New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-15

advantages. .,.-.,,-.,
ON Division of The Pro-Slavery army, entered the Ter
rorv from Nov Santa Re and encampcd at Bull Creek,
between the 2Orh and 2Jth of August From this
roint il was scnt In different directions, and the first
active seiyice IL rot into after coming in was al the
BATTLE or SOUTH MIDDLE CREEK.
II was rumorcd thu, they lad camp OF Gcorgans On
Sugar Creek who had been for some time making pre-
partitions by aprronting for the use OF the army any
quantity If cattle Capt. Brown and Capt Shore. with
about sixty men in all started to the Sugar Creek camp
10 see about it. When they had got as far as South
Middle creek camp they we're told by Free State
man that there was campof the enemy about mile
disrant and pointed out the direction Scouts were
sent and So suddenly did they approach that they took
the scnnels of the Missourans in nunber-pri-
soners to the Free State camp. The Free state men
were satisfied that they were yet unobserved by the
Mssouians and it was thought best to attack them on
both sides. To this end small party sent over a
raync which divided them, with instructions to FIRE
when the main body made the attack. II was ascer-
tanned from the prisoners that the Missourans number
cd about one hundred and twenty-sx, while the Free
State men numbered but sixty all told This was more
than two 10 one but there nothing else for but
atack--defense would have been worse.
About noon TUESDAY, Aug. o. the Frce-St men,
under command of Capt. Shore, charged into the
camp and demanded of them to surrender To this
they replied by firing, and a general melee eii-ued
After few minutes the Mssourians threw down their
arms aud ran-thhteen were taken prisoners and tive
killed. No injury TO the Free-State men whatever.
They took three wogon-Ioads OF stores anu about W
stand of arms some ammunition and ~ horses. The
next day they went down TO Sugar Creek the Southern
o, crra headquarters and took seventy head of cattle
supposed to have belonged to men Of all shades of
politics, but pressed into the service of the chivay Of,
Sugar Creek, for Winter Use probably
In this company taken at Middle Creek there was an
editor of paper at Fort Scott, Missouri. He was one
Of the prisoners but afsrward let 60, and IT 10
be presumed that he will feel as grateful a. old ruan
Titus did when he said after he liberated, that
Re better used i'll his life than when he was
20 pGoner.'
BATTLE OF osAwATTAMIE.
ON Friday the 18th of August q Free-State man
who had been held as prisoner at New Santa Fe, No.
for about ten days, charged with the crime of telling
the Free-State men of the movements OF the revolt
tonary army, arrived at Osawattamie very late in the
evening and told the people-thOse who were not
already abed-that the town would be attacked very
soon-perhaps that same night He advised the Free
State men not to attempt defense as there was only
forty of them, and they could never fight against six
hundred ruffians with any chance of success.
The town had been threatened for a long time, and
no defense by the Free-State anticipated,
from the fact that most of the goods had been removed
from IT, and the women and children had taken refuge
have been the spois which they sought they knowing,
through their Pro-Slavey spies resident in the place
that there was nothing worth coming for.
Osawattamie is situated on the Usage River. just
above the confluence with that stream of the Pota-
watamie Creek. The Usage River above the Pota-
waOInie is sometimes called the Meredezine, but is
known on most maps as the Usage. The town was
well located, and was the center of extensive
of Free-State as well as Pro-Slavery settlement. 1t
had several stores, shops, and a saw-mil and was
nearer to the State of Missouri than any other town in
southern Kansas.
On Saturday morning. not much after daybreak
messenger rode into town. stating that the MssOurians
were coming; that they were close at hand that Fred
Brown, a son of Capt. John Brown, had been met
the road by two scouts of the enemy and that they had
murdered him, and that if the people were going to
going to fight that they ought to leave there very
All was confusion among the Free-Stae men. No
ammunition had been prepared and except what they
had their persons and in their belts none could be
had. However they that whatever was to be
done, must be done quickly and all the men in town
to the number of 49, rallied under their Captains.
Brown and Cline, and took into the timber which lines
the banks Of the Usage to the width of at least half
mile. In the meantime the Border Rufians were
marching down the prairie in the direction Of the town.
1t must be borne in mind that the Usage runs in a
souh-eastcrly direction, and the POtawatamle Greek
in eastery direction The town is built in the
forks of these streams, and was approached by the
roSlavery forces on the west. Meanwhile, the Free
State had rallied at two points, and had fired upon
the enemy with effect. The Pro-Slavery men then
formed line of battle from which, and from the dis.
position they made of their forces evident they
did not know that they were fighting mere handful
of men. They were drawn up in order, and their line
reached from stream to stream across the prairie.
which at tire distance from the forks which they
stood, must have been three hundred perches.
They also pointed two pieces of cannon toward
the woods where the Free-Sta.e men were, but
these effected nothing. The firing was kept
up both sides with great spirit for long time, till
the Free-State men got short Of ammunition. Mean
while, company Of about fifty Of the Pro-Slavery
had been detailed to charge into the timber the
Usage side and rout the Free-State men. While those
adv ancng, party of Free-State men kept them
engaged till the others, who had ammunition could
make good their escape, by way OF private ford
which the Ruffans forgot to guard. The Rufans kept
tat
on horseback and one on foot. One of the horsemen
took TO the river the other followed and then the single
footnan. 1t was fearful time for all three, but cspe-
cially for the footman. They were attempting to swim
rapid stream covered by the gnns-some OF them
Sharp's rifes-of fifty of the Ruffans. One of the
horsemen was shot, the other escaped. The one who
was sho. was a Mr.. Partridge, brave man. The
fnomGn finding that he could not swim and carry his
rife too LET it fall into the river and escaped. His name
ia Holmes, Of New-York City, and brave fellow.
The others, is supposed, escaped by means of this
private ford. The lat time Capt. Brown seen, he
was making for this ford which, if he crossed safely
he is still alive If otherwise then he is dead because
SO obnoxious is he to them that once in their hands,
they would doubtless kill him instantly, as they have
often threatened to do
This army estimated at from 300 to COO, then
entered the town, sacked once more the already
sacked CITY, and burned every building in it to the
ground with the exception of two houses which be-
lOnged TO Pro-Savery men, and mill which they did
not 1t is evident. from the in which they
did this thing that it was done in great hurry and
DONE too under fear of being caught at it by a
larger force than their own. Indeed, 80 great was
their hurry to get away from the of their heish
work. that they forgot to take away all Of their dead
and left one man lying ia the street
These particulars were furnished me by two different
men who were in the battle and have no doubt but
that the details are even worse than reported. The
burning of the town has left many without homes or
means but the citizens persevering they
brave, and they intend again TO build up their town