Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-02-07
RENEWAL OF CIVIL WAR
IN KANSAS,
! Battle Fought in defence of tie Balio..soz.
LAWRENCE IN Arms.
THE coUNrRY PREPARING TO FIGHT.


LAWRENCE, X. T., Jan. 90, 10 A. NJ.
Thsre is a eiuiI irar in Kansas. An engage.
ment was fought Of Easion, a village twelve
miles northeast Of Leaven worth, by moon
light, about two O'Clock Friday morning. II
lasted about twenty minutes. Several of The
border men were wounded and two Of them
were expected 10 die every moment. One
Ftee.Slale mana son Of Mr.. Spsrks-was
slightly wounded in the forehead and arm,
but not disabled.
This important news was brought here about
midnight by as2ecial messenger from Leavsn-
worth, from whom | received The subjoined
account of the ot;ein Of the difficulty and the
particulars OF the engagement:
After returning from Lawrence without ac-
comp!ishing their openly avowed detennina-
ton Of ex,erminaiihg the Northern emigranis
and Free Stale squatteIs, they avenged them
selves by destroying the ballot box al Leaven-
worth, aud throwing the press OF the Terrific.
riai Register into The Missouri River. They
threatened, also, 10 lynch several OF the Free
Stale men, and hang tao obnoxious individu.
els, MT. WaueH, a member OF the Kansas Le-
gion, and another person whom they call The
odd correspondent ofthe Missouri Demo
Since that line fufianism nas fp,sdLsas
enworth. Her Free State men there are I'M
aImed, aud without sn experienced leader,
while their.proximity'to Platte County renders
an undisciplined opposition 10 The mobocrats
unavsilable.
Mr.. Siocum, the Free-State Mayor Of Leav.
enworth, seeing the impossibility Of restoring
order, resigned his Office some time ago. A
. o-slavery Mayor was elected.
The election for State officers was 10 be held
throughout The Territory on Tuesday last. Al
Lesvenworih, | an informed the Mayor issued
a proclamation %forbidding the opening Of the
polls. This despoiic mandate exriied great
Indignation. The judges adjourned the cleo
tion til Thursday, and appointed j: 10 be held
at Ess;on.
An armed force was raised at LeaVenworth,
or in that vicinity, 10 seize the ballot. box
The Free Stale men were informed OF their
danger md prepared 10 meeti il. Spies brought
The intelligence TO Leayenworth thatthe Free
Stale meR were aTming. They then deter
mined 10 take them By surprise, and therefore
postponed the attack until the evening, when
they expected to find the Free State men un-
prepared and 10 seize the ballot-box Without
any difficulty.
At twilight The Pro.saveTy men made 9
charge. About-a dozen Free.Staie men stood
awaiting them. bat there uere twenty oilers
concealed. They then halted 0: about one
hundred yards from the house. They were
thirty. Eve or forty strong, the majority on
horseback, and oil OF them well armed.
Some OF The Frce-Siaie men in tie house
got excited and rushed out 10 charge on the
enemy. As soon as the Pro. slavery men saw
their force, they wheeled about and withdrew
10 some distance.
They then placed q picket guard in the lane
that led to the house, and disarmed Que or
two Free. State mea who attempted 10 pass il
SOME time after.
Mr.. +. p. Brown, q Kentuckian, determined
10 put a stop TO their inteffere0ces. With an
equal number OF Free State men he marched
up to the picket guard. Both parties pfesen.
ted arms. MI. Brown told them to surrender
or be shot They surrendered! Four o fthem
were disafmed; the other, q friend Of one OF
the Free Stale guard, was permitted TO retain
bis arms.
After this exploit several OF the Free. Slate
men returned TO their homes. They thought
that The Pro-slavery men had let. About
two O'Clock, as NJ. Stephen Sparks OF Rush
County, Indiana, was on his wsy home in
company with his son and nephew, they were
pursued by a company Of fifteen mounted
men, who ordered them to halt and surrender.
They refused 10 do 50, relreated 10 a fence and
prepared 10 defend themselves. The nephew,
who was on horseback, galloped back TO Eas.
Ton and informed Mr.. Brown of,the situation
OF his friends. Mr.. Blown, with fifteen men,
marched rapidly TO rescue them, and arrived
before they were arrested. Both PARTIES moved
on 10 o cross road were TIE Pro-slasery mel
weIe reinforced.
They parted, but before they had gone fa
several shots were fred into the ranks of the
Frees State company. An engagement ensued
Volley after volley was rapidly changed
The combalonts then reireated 10 two hopses
at rife. shot distance, and kept up o consian
FIRE for FIVE OF ten minutes. One Free->tat,
man, With q Snaps rife lay down behind
snow bank and fred at every man OF the op
posite party who dared 10 show himself. Tn
firing was kept up until both parties were cx
hausled, when the Free State men Withdrew
10 Esston. The ballot box. In the meantime
had been secuted and carried out OF town b.
one Of the voters.
On the following morning, as Mr.. Brow
was returning alone 10 Leavenaorth, he wa
oyerpowefed by on armed force and arrested
Mr.. Minard, another Free-State man, who ha
also made himself obnoxious by his conduc
on the previous evening, was arrested durin
the fore. noon. The Pro slavery men amour
ced their determination 20 hang both Of iher
as soon as Two men Of their own compan,
WHO are MORALLY wounded, should die.
RlGers were dispatched to every part Of III
Territory to announce the danger Of the priS
!, oners, and obtain forces to rescue them.
The messenger arrived here at midnight
A Council Of Safety was held Immediately, an
horsemen were dispatched in every direc,io
10 collect forces for the defense Of the Free
State men OF LeavenNorth, who are threaten
ed with destruction.
The weather is very cold, and an icy win
is whistling through the streets; but blood
| at fever heat, and every one is anxious
, march without delay to The theater Of war;
The spirit-siirriDg drum is sounding outside
> men With rifles on their shoulders are marcI
s ing 10 the appointed places Of rendeEvou
e while the ladies Of Lawrence are melting lea
and making cartridges. In haste, J. r.
II STILL LATER.