New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-16
RATTLE OF OSAWATTAMIE.

From ne Ereniag Posf, Sep ID
The following is letter addressed by one o, !he
residents of Osawattamie in Kansas, after the sackhS
of that place, to his father and mother IN tns cry.
We retain the of the writer a. he u wen hn"n
to many here. and his signature VIII give au'nen'o"!
and credit 10 his narrative: . . ,o-c
"OsAwATTANIE, Sept. =, 1896.
"DrAR PARENTS: Our mail has been intercepted ny
the Mssourians for more than three weeks, 80 NM
Las been impossible send out any letters "ha'eVer'
Only once in that time have We received any niau,
which was on the evening OF FRIDAY Ms. at, ~ rio
iue time the carrier brought the news that large
iorce / 800 had gone from Missouri toward Law
renee and that two three companies were sun upon
the border intending, he supposed 10 aIoeh US
Next morning, before breakfast insseIr III h ,o
own stating ore OF men had been Killed ny 'le
sceUta Our little force not exceeding orty' was '-
mddately rallied. The companies from Lawrence VINO
bao been with u.s. and the Potawatamie men and some
of orr own had gone home having been on extra duy
and no in media te danger was apprehendedaict uic
partv ON Middle Creek had been routed :, .
1.-THE enemy formed i'll line of battle within sgnt "i
tbe town and as they approached we took our position
in the bush skirting the Usage Creek, WIN .h'an
ford in our rear and the occupied portion OF the Town
pnrtlv ia front of As the enemy adv anced ih'y
made a quarter turn and came upon the road' 'leir
right wing extending to the town.
1--WE immedatey commenced firing upon them, ana
at he second vocy they broke but soon rallied aud
dismounting returned to the combat. Presently
cannon shot was heard, and at the next moment inc
grape came rafting through the bush.
I'm the mean time, detachment was sent to turn
our right Aank-then came another shot from their
cannon and another, and another, without effect
Then they began to charge upon us ana Whei thcy
pushed VA toe close, men retired 10 the fora III our
rear In the mean time the thanking party maj r'ichcu
q noint unite near the ford, and poured continual hre
mou it, Three of us seeing this, plunged III below ana
swan over they firing at us the whole time. shoud
Judge six or eight bullets struck the water near my
head Through Nc good providence oi God escaped
unscatbed but had let my rifle sink. Others OF our
patty retreated down the river, ana crossea ne o"c'
edge If the town. II,
AS fast as we crossed We sccreed ourselves in the
bush thinking they would pursue us and scour the
woods. Most of us lay hid all day. The enemy, as
soon a, they had plundered and burned our town,
including both stores all the mail that had arrived
the night before three bags full, went by the way
they CANE leaving IA IN "a most dcplorable s'tua-
ton. Many have lost everything they had except
ing the clothes they wore. We also without pro-
visions and know not how to get any. AS yet we
get no news from Lawrence Provldentialy our
hall Fremont Hail. escaped their destructive hands,
and my little all saved. Our loss Is hvc
wounded and two or three missing. we lear 'hey
have been killed in the water and sunk. One man
was found to-day shot i'll that way They also took
one man and boy prisoners Their less Is estimated
by some at eighty-by most ae about twenty.
'"Ibey stated their whole number to be fUi and 3!0
were counted on their return. satisfied they lost
more men than Reports are current that they are
intending to upon again Tomorrow. What II
means | cannot tell. We are in no condition to repcl
II had prepared a letter the day before the battle,
and given Il TO man to take to Lawrence, but he was
killed by the ehemys scouts, aud suppose they have
the letter.
..This expect to send by family who leave to.
morrow with an Indian. Goodbye. Henceiorth
belong TO the Kansas army lour aSctqnate SON
"P. ST. received a letter from sister by last
mail and found the fragments of another in the road,
after the battle with the signatures of father and
mother, and some OF sisters handwriting. ID. d..