Demoine courier., 1856-02-14
From the st. Louis Democrat
later from Kansas,

Prom the st. Louis Democrat.
later from Kansas.
Reneral Of Civil Var in Kansss-A
Battle Fought in Defence of III,
~ Ballot Bor-Law,ence ~ Arms
The Country Preparing to Fight.
LAWRENCE, X. T., Jan. 20, 10 A. M.
resume my correspondence. Their.
IS ciUH Uar in Kansas. An engage
men. was Tough, a, Eas,on, a sillsge IL
miles northeast Of Leavenwortl,, BY
moonlight, about two o'clock Friday
morning. Ii lasted abou, twenty min
utes. Several Of the border men were
wounded. and two Of them we're expec.
tee to die every moment. One Free
State mana son OF Mr.. Sparks-wa.
slightly wounded in The forehead and
arm, bat not disabled.
This important news was brought
here about midnigh, by special mes
senger from Leavenwof,h, from whom
received the subjoined accoun, of the
origin Of the difficulty aud he par.icu.
lars OF the engagement.
After returning from Lawrence with.
out accomplishing their openly avowed
Of ex,erminating the
northern emigran.s and Free State Squat
.ers, they avenged themselves by de-.
stroying The balIot-box at Leaven worth,
and throwing The press Of the 'Ferri,ori.
al Register into the Missouri; river.
They threatened also TO Inch several oil
The Free State men, and members Of the
Kansas legion, and another person,
whom they called the I'D CORES.
pendent Of the Missouri Democrat.
Since that lime ruflianism has ruled
Ieavenwor,h. Her Free State men
there are unsrmed, and wi,hou, an ex.
perienced leader, while their proximity
to Platte county renders an undiciplined
10 the mobocra,s unsuitable.
Mr.. S'ocum, the Free State Mayor oil
Leavenworb, seeing the impossibIi,y
of restoring order resigned his Office
some time ago. "A Pio-Slavery Mayor
was elected.
The election for officers was 10 be
held throughout the Territory on Tues
day last. Al Lsaven worth. l am inform.
ed The Mayor issued proclamation for.
bidding The opening Of the poles. This
despc,io mandate excited great indigna.
lion. The Judges adjourned the cleo
llon ill Thursday and appointed i. 10 be
held Al Eas,on.
An armed force was raised in Leaven
worth, or in that vicinity, to seize the
ballot box The FREQ State men were
OF their danger and prepared
70 meet il. Spies brought the in,eili.
gense 10 LsaveDwor tha. the Free State
InsC were aiming. They then deter.
mined 10 take them by surprise and there.
fore postponed an attack un,il the even.
ing. when they expected to find the Free
State men unp,epared and to seize the
ballot box wiihou, difficulty.
At twilight! the Pro-S Slavery men made
a charge. About q dozen Free State
men stood awaiting ,hem-but there
were twenty others concealed. They
hen halted about one hundred yards
from the house. They were thirty Fl "
D. forty s,rong-,he majority on horse
back aud all VI them well armed.
Some Of the Free State men in the
house got excited and rushed out TO
sharge on the enemy. As sooG as the
Pro-Slavery men saw their force, they
about and Withdrew to some
They then placed picket Guard in
he lane ina. led 10 the house. and dis.
armed one or two Free Stale men. who
attempted 10 pass il some time after.
MIR. E. p. Brown, Keniuckian. de.
er.ninsc 10 puta stop 10 their in,erfer-
ances. With an equal number Of Free
Stale men he marched up 10 ,ha picket
guard. Both parties presented arms
Mr.. Brown told them to surrender or be
shot. They surrendered: Four OF than
were disarned, The other, friend Of one
Of The Free Stale guard. was permi.Ied
TO retain his arms.
After this exploit several of The Free
State men returned TO their homes. They
Ihough, that the Pro-Slavery men had
lei.. About two o'clock a. Mr.. Stephen
Sparks (oi Rush county. Iudiana.) was
on his way home in company with hi.
son and nephew. they we're pursued BY
a company Of fifteen mounted meu, who
ordered them to halt and surren der
They refused to DO 90. rcireated to q
lenes and prepared 10 defend themselves
The nephew, Who was on horseback,
galloped back 10 Easson and informed
Mr.. Brown Of the situation OF his friends
Mr.. Brown. with fifteen men. marched
rapidly to rescue them and arrived he.
fore they were arrested. Both parties
moved on TO cross-road, where The
Pro- Slavery men were reinforced.
They parted, but before they had gone
far several sho.s were fred into the
ranks Of the Free State company. An
engagement ensued. Volley after vol
ley was rapidly exchanged. The com.
baianis then retrea.ed 10 Two houses, .,
ridesho, distance, and KEEP. up cons ian,
fl, for eve or ten minutes. One Free
State man. with Shapes rife. lay
down behind snow bank and fred II