New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-02
HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM KANSAS.
The TRUTH ON 1HK FORT SCOTT TROUBLES
The Late Raid OF tapt. Hamilton.
ELEVEN MEN MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD.
THE LATE MURDERS BY HAMILrON'S
MEN.
Cosre,rondence If Tn, n. Y. Tribune
In THE CAMP AT SUGAR MorSD,)

Msy 81, 1853.
Ibssten "a communicate 10 the readers Of THE
TRIBrNE some Of the particulars Of the recsot hor-
rible massacre at the Trading Post, Linn County
which in extent and fendish atrocity surpasses any
th,pg previously enacted in the whos Kansas
drama" and which has once more relit the torch
of civil war in all Southern Kansas.
About o'clock p. m. on the 10Th inst, band
of Missourisrs, some thirty in number, commanded
by the Lotorious Capt. Hamilton, and the equ.lly
yjllaipous "Brocket," made an uDperceived descent
upon the Trading Post, fourishing village some
ten or eleven miles from the border and completely
sacked the town, taking over dozen prisoners.
As the surrounding country was perfectly quiet
and the villagers, uDsuspecting an attack, were
all employed at their various a7ocations
no defense could be offered aud note
was attempted. After laying their ruff hands
upon whatever pleased their fancy, in and around
the town, they began their retreat to the border,
carrying their prisoners along with them. Some
distance from the town they passed a blacksmith
shop, in which the owner and boy (their names
have forQotten) were at work. They called upon
him to surrender but the noble hero snatcbed up
Gun double barreed) and fred at BrOcket, slightly
wounding him, aud killing his horse under him.
Then, aiming the other barrel at the cowardly
gang, be commenced his retreat, and, strange to
cay, both he and the boy effected their es-
cape. Still more exasperated by this man.
ife station of Free-State courage, the ruff
fans now resolved to wreak their vengeance on
the uparmed ineffeDsive prisoners. So, stopping in
a ravne near Fort Hamilton" they ordered them
to step off ten PAGES and form in line. They did
so, and the demOnlacal order to " Take aim make
ready! !" according 10 an escaped prisoner, was the
-. H., Nla f.fa fhat. ,k,1
Them How sOlemny awful must have been their
feelings to know that the next instant they must
meet their Maker, without even time to breathe a
PRAYER for their souls salvation, | will leave the
reader to Judge. - Fire" was the next command
of the demon Hamilton, ard score OF guns Che
himself first setting the exampe) dislOdged their
contents of buck shot and ball in that doomed line
of men. Every one dropped to the earth, five OF
them dead, and five more seriously wounded
The band then proceeded to plumber their pock-
cts and in so doing discovered that still breathed
and was unhurt. The captain placed his revolver
TO his ear AID put ball through his head The
other uniDjured man escaped observation and alter
the murderers left the Of slaughter ran back to
the Post and communicated the terrible tidings to
the village Runners were instantly dispatched III
all directions to alarm the settlers and before
set over 200 men bad collected in the little village
of the Post, while from every part OF the Territory
armed men were coming in, on horseback and
on foot, eager to avenge the terrible wrong
lust communicated to them. large number
of horse instantly set out under the command of
some of the leading military officers to Overtake, if
possible, the murdeTers. Conspicuous among the
chiefs was the noted Capt Montgomery, whose
name is as much household word in Southern
Kansas as was ever Mad AnthOnys" or Mari
on's" in the days of H. Not the rough freebooter
is he that he has been represented, but bold de-
termined man, acting upon certain principles OF
a,l Sftpun htIff IL IN or
have been the aggressOrs. Armed to the teeth as
he and bis troop ever are they at once the cham
pions of kansas" and the terror of her enemies.
/ say this much in behalf Of one who is misunder-
stood. and whose whole course has been belied.
When the impartial historian writes the history
of Capt Montgomery, it will be very different from
that of the awless freebooter he is commonly repre-
sented The troops returned to the Post late In the
dav bringing the intelligence that they had tracked
The band west, east, south and north, and in all
directions, and finally left the trail when it bore
suspiclously nearly to West Point, q noted rendeZ-
vous on the Missouri border. In.the interim the
dead and wounded brought in to the Post,
and strict watch kept Of the town all throughout
the night Some of the wounded, it is thought,
will recover, but two of the five are given up as
hopeless, and all are shockingly mangled. As my
place of duty was in Paris at the time, did not
learn all the names of the PRISONERS. In tact, some
of the number we're strangers staying IN the fOst
al The time and whose names were only guessed
at Ore was Stilwell, from Sugar Mound; he was
going in a wagon TO Kansas City for some goods,
and had stopped to water his horses at the Post.
He leaves a wife to whom he had been married but
n few wears and two children to mourn his loss.
He WIS a brave fellow, and when he found they
were going to shoot them, his only remark was,
If YOU are going to murder us, for Gods sake
take rood aim" He is to be buried to-day. An
other OF the killed was preacher by the name OF
Reed, man whom everybody in the Territory re-
spected. A third was young man of the name
of Cnmpbe. clerk in the store at the Post origin
ally from Osawatamie. 1t is impossible to describe
the excitement which this wholesale slaughter OF
some Of the best and most respected citizens of the
Territory has created in Southern Kansas.
The whole community is in arms. Everything
but active preparation for immediate warfare is
Neglected. Forts are established at every suitable
localit-, expresses ride regularly from place TO
plsce and runners were started 10 Jim Lane
immediately after the slaughter, and ne is moment
ary expected with strong force of northern Kan
sas and Lawrence boys. The plan OF acton is
already decided, and partly acted upon. The horse
marched last hight 10 West Point to demand the
prisoners, and if the proper authorities fail to give
them up refuse to have search, as II Is known
two of the principal leaders reside there, conse
quences the most terrible may be expected. In my
opinion, both West Point and Fort Scott are
doomed. They have been SO long the harbOr OF
cut-throats and villains, that nothing short OF the
unconditional surrender Of the Trading Post muir
derers will prevent these places from being botted
out of existence. Even now, it is with great diff
Guilty the leaders can restrain the infuriated people
from marching Immediately on West Point, and
burning il to the ground. What will be the result
of this GROWING outrage upon long wroDged Nan
as, | will not pretend TO say: but although came
peaceful traveller TO the Territory, ! am resolved
10 carry the Sharp rifle, and march in the ranks OF
the citizen sOldiery until her last great wrong Is
avenged. We have Just received orders to march