The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-09-09

Particulars Of the Fight At OssoU atomic
BRUTALITY OF vlCTORS.

From the Missouri Democrat We take the
following circumstantial account Of the AZ
fair at Ossawstomie, which proves to be an
altogether different thing from what it was
6rst represented by the Rui6ans. The state
ment il made by some persons taken prison
ers by the Rufians and sent down to St.
Louis:
The town Of Ossawatomic was composed
thriving place before the Kansas difficulties,
and had population of about two hundred.
Ii is situated Immediately between the forks
Of a branch Of tho Usage river and the Pot
tawatomie river. The distracted state Of the
country had occasioned an almost total de-
sertion Of the town by the families living 10
1t, and at the time Of the fight it was occup-
ed by about fifty armed Free State men and
a few women and children.
At six O'Clock on last Saturday morning,
just after sunrise, pro-slavery party OF
about 400 men, under General Reid, made
their appearance before town, having in
their command piece of artillery, and most
Of them mounted. They had made forced
march Of thirty or forty miles from their
camp on Bull creek. A soon - the Free
State men deserted the pro-slavery force,
they put themselves under command Of Cap
tains Brown and Updegraf, formerly Of
Ohio, and sought shelter in . growth Of un-
derbrush about three hundred Yards distant
from the town. The pro- slavery force
maintained their ground at about half
mile, and commenced firing with their can
non, which was loaded with grape and can
lister shot and Sings. They had an adyan-
tageous position, and each discharge Of the
gun raked the ambush of the Free State
force with fearful effect. One Of our infor-
mants states that hc saw three Of his COM
rsdes fall at once; still they returned rs
brisk fire as they could, and succeeded in
wsunding several Of their enemies After
some ten or a dozen discharges from the ar
tillcry, . company OF about eighty Of the
pro- slavery force dismountcd from their
horses, and having surrounded the place Of
retreat made q charge and completed the en-
tire rout Of the Free State men, several Of
whom, in attempting to cross the stream
along which the fight ragged, were shot in
the water and were either instantly killed
or so badly wounded rs not to be able
to save themselves from death by drown
ing.
One of our informants states that he saw
the body Of Capt. Brown in the water. He
knew it was him by his coat and hat. He
thinks there is no doubt Of his being killed.
Seven Of the Free State men were captured,
after which the town was set on fire and en-
tir&y destroyed.
In marching back to the camp on Bull
creek, the prisoners were subjected to very
cruel treatment, and two or more of them, the
one named Williams and the other ssDutch
Charley were taken out of the camp d
shot by their Infatuated enemies. The lat
ter was Hungarian who had fought under
kossuth, and since his removal to this coun-
try had lived in Kansas and taken a very &C.
tive part with the Tree state party. He was
present at the battle of Black Jack, and af-
ter the capture of the slavery party, was
appointed to guard the prisoners, one Of
whom was q man named Coleman. This
Coleman was ut the battle OF Ossawatomie,
and after the capture OF the free state men
recognised Dutch Charley. He demanded
that Dutch Charley be delivered up to him,
and taking him out shot him dead.
Frederick Brown, son Of Capt. Brown,
was also killed. lie was one Of the picket
guards OF the free state camp at Ossawato-
mic, and being surprised, he was shot
through the heart by preacher named Mar
tin White. After being killed, and while ly.
ing on the ground, with the mouth relaxed
and open in death, another shot was fired
down his throat.
The above il the straightforward tale Of
OF this party OF men, and bears upon its
face the impress of truth.