, 1859-11-08

ANOTHER TOWN CAPTURED.


-
We copy from the Report of the Congress
ioual Investigating Committee on Kansas af-
fairs the affidavit Of Capt. Luther Leonard. con-
eerning the capture and plrndering ofthe U. S.
military depot at Liberty, No.. which, as the
public ara aware, did not elicit the least snspi-
eion Of treason among tho authorities at WISH
ingtou! The statement will be found in pages
ll29, l13o, and ISL of the Report aforesaid:
am military storekeeper at the Nissonii dc.
pot, Liberty, Missouri. ! have been stationed
there ten years last March, having charge Of the
aIteaaf, which contains arms aud ammunition
Of all descriptions. On the 4th Of December,
1855, my Clerk, Mr. Grant, came from town and
said there was some talk Of their coming down
to the arsenal to get arms, but he did not think
they would do 70. ! took no. measures Of de-
fence, as / never thought they would come, and
my clerk told ME 1t did not believe they would
come.
4 little after noon. saw Judge James T.
T. Thompson in the arsenal yard, and walked
him to walk to my quarters. lie declined going
to my quarters, sud said lie would like to look
about little. I took hin. iuto the asmorer's :
shop first, and intended going all about with
him. We had been there but short time be-
fore say through the windows o number Of
people outside. l wished to 20 out and see
what was going on. In the meantime, num-
ber Of men had slipped into the armory where
VIC we're. When wished 10 60 out, there were
men 1t the door who told ME very civiily could
not 70. One Of them WAS Mr. Douton, my
clerks CIR. Grant, iather-in law. | took hold
Of him md gave him little push; but he said.
good naturcdly enough, it was Of no use, rs
could not 30 out. l told them was an old man,
with disiocated shoulder and but one ere, aud
T ,,uIarfHEn n F1l xvifh fhan
told Judge Thompson thought it was poor bu-
siness for the United States t. build arsenals for
mob to break open.
Tile Judge and the others told me there were
troubles in Kansas, and they wanted arms, but
would DO nothing wrong with them. told the
judge this was aggressive or the part Of Missoa-
ri, and every community was competent 10 take
care Of its own atIairs, and that the Missourians
ought not to interfere. i good deal more was
said on both ei,]es, and felt inlignan. at the
aggression The judge himself did not say an
unciril word to me. had not expected any
such thing rs this when FIRST saw the judge, or
could have had the gates locked.
The mob proceeded 10 take urnls, forcing the
doors, and took three six.pounders, some
swords, pistols. rifles and ammunition, powder,
balls, etc as much Us they wanted. They broke
some doors open. do not know how thcy rot
the keys to ret into the powder magazine, which
| is composed Of brick, and had double doors.
Captain Price was the leading man in the crowd
Is understood. Mr.. Rout was there. / was
kept in the room until tho men had got all the
arms and Afnmunition ihcy wanted and had
gone asay3Judge Thompson being The last
one when he let nie 60 cut, and then he LETT him
self.
Some six or eight days afterwards the guns
we're returned To the arsenal. They we're left,
WIS told, At Colonel Allen place, SOME three
quarters Of q mile from the arsenal. In the
meantime had reported the facts to Colonel
| Sumner, and he had sent down company ot
| Dragons. lie men sent to me to know il
+ would receive the arms, aud told them was
not in command, and referred them 10 Captain
Beail. and be told tflen, to bring them along
and they did so, aud they were received.
Among the property taken was some artillery
harness. cannot recollect how many sets.
| Thera we're some deficiencies in the number OF
rides, swords, and pistols, and some harness re-
turned, but cannot state the precise partlcu-
lars. These deficiencies have uever been made
Instructed by Colonel Craig. The lead Of the ord
nance department ut Washington, to purchase
sufficient Of such articles as ! could obtain III
the neighbothood to make up the deficiency,
aud We did SO; but the swords. pistols aud RI
des We have not been able to make mp. lido not
know how much has been expended in making
up this deficiency. immediately utter tbs rob-
berry / reported the circumstances to Colonel
Craig at Washington, specifying the number
ken. In The course Of the winter he sent Inc or
ders to ship the public property to Fort Leayen.
worth and st. Louis arsenal, giving nc q schcl-
ute OF the amount to be taken to each place,
which did Is soon as navigation opened.
l.. LEONARD, u. S. X.
Steamboat H5lar Star, Missouri River, June 10,
1856.