Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-09-12


by his incompetence he rendere
himself so obnoxious that we mt
tinted and he concluded to abdicai
in favor of our leader, but continu
ed with us as one of the party, an
at times, as little men generall
do, he contrived to make himsel
very busy and disagreeable. Will
we were staying at TOBIAS the DI
had occasion to be away from u
one or two nights, so a sham attacI
was planned and carried into execu
ton for our ex-treasurer's benefit
Some ofthe boys posted themselve
behind some logs near by whil
others were placed in cornfeld il
our rear, aud about midnight com
menced firing. The guards dis
charged their rifles and rushed in t
arouse the camp, making all the con
fusion that was possible Som,
were running one way, some anoth
er; one would discover the enemy
on one side Of the camp and call al
hands to pursue while another woulC
chase his friends around the tent.
aud clash knives and fire pistols
shouting, yelling and groaning like
so many Indians. All the while
our qnondam treasurer was having
a terrible time trying to get his arms
in order, calling on this one and that
one to assist every one was willing
to help him, but all wished to have
a lantern so that they could see what
they were about, but this he would
by no means permit : go away
with that light, go away, | tell you
they will see right in here and shoot
me, " said he as one after another
would oificiously come into his tent
to assist him. At last the fight be.
ing pretty much over he lent his RI
fle and seized a lantern to look after
the wounded and dying. He had
hardly gone ten PAGES from the tent
when one Of our boys discovered
an enemy and gave chase, shouting
to the rest to STOP him By acci.
dent the supposed enemy ran direct
ly towards our terrified friend, at
which he took to his heels, think
ing he had had a wonderful escape
from Missouri bowieknives and pis-
tolls. The next day he was exceed
ingly anxious to have the train guar
ded, momentarlly expecting an at.
tack, He never suspected the gen.
uineness Of the fight, but sent home
for publication a detailed account Of
1t. AT Nebraska City it was propos-
ed to him that he should return to
the east as a bearer Of dispatches,
to which he eagerly consented. He
was then provided with papers bear
ing huge seals and an abundance Of
tape. A true account Of the ina,,
and his adventures was sent homo
by him, which we suppose he will
not trouble himself to have publish
ed.
At Nebraska City we crossed the
Missouri and met with many Of Col.
Lanes men who were encamped
within about a dozen miles, the next
day we joining them. The whole
party, then numbering four hundred
men with fGty-four wagons, backs
mp the camp, and pushes on under
the direction of Col. Dickey of To
peka for Kansas. Three days out
of Nebraska the organization was
thrown up and Col. Dickey and
DR.. Gutter were elected to conduct
the train into Kansas. We passed
through Nebraska Territory without
trouble aud entered Kansas without
When we had got about
five or seven miles from the line,
our train halted and we proceeded
to locate a town in one of the most
beautiful prairie countries that | have
ever seen-good land, good water,
plenty of wood, showing indica-
irons of coal and iron in the vicini-
~, are among the recommendations
which this town site commands. =
We left about sixty persons and
the town Plymouth About
twenty miles further on another col
ony was formed by Mr. Stowell and
a party of Massachusetts boys, some
forty in number, and still another
town was formed twenty-five or
thirty miles further on by a number
Of persons from Illinois. They To-
Gated upon Straight Creek, These
towns being started we hastened on
to Topeka. We arrived at about 5
p. M. and hardly cooked our sup
pers when word came that the town
of Lawrence had been attacked and
that it was necessary for us TO has
ten to their relief. Every man in
our company volunteered immedi-
alely. A few were appointed to
stay with the train. The light
were unloaded, horses hitch
ed on, and we without supper after
a hard days work started ON TWEEN
ty-fve miles drive. On our way
we ascertained that the Lawrence
boys had made an attack upon the
pro-slavery town of Franklin, and
had been successful in capturing a
cannon and routing a nest Of ruff
fans. The Free State men were
encamped about ten miles from
Lawrence, so we turned off and en-
tered their camp about midnight
They were awaiting our arrival in
order TO "wipe out" another of the
rufIian log forts. Some OF the pro-
men in this fort, had a day or