Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-09-24
LETTER FROM KANSAS.


fian .fdroeafc and Journal. Its author the
Rev. Mr.. Dennis is member of the Missou-
ri Conference Of the Methodist E. Church,
and presiding Elder of district in kansas.l
Mr.. EpIroR.-Believing that many of your
readers are anxious to hear how matters move
with MS at present, and feeling an equal ankle
ty TO communicate any fact, that would con-
tribute to our aid, under the peculiar circum
stances that now surround us, send you the
following.
Public prints have been teeming with news
about the wars in Kansas, ever since last No
vember; a portion OF the time it has been
truth but part of the time there have been
many exaggerated reports. But am sorry to
inform you that now have war in good ear
nest on these beautiful plains. For more than
two weeks everything has been in almost per-
feet commotion, and on every tongue, and in
every circle, we can hear nothing but war
war war!
Ever since last May many Of the GEORGIA
Regulators and "Border Ruffians,'' have
been congregating in different portions of the
| territory, building tortfcations, fixing places
of deposit for provisions, arms, and ammGni-
tion, and otherwise exhibiting indications of
war, or campaign of some sort. These things
continued to the llth inst, to great extent,
unnoticed by the opposite party. But before
that time, many of our friends had suffered
| from the persons in these Notifications, in va
rious ways. Horse stealing, house burning,
| and marauding of every kind, and occasional
| ly the murder Of some of our citizens. Eve
| ry means that could be, had been used, of a
/ pacific character, until it was almost the unan-
4 imous declaration that ssthese places must be
broken up.o There were some, however, that
still entertained doubts as to the real charac-
ter and design of these depots, &c.
Accordingly on the 10th inst, Major Hoyt
visited one of these deus. y prisoner that
was then among them, informs Us that he was
kindly received, and conducted through the
several apartments, and was soon missing
The next day he was found by some of our
men not far from the fort, buried in 4 shallow
grave, in some brush. Some wagon tracks
were followed from tho grave TO house not
distant. The man of the house was closely
interrogated; for time he plead ignorance,
but finally confessed that they had killed him
|
This greatly enraged many of the settlers,
and they determined to break up every one OF
these places they could find. On the 18th,
18th, and 10th inst, three of these fortifca-
tions were stormed, and they all proved to be
what they had been represented, and even
worse. There were two of our men killed one
at the first, and one at the iast how many or
the opposite side L cannot tell; 1 only heard
of two. Since that time the border counties
of Missouri have been in perfect commotion
and threats of the most savage nature have
been made. Companies have come into the
territory, stolen horses, pressed our men int
their service, and frightened aad alarmed oul
families.
If could stop with the above outrages
greatly would l rejoice but it is my painful
duty to announce most wretched, deliberate
cool-booded murder, that took place tn.
18th inst. = gentleman by the name Of Hops
who had just arrived in the territory, and ba,
taken no part in the troubles in any way, va
taking buggy home in which he had brough
his wife from the river to his brother-in-law' S
near this place. In that unarmed, unsuspect
ing, and unpreparcd condition, he WAS met by
a by the name of Fuget, who had just be
that he would s'takc scalp before night
He asked Mr.. II. but question or two, an,
then shot him through the temple, took off hi
scalp, partially concealed the body, and mad
his escape to Leeyenworth, where he exhibi
ted the bloody scalp evidence of his brave
ry. This scene was witnessed by = lady an
some children. y few minutes after, some c
: the government teams came along, and the Ia
dy conducted the wagon-master 70 the bleed
ing body, the pulse still beating. l make n
, reflections; leave ycur readers to their owu
Another man was killed few days after tn
above, by the name of Jennison, but as l hav
not the facts fully. feel some unwillngnes
j, to give flying reports. Bat one thing is evi
dent, his only crime was going after a load c
lumber, at Kansas City, and he was murdere
, at West Port, Mo-, he came back.
Several of our men are now prisoners, an
others, as have intimatcd, have been presse
into their service. And one of our preacher:
Brother Stines told me that he was quite cor
: fdent that many as two hundred horses ha
been stolen in and near the neighborhood wher
!, he lived. Brother Shines reached here thi
morning. just before daylight, having trave
led all night, and he and nine others hav
a gone to see the Governor, to pray for some a!
sistance in some way; but We cannot look fC
much relief from that direction.
: Northern men have been arriving al the rat
n of more than one hundred day. for the la
e four days. Every man in the territory, on IL
Si1 Of (zal ~