
reached the ears of the Governor, that the Sher
if was resisted in executing the laws. a I this
time no writ had been issued and 10 complaints
made by which to arrest any person supposed
to have been guilty Of violating the law.
Those who bore the report 10 the ears of the
Governor, however, knew their man; and as he
had clustered a great deal at the hastings and
on the stump, that he would enforce the laws,
and so on. he seized the occasion on the faith of
a flying and partisan report, without making
inquiry as a prudent man should have done, 10
/ learn now inc ullnCulLl WIS, IOOllSnly anu nul-
riedly To order out the militia Of the territory
and To publish a terrible proclamation, calling
upon "law and order men, to aid in enforcing
the law. This proclamation of the Governor
did the work 1t was intended 10 do by those
who were instrumental in having him issue it.
1t was intended az n cover for an attack long
since medltated on Lawrence by the tre-eaters.
1t has swept the scum of the border counties Of
Missouri over into our territory, vowing death
to every man in Lawrence.
General Richardson. a well disposed man
and of some prominence in the territory since
the excitement, has been To Lawrence and had a
talk with her people. He reports that they de
clared that they are now, and always We're,
ready To deliver up To the authorities any one
Of their number for whom those authorities had
a writ, but refused, as sensible men would to
suffer one Of their number To be arrested by an
irresponsible mob.
Ii Is perfectly understood here that Governor
ShanuOn's proclamation and buster, were in
tended to play into the hands of Atchisoh,
Stringfellow, and gang. Volunteer companies
were raised in the border counties of Missouri
with wonderful alacrity, Immediately upon its
promulgatIon. IL issaid there are now encamp-
ed near Lawrence from one to two Thousand
armed men, and other companies are h~urrying
on To Join them. Most of them are resident Mis-
s0urians, and AtchisoR and Stringfellow are
out urging an attack.
The Lawrence men stand firm, and will not
r yield Till they are forced. They have nicely
calculated their strength. and they hold to the
. belief that it will take 3, 900 men to take Law
r renee, and even then with the loss of much
blood. The Lawrence men arc entronched have
> experienced commanders, and are well armed Ia
> n man. They are calmly and resolufely await
ing an attack. Col. Lane, of Lawrence, has
sent "A dispatch requesting aid from this city
he says fight is inevitable. Col. Sumner, com
..nK.Naa ~ NI. E.nN =. ..ra. IL tHAA,
Washington. Richardson, commander of the
militia, has been striving TO bring about an am
icable settlement, but SIringfellow, Eastin, and
gang say no. Although the Lawrence men have
shown a disposition to do what is right, il seems
that they must fight. or take the alternative oi
being massacred. Lawrence has at this time
sou men under muster; their weapons of defence
are Sharp's rifles and revolvers. IL is said that
| the Missourians have five pieces of cannon il
addition TO their small arms.
These cannon were got by them in the follow
ing manner: About one hundred of them broke
e into the arsenal at Liberty, Clay county, Mis-
souri,, secured the man in charge by tying him
1 took the cannon, shells, dc, on hand. and march
Ell off to Lawrence. Col. Sumner has sent q
] force 10 recover the arms stolen, and to protect
the arsenal from further plumber. Atchison, II
P Is said, is e~ncamPed with some % men, about
ID miles from Lawrence, waiting for re %inforce-
ments. There Is a report afiOat that Shannon
; is much agitated. and is trying to advise the
| Missourians TO go home-having at last convin.
2 ced himself that this is the only way TO avoid 4
2 collision. He is obliged, however, To advise
? with Atchison and Stringfellow, and they, | be
! lieve, require the Lawrence men To surrender
D their arms. This they consider equivocal IL
I laying down their lives, and of course they will
) not consent. Negotiation and compromise thus
a far have been ~fruitless. Ii is thought that the
crisis IN Kansas affairs has come at last; the
fight IS expected to begin today or tomorrow,
, and if SO II must be bloody one, for the Law.
a renee men will fight with no expectation o
quarter. IL is thought by the Free State men
; whether successful or not at Lawrence; they
I have vowed the destruction of the Register
press, and may throw it into the river, as they
did the Parkville Luminary.
Possibly, Colonel Sumner, in endeavoring ia
' retake the arms stolen from the arsenal. may
bring about a collision between the United
o States troops and the border %ruffians.
Ia the present condition of the pnblic mind
l a trifie may turn the stIife into quite a different
channel from that anticipated by those who
S originated it. To give you AN idea of the
excitement in this place, ] need only state that
2 business is entirely suspended, and groups ol
4 men are ON the streets talking of the war, as i
I a terrible calamity was impending, which can
' not be sverted.
S Later.
The st. Louis papers of the 18th contain a
rumor that there had boen fighting between the
? Missourians and Free State men, at or near Law
renee, but little or no confidence was placed in
this rumor, and il is probably unfounded.