The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-11-22

ton he was required to surrender.
y conference was accordingly held
between the leaders of the two parties,
when Col Harvey stated that he only
required the company in the houses to
disperse-that they take down the
Black Flag displayed upon one of the
buildings, and that he, the Captain of
the company, pledge himself not to or
ganize again, or disturb the citizens of
that place. This requirement was at
once complied with After the stipu-
lations to this effect were drawn up and
signed, bothparties separated, Col. Har-
vey's company starting Immediately for
Lawrence. They encamped eight miles
from the spot where the engagement
took place. Some Of the company,
however, with Dr. Gutter, kept on their
way.
About two o'clock. the whole COM
pany were aroused. an alarm being
given by the guard that the Q. S. sol
diers were near. 1t was too late, how
ever, for them to make their escape,
and they were all taken without resis-
tance, as prisoners, to Lecompton.
Many false reports have been circu-
lated by both parties, concerning this
occurrence. 1t is always natural to
heap blame on the unfortunate, whether
the fault is theirs or those to whom they
attribute it, as is exempliied in this
case. Lane and his friends blame Har-
vey because his company were taken
prisoners. alleging as reason that he
disobeyed orders; that he was COM
manded, in the despatch, to go by the
way of Topeka and that if he had
obeyed this order, everything would
have worked successfully; but the facts
are: he left it optional with Harvey to
take which route he should choose, pro-
vided he could find his way. The truth
is, the blame, if attributable to any one,
should rest on Lane Instead of being
where he promised, he left the field al
together, and Harvey, instead Of re-
ceiving the assistance he had reason to
expect, was compelled to do the best he
could without it. Lane may have had
good reasons for the course he pursued,
but because unforeseen circumstances
compelled him to Illustrate the plans
which he had laid out for another, he
ought, or rather his friends ought, to
remain silent. else attribute the blame
to whom it belongs. If Lane had re-
mained, and acted with Harvey in the
engagement, all would have terminal
ed successfully; then, Harvey would not
have been censured, but, on the con-
trary, would have been lauded for his
promptness and efficiency His enc
mics, fearful the charge we have Just
noticed will not prove strong enough to
condemn him, represent his men with
being so drunk that they disregarded
that prudence which was necessary,
stationing no guard, dc. Now the
only recruitment we have to make to this
charge, is the fact that Col. Harvey
took this task upon himself, because
the men were so extremely fatigued.
He saw the impossibility of their escap-
ing, when the troops approached, and
seeing an opportunity for himself, i'm
proved it.
1t is not probable that the company
would have been found, had DIR. Cut
ter obeyed the wishes of Col Harvey,
and remained with the rest until morn
ing. He was first discovered, and
from him it was discovered where the
general encampment was.
/ submit the above as an accurate
report of the facts as they occurred
Yours, respectfully,
CuTC,co