The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-09-13
KANSAS CORRESPONDENCE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., Sept. 5

go for the last two weeks, having rode one
horse to death. and in fair way to kill another
After the affair at Fort Titus, and the treaty
made with Gov. Shannon, returned to To-
peka, thinking that We had at length succeed
ed in driving the bands Of robbers and murder
ers from our State. But, alas! all our hopes
proved false; the rufiians, devoid cfevery sense
of honor or trust. as soon as we disbanded,
commenced anew their murders and robberies.
They commenced coming into the State from
Westport, Mo-, killing and robbing all they
met. As soon as we heard oft our men be-
gan to collect The first fight took place down
in the southern part of the State, between a
tween party of our men numbering 49, under
Capt Cline and Major Brown, and about 70
of the enemy Our boys dashed them out kill
ed Is, wounded large NUMBER took 80 nor
ses, and large lot of other booty.
The next fight was at Ossawatomie; about
400 of the enemy attacked that place the next
morning after the above mentioned battle
The place was calamity defended by Major
Brown, with Is men. The fight lasted for
several hours. The first party of the enemy,
about 100 strong, were driven back in the ut
most disorder The enemy had two pieces of
artillery, the Free State men none. Major
Brown and his handful of brave men defended
the place in the most gallant manner, but were
at length compelled by the Overwhelming force
of the enemy, to retire; they did so in the
most perfect good order, and held the ford at
the river for an hour afterwards. Maj. Brown
remained behind to see that all escaped, and
has not been heard Of since; it is feared that
he has fallen into the hands of the Philistines;
if so we have lost one Of the brayest men that
ever lived. The pirates murdera all their pris-
oners. They shot Capt Fred. Brown, son
Of the old Major, and one of the bravest of
boys. They sacked the town, burnt all the
houses, loaded themselves with plumber, and
took the women and children prisoners.
AS soon as we heard Of the sacking of Ossa-
watomie, we started down with three hundred
men and one piece Of artillery. We came
upon them ust at shutdown, on Bull Greek,
on the Shawnee reserve. AS soon as they saw
US they commenced firing their guns in their
camp and yelling with all their might. Amid
the noise we could distinguish the most un-
earthly screams ] ever heard. We thought
they were only trying to make us believe they
had very large body, but found out by the
Indians the next morning that they were muir
dering their prisoners. We were anxious to
pitch into them instanter, but our commander
in chief, who is as wise as he is brave, refused
to let Us, it being then shutdown, and our in
hntry and artillery five or six miles behind
We fell back few miles to wood and water
and camped until the next morning. We had
little skirmlshing that evening before we re-
tired; the enemy drew up in line of battle on
one hill and ours on the other. The enemy
tried to send out scouts to see how strong we
were, but one of our boys would chase dozen
of them back in double quick time.
We found out by our scouts that night that
the enemy were 800 strong. One would
suppose that 800 men would meet ], 500 with
some little hesitation, but our boys were wild
with Joy. 1t was the longest night l ever
passed, and l never welcomed daylight with
more joy in my life. The next morning we
went TO work to prepare for battle. Being one
Of the staff surgeons | set about getting my in
struments in good order, at the same time see
ing that my Sha1p'S Persuale' was in good
order.
We sent ont party of 40 scouts to see
where the enemy were; they sent back word
that they were drawn up in battle array on
the hill where they were the night before
Our men set about getting breakfast with the
utmost alacrity, but before we got through q
messenger brought to US the sad intelligence
that the enemy were fleeing, pursued by our
40 scouts. Eight or nine kuRdreE 6ra0e sons of
the South flying before 40 ABoLITgeNIsTs Alas
for Southern chiTalry. Would to God I had
been born North of Mason & Dixon's line -
Yes, the internal sconndrels had succeeded in
numbering all their prisoners, and starting off
their wagons and infantry during the night,
and had drawn up on the hill to make us be-
lieve they would fight, and thereby cover the
retreat of their men. They being mounted on
feet and fresh horses, succeeded in making
their retreat. What a mortal horror these
towards have of Sharp'S rifles; and well they
may have, for it has made many of them bite
the dust / never saw as miserable a set of
towards as these Mlssourians are in my life
but men who can shoot down a delenseless
man. who can outrage an innocent woman, or
murder prisoner in Geld blood must be cow
ards.
The eowardly ruf4ians did not stop until
they reached Westport, Mo, Qorty miles)
and reported that Lane was after them with
10000 men. Every night since then West
port has been guarded, and most of the citi-
zens have packed up ready to leave. When
our General heard of it he sent them word
not to be alarmed, for he was not prepared to
invade Missouri yet, but advised them at the
same time to stay at home and let us alone or
he might be down upon them.
We took hundred horsemeR few days
ago, and went up towards LeaYenworth, rode |
RIGHT through all their strongholds IN there