The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-10-03
correspondence of the st. Louis Republican
Battle of Qssawatomie

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A number of different reports having no
doubt reached you concerning the battle of
Ossawatomie, propose to give correct
account of thsdoings of the Pro and Anti.
Slavery parties in this beautiful Territory Of
Kansas.
On Saturday, the 23rd Of August. we
left our camp at Westport, and took ND our
line of March for New Santa Ee, at which
place We arrived the same day. We found
about 400 Pro-Slavcry n,cn encamped.
On the Oath we formed a regiment, and Sc
lected Col. +. IL. koser, OF Virginia, as
temporary commander-n-ehief. On the
25th, our forces had increased to t,l5O.
rank and file. We then went into pcrna
nent organisation, and selected Atel,son as
Major General, Reid as Brigadier General,
Brown as Colonel of the lsr, aud koser Of
the "a regiment, and gave the na,uc Of our
forces "Ihe Army Of Law and Order OF
Kansas Territory On the 25,h, we took
up line Of march for Ossawa,to1nie. and
encamped that night at Cedar Creek. On
the 9th we resumed our march and en-.
camped at Bull Greek. On the evening of tile
2sth, General Reid selected $50 men and
one piece Of artillery, and moved on to
attack Ossawatomie. On the morning Of
the 18th he arrived near that place, and
was attacked by 200 Abolitionists under
the command of the notorious Captain John
Brown who commenced firing upon Reid
from thick chapparel four hundred wards
of. General Reid then formed his men
in an open prairie, and Major Bell fired up
on the Abolitionists, with the artillery load.
ed with grape. General Reid then made a
successful charge upon them, killing 81,
and took prisoners. Amongst the Killed
was Frederick Brown.
The notorious John Brown was also killed
by pro-slavery man named Width, in at
tempting to cross the Marais de Clique.
Among the prisoners taken is the son of
o. Z. Brown, OF Lawrence notoriety: he
will be humanely treated, and set at liberty
when the war Is over.
The other prisoners taken were shipped
on the Polar Star, and pledge exacted Of
them never to return again to Kansas.
The pro'slavery party had five wounded,
none believed 10 be dangerous. Captain
Boyce received wound IN the left wrist ::
Frank Gordon in the left shoulder; Jack.
son in the mouth; John Gordon in the
thigli, anu farker I'D the leg.
The pro-slavery men, Contrary to the or
ders of Gen. Ried, burnt nearly all the
houses in Ossawatomie.
They took some 40 head of cattle. a mart
of them being the same that Brown and his
party had stolen from the Georgia COLONY,
six horses, two wagons, and one carriage.
On the same day, Capt. Hays, with forty
men, attacked the house of the notorious
Ottawa Jones, burnt bis house and killed
two Abolitionists. Jones fed to the corn
field, was shot at by Hays, and is believed
to be dead.
About p. m, the 29tb, tie Abolition
'sts, Numbering about $50 men, came in
about three-qaarters of mile of our camp.
and attempted to surprise us, they no doubt
thinking that our force had been 40 much
weakened by Reid's march on Ossavatomie.
that We should retreat and leave our bso,
gage; but not 20: the drum beat and soon
every maniu the camp sss ready for. hat,Ie.
s. sing that We were, ready to- meet them. i
they fed. The most, Of the met were ip
favor OF pursuing them, but were prevent
ed from doing 90 BY Gen. Atchison: