The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-01-10
outrages I'm southern Kansas.

The operations of the notorious Mont
gomery Band in Southern Kansas is ex-
citing serious alarm in the Southern portion
Of the Territory. A correspondent of the
St. Louis Republican gives an account of
the invasion and capture of g town, by
the band, on the 18th of December:
"The bandit chief Montgomery, with his
forces of about 100 men, is under arms in
the counties of Bourbon and Linn, assisted
by Capt. John Brown, of Ossawattomie. AT
Fort Scott, on the 18th ult., as daylight was
dawning, these leaders, with their compa-
mics, numbering from seventy to one hun
dred men, entered the town for the purpose
Of rescuing Ben Rice, )" one of their num-
Der, from the custody of the Sheriff. Our
townsmen were all asleep in their separate
houses. Before the inmates of the Free
State HOTEL in which the prisoner was
kept knew what was going on, these guer-
illas had possession of the building, and
were striking off the chains of the prisoner,
who was held under indictment for murder
and assault with intent to kill. Capt Mont
gomery had fire already kindled outside
with which to FIRE the building in case any
one should shoot. Our town is so compactly
built that one fire must necessarily destroy
at least 100000 worth of property
Deputy Marshal Campbell who kept the
house, held one of the rooms against them,
assisted by some friends. They tried to
get hold of him to hang or shoot him. They
snapped Shapes rife at Mr.. Diamond,
the jsilor of Rice. Having rescued Rice,
they went to pillaging the rooms. They
stole coats, shirts, boots, gloves, and what
ever it was profitable to take. They took
guns and pistols wherever they could find
them. They were 30 doubly armed with
rsvolvers and Sharpes rifles, that the few
who had guns saw no chance to resist
them.
While this was going on inside, Capt.
Montgomery remained on the public square
with at least half of his men. He took the
prseaution to station guards at every house,
20 shoot or capture whoever might present
themselves. AS the citizens, aroused by the
disturbance, came out of their houses, they
were arrested and marched off to the guard
In the public square. Their surrender was
completed by cooking Sharpe's rites at
them. Several citizens were fired at as they
appeared at their doors and windows, who
In return fred at the invaders. Several
were thus wounded on both sides. The
bandits surrounded the house of DR.. Little,
which was occupied by the Doctor, his son,
. friend, and two blacks. Several shots
were fred by the invaders, which were re-
turned by the inmates. During the con-
aiet, the Doctors son, an estimable young
man, was shot through the head and killed
The robbers finally gained an entrance into
the building, but were induced, through the
sntreaties Of the citizens, to spare the lives
Of Its occupants, but they robbed the store
kept in the building, of about $4,000 worth
Of goods, which they packed up and carried
OF. After holding possession of the town
the greater part of the day, and helping
themselves to horses, arms, goods, and prop
srty of every kind, they evacuated it, defy
ing the authority of the Territory or of the
United States to arrest or punish them.