Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-28
BATTLE OF 0SAWAToMIE
Scene of the Most Memorable Com
test in Border War About to
he Dedicated.

test in Border War About to
BE Dedicated.
The field of the battle OF Osawatomie, to be
dedicated this month by Theodore Roose-
Welt, is not large. Neither were the forces
that struggled against one another there
on August go 1856, But the battle they
fought was the most memorable of the
border war.
Captain John Brown, DIR. w w. Upde-
graft and Captain Cline commanded the
defense and General John w. Reid was
in charge of the 400 Missourlans who were
the invaders. After crossing the Marais
des Cygnes at Bundy's ford, four miles
northwest of Osawatomie, the invaders ap-
preached the little pioneer town about day
light. Martin White, a preacher, acted as
guide Frederick Brown, son of John
Brown, had planned to return to Lawrence
that day. On his way to a neighbours home
he met Reid and White with a small ad-
vance guard.
Good morning. boys; are you going to
Lawrence today?" said Brown, as he
saluted.
why. 1 know YOU" replied White, and
taking deliberate aim with his rifle he
shot the son of the abolitionist leader
dead in the road. This was shortly before
town and reached John Brown half mile
from town. With Cline and Updegraff, he
collected the men as best ne could. Learn
ing that Reid had a cannon with him, the
defenders decided to abandon the block
house and Brown and his "army"-forty-
one men in all-took up their position in
the timber along the river, on the south
side, facing south Brown had seventeen
ha ri had hon
in the center. Cline had fourteen men on
the left. In the Emlgrant Aid company's
mill, further to the left, there was Pap
Austin, an eX-regular soldier, equipped with
rifle carrying an ounce ball
When the free state forces were being
arranged in the timber the Missourians
were passing within 600 yards OF them.
Holmes, a volunteer advanced toward the
top of the hill southwest of the town to
reconnoiter. and finding the enemy close,
fired, wounding an invader. Holmes then
retreated to the free state lines and was
pursued by the invaders, who formed a
line along the high ground where the John
Brown monument now stands Then they
fired three guns, said to be a signal for the
Brown forces to surrender But Brown had
no such idea and If he understood the
meaning Of the signal, he gave his troops
no intimation that he did He had given
strict orders to his troops not TO fire a shot
until he had given the order to fire. But
the sound of three shots was too much for
the volunteers and believing that the battle
had begun, they commenced firing. Jason
Brown was one OF the first to fire.
The first attack, which was made on the
right wing of the free state troops was
portially repulsed. Then the Mssourians
brought up their solitary cannon and placed
1t in a position about 400 yards from the
timber where Browns men were stationed.
The gun was loaded with grape but did no
harm, the craftsmanship being poor Dur
ing this time the Free State men kept NOV
! ing east and returning fire of the enemy.
Finally the attackers got Disguised with the
cannon dismounted and made a charge into
the timber. Then the main body Of the
Free State men, having calamity held their
own against ten times their number for an
| hour, were compelled TO surrender or r