Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-08-30

Probably the True story about the Battles lie Kansas
We remarked yesterday in publishing the Kan
sas news, that much allowance should be made
for the source from whence it came, rs we ques-
toned its reliability. Especial correspondent Of
the Missouri Democrat, under date of Lawrence,
August II, gives what is probably the true story
of the whole matter. He says:
'sFor some time past some Of the young gentle-
men Imported into this Territory by Col. Buford,
have been gathering together, ut a camp on
Washington Greek, one of the tributaries of the
Wakarusa, and have been committing depreda-
tons upon the neighbcring corn6elds and poultry
yards of the settlers in that locality. As it was
soon seen that their intentions were not to make
claims, and become actual settlers, the people
sent over to Lawrence, distance of some twelve
miles, and asked the citizens of that town to as
sist in driving them away. A messenger was
sent to Major Sedgwick, asking him to send q
company of troops to that camp, and investigate
the matter, and if the charges of pllaging were
true, to use the troops in driving them away, and
protecting the actual settlers in their rights Ma
jor Sedgwick replied that these people were peace
able and peaceful that this time the Free State
men had been hoaxed; that it would be perfectly
safe for any Freesoiler to go into the camp at
Washington Greek.
The messenger returned to Lawrence, and on the
afternoon of the same day another messenger was
dispatched to Washington Creek, to ascertain if
possible, the truth of the statements made, 50
that the people Of Lawrence could know how to
act. MIR. Hoyt, who was selected to go. is already
known to the public as the gentleman who lost
about one hundred Sharpe's rifles at Lexington.
lie was naturally very quiet and gentlemanly in
his demeanOr, courteous to strangers, and re-
spected here by everybody, for his persevering
bravery in behalf of freedom in Kansas. He
was sent to the Washington Greek pro-slavery
camp, entirely unarmed. He was to have returned
that same night with reliable information rs to
the truth of the charges alleged against this band
of GeOrgians. lie did not come back. The next
day intelligence had reached us that he had first
been taken prisoner by them and then shot.
That same evening, the 18th inst, about one
hundred young men of Lawrence volunteered to
60 to camp of GeOrgians at Franklin, and re-
cover some OF the arms which had been stolen
during the sack of this city in May last. From
thence they intended to march to Washington
Greek, dispense the mob, and take away Mr.. Hoyt's
body and return. 1t was beautiful moonlight
night, slightly hazy. The thought of redressing
law by force or arms 10 tile truly intelligent
American citizen, is always a sad thought; but
when redress of grievances can be had in no other
way, and when the dearest rights of man are
trampled under foot, then the redress of wrongs
by arms becomes necessary but still q sad duty.
Such was the feeling of the young men who
marched along the road to Franklin. On arriv-
ing there they found that the news of their COM
ing had gone before them, and that the Georgans
were going to fight. They were gathered toge-
Their in large block house, which was barricaded
like a fort, through the chinks between the logs
of which they pointed their rifles. They were
asked at first to give up all their arms, which
they refused to do. They were supposed to num-
Der about eighty. The Free State men then drew
close up and determined to ''storm the garrison
or die in the attempt" The struggle lasted
about three hours when the Georgians surrender
ed. They came out, threw down their arms and
fed. The Free State men then took possession
of one brass cannon, fifty United States muskets,
(probably belonging to some arsenal, and few
guns taken from Lawrence during the sack of the
2lst of May last.
The Free State men had one killed and six
wounded. The Georgians report four wounded.
In consequence of their dead and wounded, the
Lawrence boys returned home instead of going to
Washington Creek as they expected.