The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-10-16
CAMP AT LEcoMrToN, II. r.,
October y, 1856.

There is little to write you this week Of
| public import. Our company is stationed
here for the present To guard LOG prisoners,
captured recently at different times and pl;l-
ces. One portion OF them, to the number
of 50, was yesterday committed to stand
trial oil the charge of "murlcr in the
first degree" These were Il part of liar
vy's men, who attacked Hickory Point, and
were III turn attacked by the L. S. troops.
Out of $50 men, 10 were on that occasion
made prisoners, some 90 having since cs-
capped by the connivancc of the Free State
troopers. They seem to bc impressed with
the idea, however, that it is useless to at
tempt an escape from our company, for al
though they arc well treated, and are nci-
ther hand-cnlled nor locked in, yet they are
guarded with the most military vigilance
l am sitting i'll the door of my marquee
on the slope of :. beautiful hill, overlooking
the building in Which these prisoners arc
incarcerascd, not one hundred yards Off In
front OF the cncampmcnt, and bearing upon
the prisoners house, is the bronze six
FOUNDER, taken with the prisoners. This
old piece is one of the battery captured at
Sacramento by Doniphan's Regiment, and
brought FROM Mexico by them. 1t was
subsequently presented to the Franklin Com
l'rny in this County, and is the same piece
that was taken by the Abolitionists in their
| night attack upon Franklin some six weeks
ago. Its caisson is pretty well provided
with lead and type-mctal balls, and cans-
tcrs filled with sluSS. Something like a
hundred SIarp's Rifles, muskcts and car
blnes are lying in the marquee.
Harry, with small part of lis forces.
made his escape, and las not since been
heard from. 1t is pretty certain that he
and Lane have left the Territory. Capt.
Walker WIS here Yesterday, under the Gov
ernor's protection. He WAS arrested Lv thc
Marsi'ais deputy, AMI afterwards released
by the Governor ! do not think that the
Executive can claim such II high prcroca-
tive, although, do not know but that it is
the best policy to frightcn Walker away,
| instead OF arrcstinS linn. lie remarked to
Col. Titus yesterday, that he had no further
interest i'll this Territory. and that he in
tended 10 leave Immediately. lie is il brave
man ami Il noble enemy, ;.nl active as he
! has been in the Free State cause, he has
ever Sc: his face stcrnly against their pre-
vailing mode of wariare-horsc-stealin and
| house-burning.
Jn ige Cato Is still engaged in the inves-
tigation uf these eases, and it is probable
that nearly all will be committed, as our
prosecuting attorney is a legal giant WHO
| sweeps all before him. do not think any
will be admitted to bail, as the laws Of the
| Territory declare such cases not bailabIe.-
Their trial will come of in three weeks.
Winter is coming on already here. We
had three or four very heavy frosts Il week
ago, and plenty of ice has been seen; not
wlthstandng, the people arc i'll prepared for
the season. Comparatively few buildings
were put up this summer, on account Of the
ieeoie tenure on property OF that KIND, and
| all that We're built are mere thin summer
houses. The young crops have been de-
stroyed throughout the country, horses and
cattle stolen, Tor rather "l'ressed,') mer-
chants broken up, credit lost and creditors
swindled, and the better portion Of the pop
ulation fast dcscrting the country, leaving
behind a swarm of vampires who batten
upon the ruin Of the fair young land. These
are the dire consequences of the first blush
of war. This state Of affairs looked for
ward to before l left nome, and yet dclib-
eratcly came to meet it. Much worse than
this, fear, will visit the Territory, and vet
l say the time is not ut hand for the South
to draw off her hosts. Let her rally on
the little band of patriots who are sacrificing
their all in the contest, and one more strue-
gle-stern, vigorous, destructive-and the
contest is ended-the victory won.
Sincerely yours,
imp.