The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-07-12
The Soldiers Returned from the War.

an unusual commotion few days ago by the
sudden appearance among them of number
of the Ottawa boys who had been enlisted
and sent to Kansas under command of tile
Rev. Capt. Vim. Strawn to join the gre4t
free state army in that troubled territory
Crowds Immediately gathered about ii,
boys at the street corners, to hear an &C,
count of their adventures and exploits, and
the story they tell is about as follows:
That they passed down the Illinois river to
st. Louis without any difficulty, the rumdl
that they had been dsarmed at Alton being
wholly unfoundcd At St. Louis, after pur-
chasing some groceries, provisions, &c,
they took boat up the Missouri river, and
proceeded peaceably and without interior
ence Of any sort until they arrived at Lea
venworth City, in Kansas. Here they dis
embarked and had succeeded in getting their
baggage into a warehouse, when they were
met by about so 20 100 armed ''rulfians,'
gentlemen in ''rcd flannel shirts with pants
stuffed into their boots" who seized anu
ovcIhaulcd their baggage, took al their
.
on the boat ''at the point of the bayonet"
Meantime Capt. Strawn and half dozen of
others made their escape, one or two of
whom proceeded 20 the fort and advised the
military of what was going on and finally
succeeded in getting the commandaut (Col.
Summer was ABSENT to send troop Of 90
/ men TO the wharf; but as the troops came in
; sight the boat showed of and proceeded
down the river with the boys, accompanied
by an armed guard of men, who paid their
fare, and refused them permission to land
until they arrived at 4 point on the river
few miles from Alton, where they were put
ashore. Some of their baggage was put
back on the boat with them, minus their
arms, and some other articles that were lost
or stolen in the n7elte, but some Of their
trunks, all their provisions, agricultural i'm
plements, &c, were retained. Two of the
men that went 70 the fort so: back ahead Of
the troops and were also forced on TO the .
boat, SO that Capt. Strawn and three Of his .
men are al that are missing.
This is the story As We gather it, although /.
it is told by different ones with seine vari:- /.
tons. Among our citizens it receives vari-
Gus comments. Some accuse the boys Of
cowardicc for submitting SO peaceably TO be :
disarmed. Others say it served them right
they had 10 business to go to Kansas as an I
armed party, &c. while the fusionists &C
morally regard it as very hcinOus outrage,
and talk blood and fury. We think the
boys were badly treated. From what We
have seen Of them, we judge them to have
been young men Of good character, who
went with the intention Of becoming perma-
nent settlers, and with very little disposition
to fight. Their treatment at LeavcnwOrth
We regard as an act of pure lawleSsness, at
least so far as driving them out Of the terri
tory IS concerned. As an armed party,
doubtless, under the proclamation of Gov.
shannon, it was right their arms should be
taken from them, but after they had given
them up, it was wrong to drive them out Of
the territory, retain their provisions, &c.
While the act cannot, therefore, be justi-
fed, il was yet neither strange, nor ought it
t. them have been unexpected. There are 1t
present two parties in Kansas struggling for
MASTERY. Their hatred Of each other is so
intense as to extend 70 b,oodshod on both
sides That tie people Of Leaveuvor;h,
who are almost unanimously pro-s!ayery,
should therefore strive by all fir means or
foul, 10 prevent acccss!oEs to the other par
-, Is Ju. natural, and while this state Of
parties continues IN Kansas, such acts viii
be Of constant occurrence. If the free state
men were in possession Of LcaTenwOrth,
they would doubtless prevent, if they
could, accessions to the opposite party from
landing. Nay, we have little doubt, if Do
zen or two Of armed Carolinians undertook to
pass through northern Illinois to jim the
pro slavery army in Kansas, they would be :
IS readily disa-,ned and sent back as free ,
tate men are in Missouri or Leavenworch. -,
The cmig-ants from the north are not the ;
My ones who complain Of this kind Of out I
ages. We saw, but week ago, a furious ,
complaint in Missouri paper that comga- Z
" Of Il armed pro-s,ayery cmigrants from !
L.L DCIli L.SII!L-I anu ScIlL DG-h, i,
he allegation in this instance being, that it :
5as done by the I. 5. troops.
It is unquestionaJly true that persons 50 =
NJ to Kansas from the free states had better q
axe the route through Iowa than trust their {
hanccs on the Missouri river. We see az +,
cunts that dozens Of eu.grants arrive daily q
t Iowa City, and pass through to Kansas 9
,ithout fear Of Inolestation or interruption +
: is Z few miles west Of Iowa City, where :,
'ol. Lane has his rendezvous, where it is g
aid in the papers Of that city he has already >.
objected 300 or 400 men, who are not only ,
r.ned to TIE teeth, but are daily drilled, 70
&c regiment going to war. Lane, doubt r.
IS, will get safely into Kansas with his az r
", but not i the |. 5. authorities there =
0 their duty. =