Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-06

"ST. LOUIS, Jan. 1.-The democrat" says
that on Friday, the 18th ult., news reached
Leavenworth that there had been an engage
ment at Sugar Mount between the Govern
ment troops and Lanes men. The officer in
command ordered Lane to surrender, which
he refused to do; and the dragons charged,
but were repulsed, with loss of three killed.
The dragons retired and sent to Gen. Den
yer, who ordered three other companies of
dragons to the seat Of war. Bloody work
was expected soop Wherever aud as soon
as the news was received the people com
menced organizing and hurryng to the assis-
lance of Lane, and it was expected that be-
fore the dragons arrived be would be rein
forced by at least $500 men. Intense ex-
element reigned throughout the Territory,
and the people of Lawrence were preparing
to take the field. 1t was also reported that
Calhoun had fed from the Territory"
This Geographic despatch from ST. Louis
communicates the important intelligence, if
true, of collision between the black-reput-
licans and the United States troops in Kan.
sas. This information derives degree of
credibility from the accounts Of previous
movements that have reached us by mail, yet
we are unwilling for the present to endorse
fully its reliability. The intelligence is from
Leavenworth on Christmas day. AdVices
from Lawrence, further in the interior have
been received to the Oath, the day previous;
also from Doniphan to the Oath, by way Of
Lawrence. The difference of only one day in
the dates throws doubt upon the correct
ness Of this news. On the other hand, the
distance from the scene Of warfare to Law
renee is ninety miles, a fact which may ac-
count for the delay of several days in receiv-
ing one days regular news. From Sugar
Creek, (probably the Sugar Mount OF the des-
patch the intelligence by mail is up 10 the
evening of the 22d inst.
We have before us two accounts Of the
state ofthings in Bourbon county, both agree
ing substantially, and both furnished to black
republican papers. The following, from the
Lawrence correspondent of the Cincinnati
Gazette, seems to be a ciroumstantial MARIA
tive of the movements in the neighborhood of
Fort Scott:
"On Wednesday of last week December
10th, United States Deputy Marshal Lyle
attempted to arrest, under the rebellion act
o force OF free-State men, who had taken
arms to protect their lives and property
against the Missourians, " 10 were rayaging
the country There were 45 Of the free
State men, commanded by General Abbott.
Lytle had posse Of so MissOurians. The
free-State men gave battle at their camp in
tho timbers, and brisk fire was kept up for
about an hour. The large trees behind
which so many of the combatants found shell
ter diminished greatly the danger. One free
State man, Capt Key, was shot in the ankle;
one Missourian was killed; three more were
wounded, including Lytle, who was shot in
the breast, but not fatally.
"The Missourians finally retreated in con-
fusion. On that night, the free-State men
fell back few miles, and held their position
there.
"On Sunday morning last, December
20th,) the free-State men were lS3 strong,
and were commanded bv Col. VIM. Phillips,
reporter Of tho New York Tribune,) sent
tbther by Gen. Lane until he (Lanc) should
arrive. The Missourians were 2GO strong
a portion Of them at Fort Scott, the balance
In pro-slavery town, ten miles off.
"Tbe free-State men ventured so near the
for. as to drive in the scouts, and take FIVE OF
them prisoners The United States troops
sent down by Gov. Stanton 200 stropg) were
too near ~ to risk an engagement.
LANE reached the ground on Monday, De
cember 81. When the last messenger left
70 o'clock Tuesday night be had $50 resolute
men, we'll armed and provisioned, and had
enrolled them all as territorial militia. They
had encamped in a remarkably strong posi-
ton on Sugar creek. The United States
dragons were marching towards them, only
fifteen miles of. In council OF war the
free State men had resolved if the troops at
tackled them, or attempted to arrest any OF
them, to resist"
The news published by telegraph, 1t will
be seen, is the sequel to the movements de-
tailed above. 1t will be observed that this
collision has grown out of the resistance by
the free-State men to the marshal and his
posse, and that the United States troops we're
doubtless ordered to reinforce the civil au-
thority thus put at Defiance Union.