Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-09-17

The War in Kansas.

I The following, from the st. Louis Democrat
NAV be regarded as the free-soil account Of tn
battle of Ossawatomie, which occurred on Sat
urday morning, the Both of August:
A party of some five or six llinoisians H'
Indianians, who had gone out to Kansas to set
tie, returned to this city, yesterday morning, Oh
the steamer Polar Star, having been captured
the battle of Ossawatomie, by the forces unde
General Reid, and after being detained day o.
two in captivity, were conducted to Westport
and there placed on board the steamer, to be tn
ken out of the State of Missouri, and accompa
MED with the threat that if they ever yenturet
back to the territory of Kansas, and were caught
they should instantly be hung or shot.
Learning of the arrival OF this party, we hac
an interview with its men on board the steam
er Baltimore, on which they had taken passage
for Alton, Illinois. Their several accounts a
gree so perfectly, that we have condensed anl
embodied all their statements, that We might
present our readers with complete and reliable
narrative of the terrible conflict at OSsawato'
ME-
The town of Qssawatomie was composed OF
from thirty to forty houses, and was thriving
place before the Kansas difficulties and had
population Of about 200. 1t is situated immedl,
ately betweenthe forks Of q branch of the Usage
river and the Pottawattomie river. The dltraet-
ed state of the country had occasioned an al
most total desertion of the town by the families
living in it, and, at the time of the fight, it was
occupied by about fifty armed free State men,
and few women, and children.
At six o'clock on last Saturday morning, just
after sunrise, pro-Slavery party OF about 400
-
ance before the town, having in their command
a piece of artillery, and most OF them mounted.
They had made forced march OF thirty or forty
miles from their camp on Bull Greek. AS soon
as the Free-State men deserted the Pro-Slavery
force, they put themselves under command OF
Contains Brown and Updegraf, formerly OF o.
bio and sought shelter about three hundred
Yards distant from the town. The Pro-Slavery
force maintained their ground al about half Il
mile. and commenced firing with their cannon
loaded with grape and canister shot and sugs.
They had an advantageous position, and each
discharge of the gun raked the ambush of the
Free-State force with fearful effect One of our
informants states that he saw three OF his COM
rades fall at once still they returned as brisk
fire as they could, and succeeded in wounding
several of their enemies. After some ten or
dozen discharges from the artillery, company
of about eighty of the Pro-Slavery force dis
mounted from their horses, and having sur
rounded the place of retreat, made charge and
completed the entire 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 as not to be able to save
themselves from drowning.
One of our informants states that ne 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 entirely destroyed.
In marching to the camp on Bull Creek, the
prisoners were subject to very cruel treatment,
and two of them, one named Williams, and the
other "Dutch Charley" were taken out Of the
camp and shot by their Infatuated enemies. The
latter was hungarian and fought under Kos
suth, and since his removal to this country, had
lived in Kansas, and taken q very active part
with the Free State party. lie was present at
the battle of Black jack and after the capture
of the Pro-Slavery party, was appointed to guard
the prisoners, one OF whom was man named
Coleman This Coleman was at the battle, OF
Ossawatomie, and after the capture of the Free
State men, recognized Dutch Charley. He de-
manded that Dutch Charley be delivered up to
him. and taking him out shot HIM dead.
Frederick Brown, son of Captain Brown, was
also killed. He was one of the picket guards of
the Free State camp at Ossawatomio, and being
surprised, he was shot through the heart by u
preacher named Martin White. After being
killed, and while lying on the ground, with the
mouth relaxed and open in death: another shot
was fired down his throat.
The other side of the story is presented in the
following official account published in the Glas-
gov (Mo) Times September 4. 1t is Gated
Scamp Bull Creek, Sept. l, 1856" and signed by
Congrave Jackson and G. NJ. B. Maughas:
We write to inform our friends that we have
had an engagement with the enemy in which
we were completely victorious.
Evening before last august 800 250men were
despatched to Ossawattomie, about 80 miles from
this place. the headquarters of the notorious Capt
Brown. We made forced march, travelling all
night, and reached the place about an hour af-
ter sunrise. We had one six-pounder. The en-
envy commenced firing on US at half mile, which
is point blank range for Sharp's rifles. They
had taken cover under thick growth of under
wood, and numbered about 49,
We charged upon them, having to march 800
yards across an open prairie, against an unseen
foe, through hail storm of rifle bullets. This
was done with GOODNESS and ability unsurpass-
ed, until we got within 80 yards of them, when
we commenced CALLING fire, which, together
with some telling rounds Of grape from our can
non, soon drove them from their hiding place,
with q loss of some 30 or 80 men killed.
We lost not single man, and had only five or
six wounded. / had with me so of our men,all
of whom were in the hottest engagement, and
themselves-they being about one
third of all who were in the fight, so that we
routed them from their covert man to man.
We had three men wounded, one badly, and two
slightly. We burned their town and returned
to camp last night about 10 o'clock.
Notwithstanding this brilliant success we found
it impossible to march upon Lawrence, for want
of men and munitions of war, and have fallen
back upon Cedar Greek to wait for reinforce
ments. Will Missouri forever slumberl II this
expedition fails we have nothing to hope for -
Is it possible we are TO endure hardships and
fatigue for nothing, and our friends not make a
common cause with us2 We ought to have o.
900 men, to drive these cut-throats from this
territory, Already we have slumbered until the
last Pro-Slavery man who came here with the
promise of protection, has been murdered Or
driven away-hs house burned, and even his
children stripped Of their clothing. Every sec
ton presents awful pictures of murder and ruin
ed settlements-and those who have done all
this are now at Lawrence, about 1900 strong,
and should we leave here, this country is turned
over, irretrievably,to gang of murderers, whose
thirst for blood and plumber, will soon carry
them to our own homes.
Let our friends come by boat to Kansas City,
and thence to Lawrence is only about forty-fve
miles, which can be travelled on foot in two days.
We want foot soldiers-we have already too
many horses. Send on men Immediately or
never. Ship cannon with Them
BLACK REPUBLICANS IN BALTIMoRE.-A meet
ing of this political stripe was attempted to be
held in Baltimore on Thursday evening, but it