The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-09-13

THE TRUTH ATsLAST.


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Real Character 81 that Georgia ,Cslsay q ossa-
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Especial Correspondence Of the Chicsgo Tribune.l
MEssRs EDIroRs: -As the Missouri bor-
der papers have published incorrect and dis
torted rep rts Of the commencement of the
present difficulties in Kansas, and especially
OF the affair at Ossaw0tamie, which they call
the burning Of . Georgia Colony" ] send
you the following account Of the transac-
rion: as,.9 sss~aF r. sA@a =
About the middle Of July bandof young
Southerners said to be from Georgia, enter
ed the Territory from the ne,ghborhood of
Westport, Mo-, and pitched their camp near
Battersvillc, on the Wea Reserve. Subse-
quently they moved from that FIRST town to-
wards little Sugar Creek, encamplng some
eight miles below Ossawotamie. When they
first came they said they were going to build
town; but they appeared to have neither
the necessary means nor inclination for any
permanent location or improvement. They
brought with them a liberal supply of liquor
of all kinds, which they made pretense of
selling although, with the exception of what
they drank themselves, and what they gave
to the Miami Indians, in or er to secure a
treaty, by which the later was to give them
said and comfort" there was little or none
disposed of. During the first week of their
| sojourn they made no attempt at building
anything, living in tents. Subsequently they
commenced the erection of a log fort. This
was built of cottonwood and other logs laid
up rough, and some nine feet high. Itrhad a
tent roof. In this they kept their liquor and
their stores, the latter consisting Of ammuni-
ton, -four, bacon, &c. immediately on their
arrival in that locality, they Instituted a
strict supervision of all the travel on the ad-
joining roads. stopping all who were rot
Sound on the Goose" and robbng several
travellers horses being chief object with
them, although they did not object to taking
other articles when they came across them.
They also. visited the houses of several set
tiers, and by ms lit and intimidation, exert
ed feeling of uneasiness and insecurity in
the whole Of that district. The people of
t'ssawatomie were also afraid that their town
| would be again visited and plundered, or de-
stroyed. Mr.. P. Z. Brown of that place, one
of its most respectable and conservative citi-
zens, went up to Lawrence twice to Try and
get som" men to go down to guard Ossawa-
| tonne against them.
Matters had gone on in this way, these
men committing depredatlons of some kind
every day, when they took prisoner Rev.
Mr.. Steward, who lives ON the Wakerusa,
and who had been going in that direction to
preach. Besides stealing his horse, they, af-
ter ascertaining he was Free State man, in
suited him, and threatened to have him tried
and punished in the morning. Not being
| very sure as to the treatment he might re-
ceive, and as they had left him in charge of
| four Miami Indians, who were drunk, he
| contrived to escape that night, and on his
return used his influence, as did Others to
have stop put 10 an evil which appeared to
| grow d,ily more uncomfortable.
There was a quiet and rather hurried mus
tering of the forces around Lawrence, the
Waukarusa, and Prairie City, and the fray
ments of four or five companies vent toward
Ossawottomie. "esa . '9Ssa q
Altogether the force thus. volunteering
numbered little over ninety men. $685.
When they had arrived within ten miles
of the enemy's camp, they halted and sent
out several persons to reconnoitre.
The Georgians were also busy, having
| heard OF the expedition, doubtless through
spies, as soon as it was undertaken. -,
The Free State men learned that there was
about one hundred and sixty men in the
camp below, and thy prepared to attack
them that night.
In the mean time the, Georgians panic
struc, concluded to abandon their pos ton.
They belived that the Free State force num-
bered nearly three hundred, and their own
scouts, being terrified by their fears, over
estimated them,
They made hurr ed departure in the
evening, carrying with them all,they could
take in two wagons leaving broken down
United States wagon, that they had some
how got possession of, and some liquor and
other articles in their fort
1t was more than an hour after dark when
the Free State men left thcirlcamp on that
night expedition. They were ignorant of the
removal of the enemy, aid supposed that
they would have to fight at least one hun
hundred and sixty men.
1t was cloudy night, and the ten miles
march was rather fatiguing.
The camp of the Georgians stood on the
edge of little prairie, close to q creek or
ravine where they had been encamped. As
the Free State men silently advanced, / was
still about the fort.
They approached in two parties, one of
them going by the ravne close to the tim
Der, the other advancing on the prairie side
The design was to place the fort under
cross fire. dsAE1 ED8 IT z ! COO
The men being posted within forty yards
Of the fort, halted, while the officers ap-
preached to demand a surrender, or see what
was the cause of the silence. 'aa aess =
1t was then ascertained that the fort had
been abandoned ---------
Although the night was dark and disagree
able, searchSwas made for them, and from
some settlers living a. few miles off, it was
|ascertained that they hal fed towards the
state Of Missouri, part of them having gone
by Battiesviile, and part by the Miami Mis-
sion. ,...-ESIa1 0Gf s&ul4GA HE.3lt.
Next morning it was found that nothing
further could be done. Rain set in, and as
it was disagreeable, the Free Sta'e men re-
turned home. IS asr aaa.rsa.ss.s Ser.
Before doing so, I believe that one of the
company set fire to the fort and it was de-
stroyed..s SO ssa s.~ - ~ 5s's5r.i
Such is an exact account Of, this enter
prise, and believe it will resemble several
others that have since occurred in the Terri
tory.
The Free State settlers of Kansas have
suffered so much that they have made up
their minds that they will suffer no more !;
so you may hear of further occurrences Of
the same kind wherever these Pro-Slavery
men or the Missourians provoke it. Z -
The Missourians threaten to invade the
Territory again. If they do, they will be