The National tribune., 1883-03-22

| full and prominent He was rather stoutIy
| built, and wore full gray beard that gave him
a dignifed look In fact, be was rather a ine-
/ looking old gentleman-a man that one would
/ take to be well-to-do and well-posted old
| farmer who had the cause of Kansas at heart
/ He talked good deal about the treatment that
| slaves received and how the country was then
suffering from the cursed institution, and de-
| clared that the day was not iSr distant when
| every slave in the United States would be q
| free man, and the Abolition party in a few
years would control our Government OF
/ course we didn't believe all of that and gava
the old man to understand that We were not
| "AboLtlonists," but Republicans. The old
mans eyes twinkled as he said: "Young
men, do you know what an "Abolitionist" ist
l have in my pocket full definition of ths
word, taken from Southern standpoint.D
THE SOUTHERN IDEA OF AN ABoLrFIoEIsr.
He then pulled from his vest pocket scrap
| OF paper. It was clipping from some South
ern newspaper, and it gave the definition Of
the term by telling what constituted an
Aboiitionist. / well remember part of it,
winch was as follows: An 'AbOlisiOniss is
any man who does not love slavery for its own
sake as a divine institution who does not
worship it and desire TO see it extended and
perpetuated over the whole earth He who
does not love slavery with this love is an Aboli-
zionist" The above definition was An eve
opener to me. OF course we had no such love
for slavery, and, according to the above defini-
ton, We were not Republicans but Abolitionists.
The chambers of my brothers house, where
was then boarding, was al in one apartment,
containing three beds Upon cur retiring I
was somewhat surprised to see John Brown
kneei at his bedside and pray aloud
| There were six persons in the room at the
time. He asked God 70 watch over and pro-
teet the Free-State settlers of Kansas, and
especially to protect them from the pro-sIaverys
border rufhan hOrdes from Missouri He praved
that God would open the eyes of the Nation
that the people might gee the great crime OF
slavery, and wound up by impIOring Him to
strike the shackles from the millions Of slaves
and make them free men and women forever
We had never before even thought that John
Brown was a praying man, and I then could
hardly see how he could deliver such power
ful prayer and be ready the next minute TO
fight the pr0-slavery party. But / learned
during our civil war that praying men make
the best fighting men," Some were a little
inclined to scott at his praying that night, and
seemed to think that ne was putting it all on
for effect, but have not tE&least doubt but
that he considered himself an instrument in
the hands of God to free the slaves. aud, in
directly, that proved to be the case. The next
morning. soon after breakfast, he left Lebanon
as quietly as he came. No one seemed TO know
what had brought him there OF where he WAS
going, but it was generally thought that there
was something IN the wind, and sure enough
there was. l again quote from my diary:
Dec 20, Is5S.-Last night John Brown went over
into Missouri, near the line, the Osage and kid
mapped six slaves, and Is now running them North
by the underground railroad A large party OF
Missourans in hot pursuit. while great many
are gathering Just over the line and near Barnes
VILE with loud threats that if the slaves are not
returned they viii burn every Free-State mans
house on the Usage Great excitement among the
ara
coming into Lebanon.
Something had to be done, and that quickly
Couriers were sent out in all directions to caE
the Usage rife company together Messengers
were sent down the river to Barnesville to
watch the enemy, while others went north ia
the PottawattOmie to intercept John Brown and
ask him to return and fight his own battles At
that time the Usage rifle company numbered
about sixty men, all mounted Oa the I'D
OF December we moved down the river about
eight miles and went into camp. We detailed
guards, sent out scouting parties in al direc-
tons, told stories, fought mosquitoes and
rested on arms At that time the New
York Tribune had kid gIoved reporter
in that section, and he was with u.s. He
was jolly, good little fellow by the name
OF William z. TOnlinsOn, and was always
on hand for the latest news He rode
small mustang pony, and in crossing the
Usage river the pony swan from under its
hN
hand the Tri5aHe would have had no report Of
that expedition I5 was said during the civil
war that reporters never got killed. although
they were constantly IN the most dangerous
part of the field. / then thought that it was
no easy matter to drown one If he should
chance upon these lines he VIII remember me
as the boy who hauled him out of the river
and / should be pleased 10 hear from him
through the columns of The NATIONAL TRIs-
UNE or personally.
WAITING FOR SOMETHING To TURN UP.
We remained in camp all day waiting for
something TO turn up. About dark an anti
slavery man by the name of Raws0n, who
lived short distance from orr camp came in
and reported seeing body of men some five
miles below and near the mouth of Elk Creek
Soon after, ore of our scouts reported sighting
body OF men crossing the prairie and making
in the direction of Elk Creek Whether they
were a band OF MissOurians, who had followed
John Brown north, and had given up the
chase and were now returning or John Brown
coming back to protect the settlers. no one
could tell About ten o'clock the moon rose
and we then resumed our march. After cross
ing Elk Creek, near midnight we were halted
by the challenge, Who comes there3" To
this mot knowing whether they were friend
or fOej we answered, .'jay-hawllers," The
response that came back was John BFownlT
A few men were visible about one hundred
yards away, and they proved 70 be John Browns
plckets- They requested as TO 90 down % their
camp which was about one mile below. and sc
or near the mouth Of Elk Greek We hurried
on rapidly and soon reached their camp
Captain Brown had a company of men that
had long been with him. Among them were
his three sons, viz, Oliver, Watson and Owen
Brown, and son-in-law by the name Of
Thompson.
The old man gave Us IN account of his visit 20
Missouri, and how they had run OF the slaves
and seereted them over on the Pgttaw..-suaie.
where our messenger had overlook him and
reported the great excitement on the Usage.
He expressed his readiness to fight the border
rutians if they should molest the settlers. or
if fighting was what they wanted. The next
morning council of war was held ard it was
decided that our company should return to
their. homes, and that Captain Brown and his
company should watch the border That day
he moved on down to BarneSville near ths
State line, and went into camp. He bailt forth
hcationS and made arrangements for REGULAR
siege. Our own company returned TO Lebanon,
quieted the fears of the settlers, kept , sharp
lookout and slept on cur arms for we were
liable 70 be called out at any time During
the next few days the air was full OF flying ru-
mOrs of inyaSiOnS from Missouri attacks on
BarneSville and collisions with the border ruf-
fans; but IN about three weeks the exeitement
quieted down again-the NissOurians LETT the
border and went to their homes, and John
Brown and his company went back 10 she Pot