Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-10-30
FALLS CITY, NEBRASKA TERRITORY, I

FRIEND Row I'VE had stormy times here
for the last ten days, in our usually quiet
neigaborhood. But things have turned out
more amusing than serious. The Jay Hawk
ers "a term well understood here, bnt, per-
hapS, imperfectly known at a distance from
the scene of their action,) have been having
good time and reapiDg a rich harvest in parts
of Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. In the
first place, will define s.Jay -hawkero to be
an unconditional Union man, fearing neither
ssman, the flesh or the devil - violent enc
my and general terror TO secessionistSa and trail
tors wherever found. A few days ago, COM
pany of about 75 of these "Rough and Readys''
went from Kansas and Nebraska into Missouri,
for the purpose Of making calls on the atore-
said secessionists and traitors, in hot bed OF
secesSionists in that troublesome State. The
company was absent about week, during
which time they paid their respects to large
number OF the wealthiest and most respectable
of the barbarians in the naghborhood of their
operations. Many of these, it is said, volun-
tarily came into camp and took the oath of al
legiance to the United States; others took
the oath very reluctantly, after they had been
captured. In most cases, all suspected par
ties, and all such as did not come to camp TO
take the oath, were required to give up all
firearms and ammunition in their possession,
and promise not to disturb Union men either
in person or property thereafter. After rep
rimanding and Furnishing the .'disloyal pukes'
to their satisfaction, they concluded, after
each man had supplied himself with two choice
ssdisloyal borses," to decamp and pitch their
tents once more upon free soil. 1t would be
saying but little to say that the company was
splendidIy mounted and equipped They
were not only willing and anxions but are real
ly spelling for fight with the barbarous
Pukes. After the ssboys'' had left the slave
cursed soil, the PukeS by much lying,
threatening and swearing, got up company
composed of part Union, and part Seseeh
which outnumbere1 the Jay-hawkers, about
four to one, and actually crossed the Missouri,
River and 'sinvaded the sacred soil OF \ ebras-
ka.' a number of Missouri State troops un-
der Gov. CANDLES proclamation,- who were
furnished with United States muskets, were
invited to join the expedition on the repre-
Senta.ions of the Pukes that the Union men
and secessonists had been robbed indiscrim-
nately. The Pukes, &c, approached Falls
City in force and battle array, swearing like
ssour army in Flanders.'' They surrounded
the town in ''less than no time" aud would
permit no egress thereIrom. 1t so happened
that no joy y-hawkers were about at the time,
though they were encamped some three mi les
distant, and in full view of our town. The
Pukes soon scented them out and got
their track. But the boys understood their
business to perfection, and when the enemy
was within two miles of them, they put spurs
to their horses, and off they went at Rail Road
speed. Iney Glu not WISH 10 give uSHt,oNiHS
to the fact that the Union men would necessa-
riy suffer very severely, as they could not
distinguish between them in a general fight.
So they took wiser and better course. They
retreated into Kansas about six miles. The
Pukes pursued and camped at large house
in Pedonia. The Jay -hawkers were wide
awake, and during the night prepared to give
them ssfits." The Jay-hawkers, unknown to
the other party, camped within about twenty
rods of them. Before morning the Jays had
large reinforcements collected, and about day
break they drew up in line OF battle, the same
number of men mustered by the enemy, and
demanded an instant fight or an unconditional
surrender. The Union men in company with
the Pukes could not be induced to fire on the
old flag of our country, which waved in tri
umph at the head of the column of Jay hawk
ers, and they were willing to surrender; which
they did with uiH. Secesh were compelled
to do the same. There they were, prisoners,
stripped of every thing they had, ''strangers
in strange land, away from home and out
of money, and surrounded on all sides by
Union men, compelled to travel all day with
out anything to eat, and that too in the enc
my's country. The number of horses captured
and which fell to the boys, amounted to fifty
or sixty. They got large numbers of revol-
vers and guns and other things of value.
The Union men were allowed to retain their
guns and horses. and were sent on their way
rejoicing at their own success anu the mis-
fortune of the barbarians. The best part of
the Joke was, that all of Secesh were requr-
ed TO take the oath of allegiance or remain
prisoners of war, to be sent to st. Joseph.
Two of them, however, who had been In the
battle of Lexington, Missouri, on the Secesh
side, were retained as prisoners OF war, and
taken to ST. Joseph. All, with the exception
of the two prisoners, took the required oath
and started home wtser if not better men. Cap
tain Buchanan OF the Jay y-hawkers, is an old
Kansas fighter, and is well acquainted with
the country in this region. He set the trap
for the enemy, led them into X, and had them
fast before they were aware OF his presence
Since then the Jay -hawkers have pursued their
calling around here and in parts of Missouri,
almost nrnoiested. Several Sece ssienists
how, boon I,y b,yrt al in z ichardeou sauuty