Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-08-12
CORRESPONDENTS or THE pHGvIx.
TOPEKA, KA., July 81, 1864.

TOPEKA, kA., July 81, 1851
Dear Ph@nir The last excitement which
we have experienced is an Indian war. Last
Sunday messenger arrived from the West
bringing intelligence that the whole frontier
was swormiug with redskins that Fort Learned
had been captured, and that the whole militia
of our western counties had taken the field.
Monday the news was partially confirmed.
Learned had not been captured, but the entire
stock in the neighborhood had been stampeded.
The cavalry company on duty at the Fort los.
ing every horse. Extensive depredaions are
reported on the Santa Fe road, and we know
Of some half dozen trains trading between
Kansas City and Santa Fe which have been
taken by the Indians. Troops have now been
sent 10 the scene Of danger, and We hope that
the next news will report all quiet on Cow
Creek and the Smoky Hill.
In Missouri affairs are a little mixed Two
or three weeks ago Coon Thornton took Platte
City and raised the rebel flag almost in sight
Of Fort Lea, enworth. A force Of about 1000
men under the command Of Gen. Davies, how
ever, sent out from Leavenworth and Weston.
soon dispersed the guerrlas and sent some 10
of them to their long home. Another force of
bushwhackers is supposed to be in Cass COun-
tv, Mo-, near the Kansas border, hut Gen. Nc
Kean is at Paola, Miami County, Kansas with
considerable force and it is thought that
successful raid into this State would be impos-
sible.
Artemas Ward in some of his papers speaks
of "Regiment of Brigadiers." This depart
ment though not blessed with such an organic
alton, seems TO have been made dispensary of
poor officers, or such as have incurred the dis
pleasure of the powers that be, and we have as
our military force for the protection OF this de-
pertinent three Major Generals, three Briga-
diers, and about three thousand men. | I'M
derstand that there are now tlcenty-Seren Ma
jors on duty at Fort Lenvenwor,h Does it
not look as if the Lincoln administration was
open 10 some of the charges Of extravaganza
made by the supporters of Fremont.
Kansas is again showing its patriotism and
its wonderful capacity for raising soldiers in
raising a regiment of 100 days men. Five
hundred were mustered last Thursday, and the
regiment will soon be full. 1t will be known
, as the Kansas Seventeenth.
, w. ID. Mathews, q coored man in Leaven-
worth, is raising battery OF black men. Math.
2 ews has been commissioned as Lieutenant and
recruiting officer, and the blacks are promised
! that all their officers shall be black. The black
t do not show so much of an inclination 10 a sol
dier's life as do the whites, but the battery vii
probably be raised.
Sam. Hallett the General Superintendent o
e the Pacific Railroad. was shot last week in Wy
Is andott by man named Talcoit, who had bee
u his chief engineer. on account of some person
a al difficulty between them. | trust it will no
" delay the building Of the road which is nov
= completed nearly to Lawrence.
VI Reports from all parts Of the State are en-
v conraging in respect to crops, and TO the gene
raj prosperity of the people. good raj
: would be very acceptable now, as the dry weatf
!, err has made the grass in most portions of til
u State decidedly short, SO that hay will be scare
and high. A soaking rain would yet remed
}, that evil, as most Of the haying in this State
81 done in September
II Yours truly, W. R. B.