Squatter sovereign., 1856-09-02
Fall Particulars Of the Attack on Col.
Titus House.
From the Lecompton Union.

We are called upon 10 announce one OF
the most damning outrages that has hardly
ever before disgraced the history of any
civilized community, and In doing so we
feel that we cannot set the facts before the
world in the proper colors In which they
should be painted. None but an eve
witness can properly appreciate the true
state OF the case. After the attack upon
the town OF Franklin. by about 250 men,
in which there were only some IA Of the
law-and-oreer men, and the saeking OF
that town by the outlaws, they Immediately
proceeded TO Capt. Treadwell's camp
which party has bren peaceahly encamped
for some time near the Wakarusa, being
destitute of houses. Learning OF their per-
iIous situation, party from this vicinity
Immediately formed and started to their
relief. but had not proceeded but few
miles before they found themselves entire
ly surrounded by an overwhelming force,
some 400 strong. the small party. con-
sisting Of IS men, seeing their perilous
situation, put spurs to their horses and re-
solved to escape if possible. Trey re-
turned tie fire of their enemies, who had
already commenced firing at them. and by
cape with one man wounded aud one ta-
ken prisoner, and also the loss of several
horses. This band of outlaws. it seems
had driven Capt. Treadwell off and wheth-
er be. lost any men or not We have not
been able 20 ascertain.
About daylight the next morning the
outlaws numbering some five hundred
strong, attacked Col. Titus private resi-
dence, which was defended by ten men,
some of them his neigbors, who had volun-
ieered to guard his house as the outlaws
had made repeated threats against it
Ali the inrn.tes were asleep ut the time
and were soon aroused from their slurn-
bers by the alarm being given that they
were surrounded. which fact proved 10 be
true. y private dwelling vas surrounded
by about five hundred dcsperadoes, armed
with Sharp's rifles and one piece of cam
non! They commenced tue attack upon
the house with their small arms but found
that the sn.alI band inside made a very
heroic defence, and that their men were
biting the dust too fast, they then csm.
menced n cannonade and battered the
walls Of the house. In the defence of the
house Col. Titus and W. NJ. Hoesev were
severely wounded and disabled so that
they could no longer fight. and German
by the name OF Becker, was instantly kill
ed, being shot through the head. Finding
that they could not drive the men from
the house with neither rife or cannon, the
command was given to bring load ofhay
and fire the house. whereupon those in |
side surrendered. Then commenced the |
work Of plumber and robbery. We under /
stand that the poor German who was cold /
In death had his pockets rifled Of some
eighty dollars; trunks were broken open
and everything IN them of aky value ap-
proprIated to tiieIr own use, beds aud bed
clothing and wearing apparel OF every
description, Col. rs buggy and all his
horses were taken. They even went So
far as to carry OF Mrs. Titus bonnets,
dresses. daguerreotypes, which were re-
garded as sacred inementoes, and indeed
everything. including carpet ba. con-
tainIng fifteen hundred dollars in gold,
stripping Col I. of his watch and cullin.r
his boots up III tier search for money!
Alter thus sacklng and robbing the house
and tearing up the floors in their search
for Mrs. Titus. they applied the lighted
torch and marched away with their pris-
oners, leaving everything belonging TO the
Colonel which they could not carry away
in smoutdering ruins. His loss is es,i-
mated at between 5000 and $4,000.
Mai. Scdgaick, oil the United States
army, and his command were within
mile and half OF Col. Titus house. at the
time OF attack, hut the outlaws had posted
sensinels between their own forces and
the United States troops, IN order to watch
Maj. Sedgwiek's movements.
The desperadoes even went so far as
to rob the negroes belonging to Col Titus
Of every thing they possessed. such as
wearing apparel, &C.. &C., and yel these
are the men who profess SO much love for
the negro. They do not care aught for
the negro. it is merely for the sake of
murder and robbery iAat these men come
into the Territory-w what they can steal is
their pay and they are determined 10 carry
out this principle to the very utmost extent
OF their ability. Some Of them told Col |
T's negroes that they were free, and one
of them tried to get his servant girl 10 go
with him, bat she refused.
Among the prisoners taken by the out |
laws were CoJ. Ii. T. Titus, wounded Sc
verely, in three different places, one bail |
taking effect in the right shoulder, and |
lodging under the shoulder blade. one ball
carrying away portion of the right thumb,
and another wound in one of the fingers
on the rghthand, nearly seyering each.
VIM. G.. Wimberly, w. F. Donaldson,
David Kendall, the. messenger from the
Governor % the Z. S. troops. two Messrs.
Bradford. ". Fl. Cloves, taken that night.
previons 1be fight at Col. Titus. NJ. NJ.
Holsey. wounded, A. D. Clifton and sew
eral others whose names we have not
learned. in all nineteen.
Two of the outlaws were killed outright
in the attack and one Of their number, the /
captain of the company who led the charge, |
mas wounded and died before reaching
Lawrence, one or two others have since
died and seven more were wounded and