Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-05-12
More Difficulties in Kansas.
Lawrence ADri, 26 1858.

Lawrence, April rs 1853.
A letter was written several weeks
ago by gentleman in Fort Scott, that
has not yet been made public. 1t has
some bearing upon more recent events
in Bourbon County, and, therefore I
make the following extracts:
Fort Scott, April 2 1853.
DIR. Jno P. Wood-Dear Strive
are having great disturbances here
Indeed the whole country is aroused.
< I wish YOU would try
and send up some of those muskets
that Shannon has. We have about
thirty boys that would pay them mean
ing the Free State men back in their
own coin. l will see that you are paid
when the boys make enough to pay,
which they can soon do if they have
arms! Send up at
least thirty muskets. We will even
buy them, for / know the boys can
soon make it, and they are good and
can be trusted. Send some boys, too,
if you can raise them. We will give
them good quarters and warrant them
horse apiece when the war is over,
which I think will last some time
And can you not send us cannon
One of those taken at Lawrence will
do. Send quick, for we need help.
Yours, in haste,
JAMES BLoss.
p. S.-Send up the arms quick
Hire wagon, and will pay the freight.
J.B.
This DIR. Wood, to whom it is adj
dressed, is already associated by the
public with Clark as one of the murder
ers of Barber, and has been otherwise
crinaiaolly distinguished by being one
of Buchanan's Z. S. Commissioners
The signature to the letter is fictitious,
and was probably written by the muir
derer Brockett. All this proves that
the pro-slavery party are no less than
a band of organized freebooters, who
intend to have the trade "pay," and
that they even expect the territorial
arms to support their infamous work.
But they failed to get the arms this
time, for the bearer of the letter to Lee
compton was SO unfortunate as to get
his pocket picked on the way, and this
letter w as thus obtained, so we are
credibly informed.
Since that time, what has TRANSFERRED
is already before the public, excepting
the events oflast week Last Wednes-
day, party of from fifteen to twenty,
supposed to be Free State men, well
armed and mounted, rode into the
neighborhood Of Mr. Painter, pro-sla-
very man on the Marmaton, and order
ed him to leave. No personal violence
was offered, however to any of the set
tiers. These men who were thus Wis
tied, had been engaged in the outrages
committed upon Free State men last
winter, and the probable determination
is to clear the last remnant of them out
of the county. AS would naturally
be anticipated, these pro-slavery men
sent hasty notice to Fort Scott, about
eight miles distant, for assistance.
About one O'clock in the afternoon
the notorious DR.. Blake Little, with
about twenty-five dragons, came in
sight Of the first party. Not seeking a
collision with the army Of our Govern
ment, they retreated and undertook to
evade them, but the dragons gave
chase, and race of several miles fol-
lowed. At length the free State men
halted and formed a line, and ordered
their pursuers to ''halt," but the order
was not regarded. The order was re-
pealed, with the admonition of what
the consequences would be if they per-
sisted. The Marshall lodged behind
the troops and they pressed on, when
the free State men fired a full round
upon them, making general havoc in
their ranks. One soldier was killed.
and several others wounded, including
the captain. The captains horse was
killed, as we'll as three or four others.
After returning the fire without effect,
they retreated to the opposite side of
the NJ armaton. No free State man was
injured. The troops sent immediately
to the Fort for reinforcements, and
about fifty soon joined them. They
consulted together for an hour or two,
and finally returned to the Fort with
out attempting any further attack upon
the free State men. Some twenty other
free State men had gathered together
meanwhile, but kept themselves in am
bush, ready for fire IN the rear, had
an attack been made Coyyespon0euce
Chicago Tribune.