The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-09-20

is but an organized band of Missouri ruffians,
has gone 10 the Iowa frontier to cut oil, as 1t
is said. tie retreat of General Lane, but re-
ally to interrupt the communications OF the
Free State men in that quarter. And
large force Of United States troops has been
concentrated at Lecompton to act under the
orders of the territorial authorities in eAectu-
ally subtiuing the Free State men. To add
to the horror of the situation. every mail
brings us accounts of some new outrage upon
the Free State settlers. One steamer from
Weston which arrived at ST. Louis on the
oath uItimo. brought down one hundred men,
women and children, who had been forced to
fly from Kansas, leaving behind all their prop
erty, their only crime being that they declar-
ed that Kansas should be a Free State
Leavenworth (hc head quarters Of General
smith, was infested with the ruiiians who
had swarmed into that place from Missouri to
avence the defeat Of the pro-slavery men at
Franklin and near Lecompton, and il is here
that many of the worst excuses have been
committed, the United States troops remain
ing perfectly quiescent. A party Of these
fiends in human shape visited house within
five miles Of Leavenworth, and in the absence
Of the husband and father violated mother
and laughter, leaving them half dead 1t was
near Leavenworth that Mr.. Hops, brother
in-law Of Rev. Mr. Mute, was shot and Sca,p-
ed, and for days after, the murderer paradcd
the streets of Leavenworth, under the very
eyes Of the troops, exhibiting with fcndish
satisfaction the scalp Of his murdered victim.
When the widow of the murdered man. ac-
companed by her brother law, Mr. Mute,
went to Lawrence to recover the body of her
husband. they we're seized by the ruiiisns,
and she with others we're forced on board
steamer and sent down the Missouri Mr.
Mute was detained at the last accounts, and
We are in daily expectation of hearing that
he has been brutaly murdered; adding an
other to the list of Massachusetts, men who
have fallen victims of the ferocity Of those
minions Of slavery.
But the browning outrage Of all has been
the obstruction OF the Free State settlement
at Ossawatomic. As yet We have only the
pro slavery accounts of this affair, but they
ought to be sufficient to harrow up the feel
ings Of the most hardened apoloyist of the Dor.
der rufans. This settlement contained at the
last accounts probably not more than seventy
five souls, men, women and children, who
we're then in destitute condition, and many
Of whom were sick. a part of the number
had been burned out by the Southern runians
who have roamed over the territory during
the spring and summer. They had been gull
ty of drivin. away from their vicinasc par
tv Of these maraudcrs, and thus had drawn
down upon themselves the vengeance Of the
border ruffians. Upon this weak and defense.
less settlement gang of despcradoes, under
Captain Reed. made descent. I'VE killed
about thirty Of thcm," SAYS this ruiIian, and
coolly adds, "thc boys would burn the town to
the ground" The horrors of this scene NAV be-
imagined, but they have not been told
Whether any of :hc unhappy settlers Of Os-
sawotomic, surprised in their beds at early
dawn, escaped this fearful massacre, is not yet
known.
From Chicago and St Louis papers, we
have details Of Kansas news to the l1th.-
The Chicago Press Ucm..) says:
I'VE have the frichtful intelligence that so
free State men. women and children. were
massacred by the Rutlians at Stranger Creek
on the 81 inst. Stranger Creek is about 30
or 60 miles northwest Of Lawrence, towards
the Nebraska line. and lies upon the route
established BY the late companies of emf
grants, who passed to the Territory through
Iowa.
Strincfcllow. at the head Of 300 or 300
rufhans, was known to be p~owling along the
northern border to prevent the incress of en-
igrants and he is bloohthirSty enough to COM
no permanent settlement on Stranger Creek
of the number stated and il the massacre oc-
CURED, as reported. it is probable that the
victims were company Of settlers who were
making their way to some point eastward for
protection"
The st Louis Dfmocrat says the present
disposition Of the pro-slavery forces in Kan
sas is as follows:
"Gcn. Richardson occupies strong posi-
! ton above Lawrence. ON the north side of
Kansas river, with not less than 1000 men,
Gen. Clark is in the southeast with 400 men.
all Kansas and Cherokee Rangers. The pro.
slavery men on the south side Of the Kansas
river are with Gen. Reid, who is now en-
p'oycd in protecting our western frontier
! Capt. Brown, who was reported to have been
killed at the battle Of Ossawattomie, man.
aged to escape and reach Lawrence. lie
writes from that place as follows:
1.-THE fight at Ossawattome was desperate
Between thirty and forty Free State men a.
gainst three hundred Missourians. The
whole country is now one desperate scene of
fighting. plumber, robbery, murder and scalp
ing Of the Free State men.
Nearly 1000 Free State men are in the
field, and giving the border ruffians fight
wherever they can 6rd them, but, like all
towards, they do the work of darkness, or
only attack when they have from three to
! ten against one. They, in force from 400 to
500, fled before Gen. Lane on Saturday and
Sunday, refusing to fight, and leaving several
loads Of provisions on the field.
Last week, Wednesday, at the battle Of
Middle Creek. six miles south of Observation