, 1863-05-30

EmtgrntioIiU Unrrecctl.ntetE- Overland
HAL In TroNhTe-Phcfffc RaliWay-
SA1 Now Negro 1frl.Rues.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tnbanc.]
LEAyESwoR1u, Kausas, May aG, 1863.
THIS morning Gen. Blunt received copy Of
the proceedings OF a military commission that
had been called in Kansas City, for the trial
Of one Vaughn, d noted guerilla chieftain, re-
Gently captured in jackson county, Missouri
The proof against him was most direct and
positive, and the commission sentenced him |
to be hung by the neck until dead. After re-
viewing the proceedings, Gen. Blunt sent q t
telegram Of two words-"hang him '-to the !
Post Commander at Kansas City. tisp proba.
ble that Vaughn's career will be very soon
closed.
During the past month the gucrillas In |
Jackson County have become 80 tronble-
Eome that General Blunt determined |
to smoke them out. Accordingly, he sent Ma
jor Ransom, Of the 18th Kansas, with q suita.
bic force, to look after the bushwhackers.
Within one week from the time Of his arrival
there, Major Ransom killed sixteen Of the
guerillas, among them one Captain, and sue
ceeded in capturing "Coloncl' Vaughn. Col.
Parker, who recently made himself famous
by his correspondence with Gen. Blunt, mar
row]y escaped falling into Major Ransom's
hands. Had he been SO unfortunate, General
Blunt would have been up to his recent pro-
mise Of giving Parker the choice Of the quail
ty Of the rope By which he would be executed.
Short work il made Of guerillas wherever
found.
H. &1,n1 1or 3or$ $hnt ole of
breaks, not in any organized force, but by
bands Of naraudcrs. These bands are neither
large nor numerous, hut are sufficiently active
| to threaten constantly the residents Of East
| crn Kansns. There are NO fears that they Will
| attack any Of the larger towns, or disturb
military posts. Their depredations will be
confined to hasty visits to isolated farmer, and
| to the smaller villages. They will have to
move with exceeding rapidity to elude pur-
suit from General Blunt's forces, and this
is probably the plan they intend to pur-
.uc They were fighting more for plunder
than for the Confederate cause, though there
il little doubt that tue rebel rulers give quiet
approval Of their proceedings. Ali the cup
turcd officers and men continually assert that
they were regularly enrolled in the Confeder-
ate service, and appear to consider it d great
I
them Us legitimate warriors.
The most serious trouble is anticipated In
n6rthTt stern Missouri aud northeastern Kan
eas. There are numerous men residing aloug
the linz between Iowa and Missouri, who have
, fed from one State to the othcrto escape pun
| shneni for crimes. These parties are organ
ziDg and preparing to take TO the brush, and
| sotnc Of them are already at work. With
them, us with their brethren elsewhere, plum
der is their main object. 1t is feared that they
will cross into Kansas and make q rapid raid
. | through that region. and escape before the.
could he oyertaken Information has beer
received that such Il plan is on foot. Thus fal
S northeastern Kansas las escaped serious tfou
, h}e. except from the quiet operations Of horst
,Lieyes.
S Uu Monday band Of gueri'las, part Of
= whom were of tLc newly organized force re
| frr1ca to ubove, entered the town Of platts
I burg in broad daylight Plattsburg has beer
# considered the most loyal town uf Western
f Missouri, nna thfonghout thewar, thus lar
- there has been nothing to sul!y its reputation
e to any serious extent. The guerillls vert
q | evidently On a grand stealing and destroying
= excursion, for immediately after capturing til
= town they commenced 8 sys GIN Of indisvrim
e inate robbery. After possessing themselye
uf whatever they wanted, they gave the in
l. habisants half an hour to save their house
/, huld goods, and then set the town on irc
- The gleri1las then rode away taking with then
several OF the prominent citizens. Word va
1t sent to st. Joseph, and the commander o
It | that post sent out company of infantry il
pursuit. Nothing has since been heard frou
II 1hem, but it is fair to suppose that the in
1t fHntry is not likely to oycrtilkc mounted men
= During the past year tho citizens Of Atchi
u sou county have suffered from the operation
e. OF numerous horse thieves aud desperadoe
u that have heen lurking in their midst Their
" Is hardly Il farmer who has not lost more o
lcfs OF his stock, many Of them being strip
ped Of everything. The civil law did no
%tr+ =
= people had become we1l nigh exhausted. O
the l7th, gapg Of these scoundrrls proceed
e cd to the house Of an old farmer living SON
1t twelve miles from Atchison, and, after maj
:. treating the various members Of the family
u took all the money and live stock they coul
4 find,
On the following day four of them wcr
captured In Atchison. Two were put In th
II hands Of the Sheriff, and the remaining twt
II after brief examination, were taken to
''' grove lear town for execution. One VIZ
n hung by the citizens, and the other, owing I
tt. | eonc confusion, was hurried off to Jail afts
- the rope had actually been placed around h
no heek: The mat day two more were capture,
q ing hung und the other taken to Jill. The,
was no excitement ut either of the exec,
de tions, but everything was done in q cool I'LL
~ Deliberate hammer.
49, 1t Was thought best to make an example
u these two resI,itcG offenders, in the hope
is putting IL stop to the humorous thef,s by il
:. tinlidating the surviving scounircla. As til,
" were lodged in Jail aud in tho hands of tt
IS, Sheriff. there was no process Of Law by whie
. they could be turned over to the hands Of Il
H. people. A delegation was sent to Gen. BLU
u 70 set forth The facts in the ease and seen
H. his interference. Gen. Blunt wrote all ord
' to the Sheriff Of Atchison county, cnilunau
eaS ing lin to deliver the prisoners to the peop
Lo for trial and punishment, accompanying Il
!, order were his plain, straightforward re:lso
1e- for SO doing. As the document Is the first
att the kind issued, cau do no better tlan ri
,-- it entire:
h HEADorAnrEns DISTRICT OF KASsAs, !!
LIZ IT. LEAvESwOnTn, May q, 1863.
crs To the Sheriff Of Atchison county:
re- In view Of the fact Of the alarmi1
- increase Of crime, the Insecurity Of u
CTS and property i'll this military district, the in,
in dciency of the civil law to punish offcnde,
~, and the small number Of troops under 4
LII command making it Impossible to give sui
lea protection to loyal and law abiding citizens
.cb would otherwise desire, you will, therefor
~. deliver the prisoners, Daniel Moone
his and Alex Brewer, now in your possession,
the citizens Of Atchison county for trial Al
punishment by citizens court. This cours
hs which In ordinary times, and under dif1ese
to circumstances, could not be tolerated, is re
dcrcd necessary for the protection of t
lives and property Of honest citizens again
10 the lawlcss acts # thieves and assassins, vi
Mt If late are perpetrating their crimes vi
4eAl4uA tnfuHN5f lu0 w plGfEAt "At[t4 III
the irg but the most severe and summary punis
lilc 1ntnt will suffice. In conducting these ire
~ n1ar proceedings, 1t is to be hoped that th
enc will be controlled By men Of responsibility
ub- and that cool Judgment aud discretion "
tho characterize their actions to the end that t
49, innocent may be protected, and the gull
uty punished. Respectfully.
the JAS. G. BLUNT, Major Gcn'l.
The day following the receipt Of tho abo,
the citizens Of the county met ut Atchis
for the trial Of the prisoners III questiu
They were tried in the most impartial ma
I'ne ner, and the testimony was such as Won
ing convince the most stubborn jury of tn,
'or- guilt. They we're sentenced to be hung, a
: of the sentence was put to vote Of the assernhl
- multitude. The verdict WAS unanimou.
no sustained, and the sentence promptly carri
>on out. The culprits died, each accusing t
In, other Of. inducing him to participate IN
-. robbery. Resolutions were passed sustaini
eet- the action Of Gen. Blunt, and promising
nan carry on the work until the disturbane
the ceased. There is great CONSERVATION amo
e,r the thicving fraternity, and it is thought tt
sAJ the exaullles NOW riren Hill be sufficient