Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-01
Troubles in X ansas.

Below we give from the correspondence of
the st. Louis Republican, an account of the
operations of the black-republican. anti-Le-
compton banditti in Kansas, and a just retail
iation upon some of them by pro-slavery
men who with their families had been driven
from the territory. We ask anti-Lecompton
men, South. to read and learn what kind of
allies they are lavishing their sympathies up
on. If ever men deserved punishment, these
Kansas anti-Lecompton ruffians do, having
from the inception of the territorial govern
ment been in open and avowed hostility and
rebellion against it, and endeavoring to sub
vert oil law, and to crush out" all citizens
who refused to- join them in their rascality:
From the ST. Louis Republican,
In giving publicity to the following letter
to a citizen of this city, we think it proper to
say that it was written by a gentleman who
has no motive in the world to misrepresent
the existing state of things i'll Kansas. His
account is a plain. unvarnished one-and at
any other time, and under almost any other cir
cumstances than those which control men and
parties in Kansas, would call forth Indignation
from every quarter of the land. As it is, this
band of murderers and robbers are openly
Free State men in the Territory, and they
are applaudcd by those outside of it:
PAoLI, X. T.. May 20, 1858.
My DEAR SIR The late disturbances in
the Southern part of this Territory having at
tracted some attention, it may be as well to
give YOU correct version of them, in order
that they may be understood. Just before Mr..
Stanton retired from Office there was some
trouble in the vicinity of Fort Scott, and he
sent down troops to restore peace. Gen. Lane
went down also to command his forces, but
finding the troops in the town concluded to
return. He made "a flaming report to the Lee
gislative Assembly stating that he had driven
the Missourians back to their dens, after hav-
ing killed several all of which great feat
was imaginary, for the Missourians were not
there at all. He stated further, that he had
left two companies in the field. These were
understood to be the companies of Mont
gomery and Bayne.
The United States troops were withdrawn
from the town of Fort Scott shortly alter
wards; and another demonstration was made
on the place by these men, and again call
was made for troops. to protect the L. S. Land
Office, which was threatened with destruction,
and two companies Of cavalry were sent down.
Shortly afterwards two men quarclled about
a land claim Denton forcibly expelled Hard
wick from quarter section of land, and u few
nights afterwards Denton was killed, in the
door of his house, by some assassin. Two
others were shot, and one of them killed, the
same night Hardwick and some Others were
charged with being the perpetrators of these
crimes, and the people in Fort Scott requested
the parties who took the matter in charge to
come in get out writs and have them arrested.
This thew refused TO do. 1t afforded too good
a pretext for themselves to act Accordingly
Montgomery got in motion with from twenty
to thirty men.
They plundered and robbed quite number
of settlers in the vicinity of Fort Scott
peaceable citizens, whom no one had charged
with any crime, and whose only otense, was
that tI.sy had properly 10 plunder. Writs
were taken out, placed III the hands oil the
DEPUTY Marshal, and the troops went out TO
act as a posse c1nfatlts The marauders were
discovered ON the prairie. They attempted
to fly, but were Two much encountered with
stolen horses and plumber TO escape. Finding
that they were likely to be overtaken, they ran
into "A point of thick timber, which could be
entered only by ravine. wheeled aud fired.
Some of the soldiers then fired their revolvers
for the first time, and then drew of aud sent
hack fer long arms, with which they had not.
unfortunately. provid d themselves. One sol
dier and two of the robbers were killed.
Before long arms arrived for the troops, the
marauders drd leaving behind them ten or
twelve horses and mules, buggy, set OF
surveying instruments, and good deal OF
other plunder, all of which had been stolen
from The people in the neighborhood. They
then dispersed and re-assembled near the
southern line Of Linn county, where they
plundered aud robbed number OF families,
taking even their wearing apparel. la one
case they went TO n house but the farmer was
absent. After plundering the house they
took the farmers wife and daughter, stripped
them of all their clothing, formed their party
ina Iinc, and compelled the two women Ia that
condition 10 walk up and down before them.
This. suppose, Is to be regarded ~ an evil
dence of the high state OF civilization al
which the free State men of Kansas have ar
rived.
From Linn county they drove away about
seyenty-iive families having tir.'t robo~d them
of everything, many OF them being among
the best citizens of the Territory.
Another detachment OF troops having been
sent AFTER them, they dispersed aud again as-
sembled on the Waukarusa. They there ROD
bed the store of Mr.. Wells, aud also the post.
Office at Willow Springs Then they roooed
Mckinney, aud from thence they went 10
johnson county, where tkey robbed ave or
six families. None Of the persons last ronu<a
had ever been engaged Ia former troubles IA
this Territory, nor, INDEED. had many Of the
other. Many OF them wire Free State men,
bat they Jared no better than the pfo-Aiassiy
men. t