Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-01


was written by gentleman who has no motive in
the world to misrepresent the existing state Of
things in Kansas. His account is plaza, unTar
nished one-and at any other. time and under al
most any other circumstances Than those which con-
troll men and parties in Kansas would call forth in
diguatiOn from every quarter Of the land. As it IS
this band Of murderers and robbers are openly up
held in their by the leading ultra Free State
men in the Territory, and they are applauded by
those outside Of il:
PAOII, K T., May 20, 1858.
Ny DEAR SIR; The late disturbances in the South
ern part Of this Territory having attracted some
attention. It may be as well TO give you correct
version Of them in order that they may be under
stood. just before Mr. Stanton retire from office,
there was some trouble in the vicinity Of Fort Scott
and he sent down troops 10 restore peace General
Lane went down also to command his forces but
finding the troops in the town concluded TO return
He made a ming report 10 the Legislative Assem-
bly, stating that be had driven the Missourans back
to their dens, after having killed several; all Of
which great feat was imaginary, for the Mssourians
were net there at all He stated further, that he
had left two companies in the field These we're
understood to be the companies Of Montgomery and
Bayne.
The United States troops were Withdrawn from
the town of Fort Scott shortly afterwards aud an
other demonstration made on the place by these
men, and again call was made for troops, 10 pro-
tect the United States Land Office which was threat
eQeQ with destruction, ana Two companies OF caNl
" were sent down. Shortly afterwards two men
quarrelled about land claim. Denton fOrcibly ex-
PEELED HardWiek from quarter section of land,
and few nights afterwards Denton was killed in
the door of his house, by some assassin. Two
others we're 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 in, get out writs
and have them arrested. This they refused to do
1t afforded too good pretext for themseVeo to act
Accordingly Montgomery got in motion vita from
twenty to thirty men.
They plundered and robbed quite a number Of
settlers in the vicinity Of Fort Scott-peaoeable
citizens, whom one had charged with any crime,
and whose only ofense was that they had property
to plumber. Writs were taken out, placed in the
hands Of the Deputy Marshal and the troops went
out to act as pose oOmitatUs The marauders were
discovered on the prairie. They attempted to hy
but we're too much encountered with stolen horses
aud plumber to escape Finding that they were
likely to be Overtaken, they into point of thick
timber, which could be entered only by rayine
wheeled and fred Some Of the soldiers then fired
their TeVOlVers for the first time and then drew of
and sent back for long arms with which they had
not, unfortupptely provided themselves. One sol
der and two Of the robbers we're killed Before
long arms arrived for the troops the maraudcrs
fed, leaving behind them ten or twelve horses and
mules, buggy, a set Of surveying Instruments
aud good deal of other plunder, all Of which had
been stolen from the people in the neigh borhOod
They then dispersed and re assembled near the
southern line OF Linn county, where they plundered
and robbed number of families, taking even their
wearing apparel In one case they went 20 a house
but the farmer was absent. After pundering the
house they took the farmers wife aud daughter
stripped them of all their clio hing, formed their
party in line and compelled the two women in that
condition to walk up and down before them This
suppose, il TO be regarded as an evidence of the
high state Of civilization Of which the free State
men of Kansas have arrived.
From Linn county they drove away about seventy
FIVE families, having first robbed 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 and again assembled on
the Waukarusa. They there robbed the store of
Mr.. Wells, aud also the postofice Willow Springs
Then they robbed Mckinney aad from thence thew
went TO johnson county, where they robbed five or
six families. None Of the persons last robbed had
ever been engaged in former troubles 10 this Terri
tory, nor, indeed, had many Of the others. Many
Of them we're Free State men, but they Jared no
better than the pro slavery
Now, il must be recollected that all this is done
by recognized leaders of the Free State party who
say they acting under commission from General
Lane and the Free State Military Board During
the time these things we're going on, Montgomery
was several times 10 Lawrence, and we'll treated
His depredatons we're mostly carried in counties
where the Free State party hold all the Offices The
sherfs have the power to arrest them If they chose
to do So but instead Of that they seem to wink at
their proceedings Never at any time during the
rule of the prO-slaveFy party here, has property
been less secure in The Territory than at present
As an evidence Of the high estimation to which
horse thieves and robbers are held by the lea ers of
the Free State party, will mention one fact in re-
ference to their treatment of Montgomery,
On Saturday last, he was at OsaEaamie and We
Chestnut gave him and his parry OF nine dinner at
which a number of Free State men were present
Speeches we're made, and Charles A. Foster candi-
date for Attorney General, under the LeavenWorh
constitution, cOmplimented Montgomery and men
for the great deeds they had done in robbng and
plunderiug unofendiRg and defenceless citizens
They went to church and prayers we're offered up
to The Most High, invoking blessings on the under
takings Of these highwaymen
The leading Free state paper, or the one known
the organ OF the Utras, the Lawrence Republican,
apPlsuds these acts, and urges them on to renewed
exertions in the line, as do other papers Of
the same stripe