The Kanzas news., 1858-04-03
South Eastern Kanzas.


Some of the finest valleys in Kanzas will
be found in the counties bordering on Mis-
souri,, and lying south of the Kanzas river
Having lately taken a tour through tie
counties of Lykins, Linn and Bourbon, we
propose to notice some of the principal set
Elements, and other matters of interest in
that section of our Territory.
The irst-named county is one of the old
est settled districts, and contains some of
the finest and most fiourishing towns off the
Missouri and Kanzas rivers The land is
very generally occupied, much of it being
pre-empted. Within its borders lie large
portion of the Peoria Trust lands, titles TO
which were acquired at the sales last sum-
mer. Large tracts of it are in possession
of spectators, and any quantity can be
purchased at prices ranging from three to
ten dollars an acre. The waters of the Ma
ris des Cygnes, or Usage river, the Pota-
watomie. Middle, Bull. and Turkey creeks.
all pass through this region. in consequence
of which it is well timbered. At the con-
fuenee of the Maris des Cygnes and Pota-
watomie is situated the town of Osawatomie,
a name which will be renowned in the an
nails of Kanzas for the heroic defense which
her settlers made against the Ruffian tyran
ny. No truer Free State community exists
than at this place. On the outposts, and
always liable to be invaded, Osawatomie
stood the brunt of pillage and destruction,
but, Phoenix like, each time has risen more
proudly from its ashes. On the 18th of
August the town was destroyed by force
of 400 Rufians under the leadershipof Gen.
Reid, after heroic and gallant defense by
John Brown and some twenty men, who left
about forty of the enemy killed and wounded
on the field. Frederick Brown, the youngest
son of the brave old Puritan leader, was
shot before the battle commenced by Martin
White. George Partridge, Garrison, Charles
Kaiser, and one other, were killed-Kaiser
being taken prisoner and shot in cold blood
the next morning at Cedar Greek, near the
Santa Fe road, while the valiant Missou-
rians were on their retreat from Bull Greek.
Every spot of ground about Osawatomie is
holy with the patriots blood, and will be
as sacred as Bunker Hill in the future of
our common country.
The town contains some sixty or seventy
buildings stores, good hotel, saw
mill, printing ofice-and everything indi-
Gates a live town, offering desirable loca-
ton for the mechanic, manufacturer and
capitalist. We found the table at the hotel
one of the best we have sat at lately. and
can recommend it if any of our friends
travel that way The Southern Ranzas
Herald we were glad to find prospering. 1t
is live paper, awake to the general interests
of the Territory, and occupying firm po-
sition on the great question at stake in Kan
zas. We visited the graves of Fred. Brown,
Partridge, Garrison, and others. While
standing there, our heart was full of emo
ton as we viewed the past history and the
future prospect of our lovely State. born
amid storms and reared in hurricane and
tempest. but to be, we hope, rocked pleas
antly by the summer winds of Freedom,
which come softly and swiftly after the fu-
rious breath of tyranny have expended
themselves. Truly did we feel that ''the
blood of the martyr is the seed of the
and with the poet we say:
s.TI,o ,x-o-Id -oIIs
And ripens with her sorrow;
Keep heartl who bear the cross to-day
Shall wear the crown tomorrow"
After leaving Osawatomie, we journeyed
along the divide between the main streams
until we reached Middle Greek, where there
is point located called Battle Hill, taking
its name from singular mound, shaped
like sugsr-loaf, in the vicinity, and from
a skirmish which occurred here few days
before the battle of Osawatomie, between
the Free State men, commanded by Capts.
Brown, Shore and Cline, and a party of
Rufians, about 100 in number, who were
camped on the banks of the creek. The
Free State men were divided into two bodies
Of SO each, and passed down on opposite
sides of the stream, the party on the north
ern side breaking suddenly upon the ene-
my's encampment and putting them COM
pletely to rout after firing one round. The
other party endeavored to cut off their re-
treat at the ford, and succeeded In captur-
ing some seventeen. Several were wounded,
and four killed. We believe. on the pro-slave
~ side, while but one Free State man was