Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-05-06
WOR ESTER DAILY

ENCOUNTER BRTwEEN FREE STATE MEN
AND UNITED STATES TROOPS IN KANzAs--
Our kanzas correspondent, writing from Law.
renee under date of April &c, gives us the
particulars of an encounter between a BODY
Of free State men and company of U. troops,
near Fort Scott, Kanzas. 1t appears that these
free State men had good reason to believe that
the pSQ-slavery men were making preparations
for ~ ATTACK upon them, in continuation Of
the outrages of a few weeks previous, when
two free State men, named Denton and Hem
bricks, were killed, and 8 man named Davis
was wounded The pro-slavery men in the
vicinity of the fort, had taken refuge there
under the protection of the U. S. troops, but
upon the Marmaton river, about fifteen miles
further South, they have remained upon their
lands, though many of them were qui,e OBJ
noxious. Of what occurred at this place our
correspondent gives the following account:
"Last Wednesday, in the forenoon, COM
pany of between fifteen and twenty mounted
and armed men called upon three or four pro-
slavery men, and advised them to leave inn
mediately. No violence was attempted upon
any of these men. and after giving the above
advice, the party moved on from place to
place, wherever pro-slayery men were known
TO reside, This company of visitors were all
strangers to the parties on whom they called,
and no one has yet been recognized.
The pro.slayery men sent immediate word
to the fort, about eight miles distant, for aid.
About one o'clock in the afternoon, Marshal
Little, with about twenty-five U. s. troops,
appeared riding in the direction of the first
party. As soon as Little saw them, he gave
chase, and race of some miles ensued. At
length the first party,-supposed to be free
State men-faced about, and ordered the
troops to shalt They refused, and kept on.
The order was repeated, with a threat that If
they approached nearer, they would not spare
them. Marshal Little, skulking behind the
troops, then rushed on, when volley opened
upon them from the first party, cutting and
scattering them in every direction.
One soldier was MORALLY wounded, and
died that night. The captain was wounded
and his horse was killed. Several others
wereNwounded, and two or three horses kill
ed. The troops returned the fire, but gave
only one round and retreated. No free State
man was injured by them. The troops then
crossed to the opposite side of the river, where
they again formed line, and after looking
across upon the other party for awhile, they
sent to the fort for reinforcements. About
fifty troops soon joined them, accompanied by
Brekett, the midnight assassin and murderer.
They all consulted together an hour or two,
and without attempting further hostility, re-
turned quietly to the fort. Meanwhile some
twenty other free State settlers assembled
privately in the ravines near by, and were
preparing for fire in the rear, had an attack
been made.
This, says our informant, has satisfied
Bourbon county boys of one error in their
calculations. They had usually believed that
the Missourians would stand about one round,
and the troops about too, but they are now
satisfied that the troops will only stand one,
and the Missouriaus are sure to keep beyond
the reach Of even that. This is the first in
stance where the federal army has been de-
liberately fred upon in Kanzas. - Boston
fraUeiIer.