The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-28
NO. 5O4.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM KANSAS.

The following correspondence of the Missouri
Democrat, which is fully confirmed by other
accounts, gives the origin of the attack by the
Free State men on the Border Ruffian camps
at Franklin and Washington Creek, and fully
justi6es the conduct of the assailants:
DAsTARDLY MURDER AVENGED.
Special Correspondence of the Missouri Democrat
LAWRENCE, K. T., Aug. Ia, 1856.
For some time past, some of the young gen.
tlemen imported into this Territory by Colonel
Buford have been gathering together at camp
on Washington Greek, one of the tributaries of
the Wakarusa, and have been committing dep
relations upon the neighboring cornfelds and
poultry yards of the settlers in that locality
As it was soon seen that their intentions were
not to make claims and become actual settlers
the people there began to object to this order
Fittings.
At length, the people sent over to Lawrence,
distance Of some twelve miles, and asked the
citizens Of that town to assist in driving them
away. messenger was sent to Major Sedg.
wick, asking him to send company of troops
10 that camp and investigate the matter, and, if
the charges of pilaging were true, to use the
troops in driving them away, and protecting
the actual settlers in their rights. Major Sedg-
wick replied, that these people were peaceable
and peaceful; that this time the Free State
men had been hoaxed; that it would be per-
fectly safe for any Free-Soiler to go into the
camp at Washington Creek.
The messenger returned to Lawrence, and
on the afternoon of the same day another mes
senger was dispatched to Washington Creek,
to ascertain, if possible, the truth of the state
ments made, so that the people of Lawrence
would know how to act. Mr.. Hoyt, who was
selected to 60, is already known to the public
as the gentleman who lost about one hundred
Shapes rifles at Lexington. He was naturally
very quiet and gentlemanly in his demeanor,
courteous to strangers, and respected here by
everybody for his persevering bravery in behalf
of Freedom in Kansas. He was sent to the
Washington Creek Pro Slavery camp entirely
unarmed. He was to have returned that same
night, with reliable information as to the truth
of the charges alleged against this band of
Georgians. He did not come back. The next
day, intelligence reached us that he had been
first taken prisoner by them, and then shot.
The same evening 1.-THE 18th inst.) about one
hundred of the young men OF Lawrence volun-
teered to go to camp of the Georgians at
Franklin, and recover some of the arms which
had been stolen during the sack of that city in
May last. From thence, they intended to march
TO Washington Creek, dispense the mob, and
take away Mr.. Hoyt's body, and return. 1t was
beautiful moonlight night, slightly hazy. The
thought of redressing wrong by force of arms,
to the truly intelligent American citizen, is al
ways sad thought; but when redress of griev-
ances can be had in no other way, and when
the dearest rights of man are trampled under
foot, then the redress of wrongs by arms be-
comes necessary, but still a sad duty. Such
was the feeling of most of the young men who
marched along the road to Franklin.
On arriving there, they found that the news
of their coming had gone before them, and that
the Georgians were going to fight. They were
gathered together in a large block house, which
was barricaded like fort, through the chinks
between the logs of which they pointed their
rifles. They were asked at first to give up all
their arms, which they refused to do. They
were supposed to number about eighty. The
Free-State men drew close up, and determined
TO storm the garrison, or die in the attempt
The struggle lasted for about three hours,
when the GeOrgians surrendered. They came
ont, threw down their arms, and fled. The Free
State men then took possession of one brass
cannon, fifty United States muskets, (probably
belonging to some arsenal, and few guns
taken from Lawrence during the sack Of the
2lst of May last.
The Free State men had one killed and six
wounded. The Georgians report four wounded
In consequence of their dead and wounded, the
Iawrence boys returned home instead of going
10 Washington Creek, as they expected to.
Atchson and stringfellow A Bloody Retreat
ST. LOUIS, Aug. Is, 1856.
Editors Chicago Tribune / arrived here this
morning, and hasten to give you my experience
of trip down the Missouri.
left Leavenworth FRIDAY afternoon on the
18th. Very little was known there of the diff
Guilty at Franklin. The Pro-Savery men sup
posed that the Abolitionists had been routed
and were content
At Kansas City the case was different. Some
of the "runaways" had told the truth. A large
meeting was called on Friday afternoon, the
18th, and the citizens agreed to send their quota
Of 1000 men to overcome Kansas. Atchisor
and Stringfellow were on the boat. They go
off the boat at Kansas City.
Next afternoon, 1.-THE l6th,) we reached Lex
ington There too, the news of the defeat o.
the Rutfians at Franklin was full and accurate
On the 18th, large meeting was held, and the
citizens of Lexington resolved TO send theiI
quota of men to snbdue the freemen of Kansas
From St. Joseph to Jefferson City, meetings
were held and men raised.
No secret is made Of the design by the Ruff
fans They say they ready, have men anC
money enough, and will sweep Kansas with fir
and the sword. They do not talk of anything
but blood, :. They swear that they will kill tn
ID Aboliticnists, or drive them out of thu
Territory, and are prepared to do SO. Lool
out, then, Cor wild, murderous foray. God b
with the right!
The Ruffians cry, War to the knife Iquot
one paragraph Of the Ledee",corth journal, T.
show their spirit
:" Let as be up and dOing-let no quarter b
gipeh-but sDar, TO THE EXTBRNINATI0N OF TIL
MIScREkNTs, BE THE wORDi"
Further from Kansas-Lecompton not Destroyed
Troops and Citizens Defending it-Excitemeu
Along the Missouri Border.
ST. Louis. dug. 22-The very latest di.
catches which have reached here from Kansa
contradict the report given on Saturday, tina
the town of Lecompton had been captured b
the Free State men, under General Lane an
destroyed On the contrary, at the date of on
last advices, the United States troops and cit
zens were out in strong force, and determine
10 defend their property at all hazards. SIEVE
raj companies of volunteers had, it is reported
also marched on the 18th to aid in its protet
aion. The excitement all along the Missouri
border is represented as most intense.
ChicagD, 4uq. 23-The st. Louis DemOcrO
gives the following version OF the recent affair
IN Kansas: The attack on the Pro-Slaver
camp at Ossawatomie was oecasioned by tn
pundering of pioneer wagons belonging to cit
between Kansas city and Ossawatomie.
The Pro- Slavery force were entirely drive
out of Franklin, and two hundred men froI
Lawrence marched against the Pro-siayer
camp at Washington Creek, and ordered theI
10 disperse when those there retreated, an
n l. L nf<nz