The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-08-28

Letter from Frederick Campbell.
The following letter was written to DR..
WILLIS, Of this village, BY Frederick
CAMPBELL, late OF Rsvenna, but now of
Kansas Territory. It was not intended for
publications; but we so seldom get any reli-
able information in the newspapers from
that territory, that a, our urgent solicitation
the DR.. has consented to have il published.
Mr.. CcMPRELL is we'll known TO our citizens
and his statement may be relied on as strict
ly true. He gives sad account of things
in that distracted country. Read it.
ATcHIsox, X. T., Aug. l6, 1856.
DR.. ]. G. Willis, Dear Sir:.-I have
not written to you before, for the rea-
con that have supposed you were posted
in the political events which are transpiring
in the territory almost as soon as we are.
| had supposed until now, that all excite
ment was through wilh-l hoped so at least,
as every well wisher Of the public good and
welfare, ought to. But within few days,
facts have shown themselves which prove
that the programme is not yet completed.
For the last two weeks. body Of men
supposed to number five hundred or more,
apparently well organized,as they were uni
formed and wore letters on their hats indi-
eating their respective companies, have
been rendezvousing in Nebraska, about se-
venty miles from the mouth of the Big Blue
They are known as Lanes men (although
that rascal is supposed to be in the States at
presently and they have been passing in
small squads towards Lawrence, occupying
three or four days in doing so. Since then,
a company Of their men made a night at
tack upon the town of Franklin, first captu-
ring a man and sending him in with n flag
demanding a surrender of themselves and
arms, which was spartan like, refused. The
pro-slavery residents of the town, immedi
ateiy repaired with their wives and those
dependent upon them, to log house used
as Post Office, cut loop holes in the walls
placed table in the center Of the room tc
stand upon, and prepared themselves for {
stubborn resistance. The Tssaulting party
soon made its appearance and commenced
; the attack with Sharpe's rifles, all frin!
high, as the roof showed next day, and o
/, course in jurng no one. On the other side
} few Of the pro-slavery party mounted th
IL tho fro uifh RI
e fles, while others loaded and handed ther
e up. The practice was severe, nearly ever
II shot hit and told fast.
# The plan of attack was then changed b
n the outsiders. party going to the rear ,
the house and loading wagon with con
bustibes, set it on fire, and showed it again:
:. the building when the inmates were force
Il to discontinue the defence and surrendere,
e and gave up their arms together with Mex
a. can piece, relic OF the last war.
T. The torn tpaS then sacked, The mail -Jds
J. examined, and tie inrading party then re!i
le ed, minus strteen Chicago loafers and nun
in Der wounded, some never to recover.
To day an express came in stating that
r. Lecompton, seventy men had taken refus
le in house in the same manner as Al Franl
le lin, and were being kept in there by a pa
r. ty OF some hundreds.
had forgotten TO say that after the affa
as at Franklin, these same men went to a Sc
of tlement of Georgans, rulSed docn their ho
til ses and fences, collected their farming utensi
a. ploughS, dc, and burned them.
nv This is an unvarnished statement Of fact
S and you must draw your own conclusio
j. X X
Or ..... Yours truly,
4. F. CAMPBELL.