The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-02-09

lt was she light at Osawatomie, August
80, that gave Captain Brown his sobri.
quet of "Osawatomie," by whi,h ho was
long known. When one of his question.
ers at Iarpcr's Ferry said Are you o.
awatomio Brown" he modestly answered
II tried to do my duty there" How he
did it will appear from his own ancouut
of the fight, written few days afterward
at Lawrence whittier he went with his
little band. after the Missouri forces,
three or four buudred strong, had retreat
ed.
THE FIGHT OF osAwAToMIE.
Early in the morning of the Both Of
August, the enemy's scouts approached
to within one mile and half of the west
ern boundary of the town of Osawatomic.
At this place my son Frederick (yho was
not attached to my force) had lodged with
some four other young men from Law.
renee, and u young man named Garrison,
from Middle creek.
The scouts, led by a pro.slavery
preacher named White, shot my son dead
10 the road, whilst he-as | have since
ascertaiped-supposed them to be friend.
ly. At the same time they butchered
Mr.. Garrison, and badly manged one Of
the young men from Lawrence, who came
with my son, having him for dead
This was not far from sunrise. had
stopped during the night about two ard
one-half miles from them, and nearly ore
mile from Osawatomie. had no organ
lied force, but only some twelve or fif-
teen new recruits, who were ordered to
leave their preparations for breakfast,a and
follow me into the town as soon as this
news was brought to me
As l had no means of learning correct.
ly the force Of the enemy,I placed twelve
of the recruits in Lighthouse, hoping we
might be able to defend the town. then
gathered some fifteen more men together,
whom VIC had armed with guns and we
started in the direction of the enemy.
After going a few rods. we could see
them approaching the town in the line Of
battle, about one-half a mile off, upon a
hill west of tho village then gave up
all idea of doing more than to annoy, from
the timber near the town, into which we
we're all rotreated, and which was filled
with thick growth of underbrush, out
had no time to recall the twelve men in
the log g.house, and so lost their assistance
ia the fight.
At the point above named [ met with
Captain Cline, q very active young man,
who had with him some twelve or fifteen
mounted men, and persuaded him to 20
with us into the timber, on the southern
shore of the Usage, or arais.dcs-Cygues
a little to the northwest from the villae,.
Here the men numbering not more than
thirty in all, were directed to scatter aud
secret themselves as we'll as they coull,
and await the approach Of the enemy.
This was done in full view Of them (who
must have seen the whole movement) and
had to be done in the utmost haste. |
believe Capt. Cline and some of his men
we're not even dismounted in the fight, hat
canuot assert positively. When the l. #
wing of the enemy had approached to
within common rife shot, we commenced
firing and very soon threw the northron
branch of the enemy's limo into disord r
This continued some fiftesn or twenty m Il
! utcs which gave us an uncommon oppor.
, tunity to annoy them. Capt Cline aud
his men soon got out OF ammunition, and
retired across the river.
After the enemy rallied, we kept up
} our fire until, by the leaving Of one aud
} another, we had but six or seven left, We
, then retired across the river.
We had one man killed. Mr.. Pow
J ors, from Captain Cliue's company
the fight. One of my men, a Mr.. Part
, ridge, was shot in crossing the river. TSC
( or three of the party who took part il
the fight, are yet missing, and may h'
t lost or taken prisoners, Two we're wounl
: ed, viz, DR.. Updegraff and Mr., Coils
. cannot speak in too high terms o
Q them, and OF many others have not no y
e time to mention.
,, Que Of my best men, together I'll
myself, was struck with partially sp,
T ball from the eucmy in the commence
i ment OF the fight. but we were oni.
l. bruised The los. OF the enemy, as ",
+ learn by the diifereut statements Of on
n own, as well as their people, was som'
thirty-on or two killed. and from 70 t
t to fifty wounded. Alter burning I
!. town to ashes, and killing a Mr.. Wilis III
h they had taken, whem neither part
a claimed, they took hasty leave, carryin
i their dead and wounded with them The
r did not attempt to cross the river, nor :
}, search for US, and have not since returue
t. to look over their work
Is give this in great haste in the mi Il
NJ Of constant Interruptions. My second 70
'e was with me in the fight, and escaped IN
n harmed. This | mention for the ben j
d Of his friends.
l. Old Preacher White, hear, boasts q
Ie having killed my son. OF course he i,
lie lion. JOHN BgOwN.
e Laurence, Kansas, Sept. I, 1856.
y; TIE QUEBEC ASYLUM HoRRoR -QueLe,