Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-05-29
For the Register.
Notes on n trip to the Southern Part OF
Kansas.
For the Register.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

Customary tO IepIthisH tIo NV wv ~
a, half past four, cal our breakfast and
were ready 10 start a, quarter TO SIX. In
leaving the creek We got on the wrong
track and went miles out Of our way.
passing little town called Lebanon. We
found we had entered Bourbon the even
ing before. Having lost the old Caliior.
MIA road We found out the direction of
For. Scott Is miles distant, and struck
across the prairie after travelling FIVE or
six miles struck an old trail which took
us TO the Fort. The country around here
is not as good as that we passed through
yesterday. There are not so many claims
taken. There seems to be less bottom
land and more undula,ing prairie. The
land in this country has not yet been sur
veyed by government so that claims are
taken at random. At twelve o'clock We
reached the Marmaton on which Fort
Scott is situated. This is very large
creek and The timber very abundant on It's
banks. Fort Scott is situated on high
bluff half mile on the other side OF the
creek. This county abounds in springs.
J The woods are swampy and full Of frogs
(which make it very unhealthy should
sthink. Having crossed The Marmaicn,
I'VE halted our wagon in the woods
quarter Of mile below the Fort and went
lup 10 see the place, obtain information,
! and purchase some provisions.
For, Scott has not been used BY the
, government for long time and in 1854
was sold to different individuals. |, was
then on Indian lands. lately the Indians
2have been bought out and the country
around 1t open for pre-emption. The
Apurchasers Of The Fort layed it off for
1town and a number of houses have been
spui up lately. There being some defect
hin the charter of the town within the last
few months two town companies have
4''iumped" the town site, so that there
care now ihree parties who claim posses
seion of the Fort. So that the inhabitants
besides having political difficulties all
around them. have worse one brewing
in their midst which is likely to lead TO a
great deal OF trouble. The country we
passed through yesterday is mostly set
tied by Free State men, but around the
Fort they are all pro-slavery. The ultra s
OF this party are all collected here at the
Fort, among the number Gen. Clark the
register of the land office for this part ol
she country which is located here. tie
was the cause of disturbance last Janua.
ry bv shooting an emmigrant passing
through, since then he has shot two 9TH
ers.
The troubles here are about as bad as
they were in Northern Kansas two years
ago. The town is called Fort Scott OF
which the Fort itself is the centre. The
Fort proper consists Of dozen large Two
story frame houses with o,ches in from,
layed off in the form Of square and from
iirg on plaza. In The centre of the pla.
"a are two circular brick buildings, and
formerly used for the magazine, The other
awell. On the out side Of the square are
long rows Of stabling for cavalry horses.
The Fort was never intended for defence
as there are no batteries thrown up or any.
hing lha, looked like strong hold about
IN, bat mercy used for military out
most, as are most of the Forts out west
There seemed TO be about 200 persons
living here. There were also two com
panies of cavity stationed here to enforce
order bu, they seemed to be unable 10 do
much. One of the Dragons gave us an
account of some of their performances.
de did not seem 10 like this kind Of ser
vice much. We heard of several other al
roci,ies that had lately been perpeirateJ. j.
A man by the name of Spr,tt was hauling
load of goods about two weeks ago TO
his store on the Usage. Finding that if
he put the goods into the store they would
DO carried off by the plunderers, he secre-
tea them In the woods. The plunderers
however got wind Of it and started after
MN 'he next night. They did not sue
ceea IN hntlng him or his goods. but
caught his two little sons whom they
burnt severely by holding lighted hay in
their iaces TO make them tell where their
father was. They however refused to
tell They and their father are now in
the Fort, al the same time another man
was shot while sitting at supper in his
own house in the same neighborhood. and
Peter Crockett cousin of the celebrated
David Crockett was robbed while ON.
camping on the Usage, the latter is now
alsoat the Fort.
The troops have not been able TO de,ec,
The murderers, though they don't make
any very great efforts to do so from all I
can learn. Each party-Free State and
Pro-slavery-accuse the other, bat it is
most probably lev of the desperate ca
ses on both sides. Having smade inqui-
ries ahout tie country of Gen. Clarke 10