Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-11-02
Correspondence of the Petersburg Express
RALEIGH, N. c., Oct. 24th, 1859.

EDITORS ExPREss-Gentlemen Having seen in
your paper an account of the recent outrageous af
far at Harper's Ferry, together with some state
ments Of Ossawatamle Brown, as to his course in
Kansas and knowing that these statements are
partly false desire to correct them as far as can.
wish especially to correct his version of the battle
OF Ossawatamie, and to give the country at large,
short but true account of some of his exploits in
Kansas hoping that he will at last like many other
villains, come to the end of his rope.
The notorious Jim Lane and this man Brown,
were the prime movers in the Kansas troubles of
1856. At one time Brown was securing the coun-
try at the head of one hundred and fifty or two
hundred men, numbering the settlers, who did not
acknowledge themselves to be free State men, burn
ing their houses and robbing them of their proper
ty, leaving the women and children of the victims
OF their vainy, in utter restitution and want
1t was such outrages as these that induced and
justified men from the Southern States to take up
arms and march into Kansas. In March 1856, l
left my native state (North-C Carolina and Joined
company of South Carolnans to 90 to the relief of
Southerners in Kansas. We arrived there in April
When We reached there, matters were comparative
ly quiet, and many who had gone out from the
South, then turned their attention to selecting lands
with the intention of becoming settlers. Nine 9TH
ers, and myself, then, went to Fort Scott, about
hundred miles south of West Port. Our object was
to locate land and commence farming The most of
Vui WcTC Lucll CilSdScu VII
survey in laying out and stalking road across the
prairies to intersect with the Sanata Fe road
the Big Bend of the Arkansas River, and from
thence to measure and stake The road to Fort At
klnsOn on the same river, which accomplished,
and arrived again at Fort Scott in July. On our
turn we found that the whole country had been
aroused again, by the depredatiens which were be-
ing committed by Brown and Lane. Men were
pouring in to defend the settlers and the rights of
Southerners; and to punish with summary justice
the instigators Of these dabocal outrages. From
the LIST to about the middle of August about one
thousand men had assembled under Gen. Atchison,
who made his headquarters at Bull Greek, between
West Port and Ossawatamie.
come to speak of the battle of Ossawatamie,
in which it is said that Brown acted with such "un
disputed bravery" "hoding 15D Mssourians at
bay with party of forty" and | think can easily
show that the Missourians were not bayed long, al
though their odds were not as great represented
AS have before stated Gen. Atchison, at the
head of the Southern men, had encamped on Bull
Creek between West Port and Ossawatamie, in
August Hearing that Brown was at Ossawatamie
with 800 men, he dispatched Gen. Reid with 2S4
men, and one piece of artillery, to meet him.
belonged to the artillery which was under the COM
mand of Maj Bell, of South Carolina. We left
camp about an hour before sun down, and after
marching all night, we reached the village of Ossa-
watamie about o'clock in the morning.
On approaching the village the abolitonists fired
on advanced guards, but without effect The
fire returned, and one Of their number browns
son it was said to bc) was killed The balance fed
and were pursued by some Of the guard, and others
of them were killed Gen. Reid now brought up
his main force, and formed it in order of battle. At
this moment Brown and his men, about $50 or 200 in
number, abandoned the village and marched into
the forest. We pursued them and they fired on us
several times before we could return the fire. Major
Bell brought his artillery to bear on them with
great effect, and company of cavalry charged
them at the same time but their horses became un-
manageable, and they had to dismount They now
charged the abolition land pirates on foot, and a
| sharp action ensued The land pirates fought in
ambuscade, like Indians, and kept up continual
but irregular fire from behind the trees and other
places of concealment The fight continued about
half an hour, when they were completely routed,
and driven off in great confusion with the loss OF
about % killed and Or prisoners.
| HOW BROWN SHOWED HIS "BRAvERY"
1t was said that pretty soon after the action COM
menced he took horse and fled precipitatey, eav-
ing his misguided followers to take care of them
selves as best they could. 1t was thought that he
fled to Lawrence, which was at that time the head
quarters of Lane ard his men. | heard no more
from him until he turned up" at Iiarper's Ferry.
The Southerners had only four men wounded, none
| of them seriously.
Brown and his marauders were such great COW
ards that they would not get close enough to dc
injury. In fighting at the distance they elect
ed to fight we had greatly the advantage, not only
in our artillery bat in our rifemen, who were
"sharp shooters" indeed and could pluck down one
of them at almost any distance. Such MIR. Editor
is correct version Of the battle of Ossawaamie.
The Southerners had not single man kllled-no
one missing and only four wounded as have be
fore remarked.
The statement Of Brown, that twenty or thirty
southern men were killed in the engagement, is ar
utter falSehOOd.
killing armed, determined and resolute men, wa.
certainly not the occupation of Ossawatame Brown
and his arauders but their vocation in Kansas wa
making attacks on defenceless men who were quie
and good citizens and taking them from their fami
lies numbering them, insulting women and burnin,
houses. Such was the course of this very brave
man Brown i'll Kansas.
We recovered two Southern men, in this engage
ment, named Price and Klune, whom Brown ha,
been holding as prisoners having captured them il
skirmish a few days before. klunc was badly
wounded and died in few days. Price said tina
eleven others were taken prisoners with HIM an,
Kuns; but few days before the above battle they
were taken off, and he heard no more from them
The marauders told him that they had been set a
liberty but the general impression was, that the,
had been murderd
General Reid returned to the Camp at Bull Creel
immediately after the battle, and in two days We re
turned to West Port.
The Abolition land pirates made no more disturb
ancs in that part of the territory, but toward Law
renee they committed few deprcdations.
think some of the papers are trying to make
hero of Brown | can assure them that they hav
the very worst sort of material for that purpose
hut such as he is, he was one of the best of tn
Abolition cut threats that Northern philanthropy,
forwarded, mustered and sustained in Kansas
1t is subject of congratulation tina: the goo
people throughout the north will have their eye
opened, by the recent outrages at Harper's Ferry
to the villainy of fussy abolition fanatics.
Very respectfully yours,
s. L. RIDDLE.