The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
EDIE NOT Ar osAwAToMIE.
Kansan Corrects Statement Regarding
John Brown Battle.


John Brown Battle.
Lebo. Kan, Aug. 17.-An article ap-
peared ina Kansas City paper-fn June,
as a special from Ottawa, KAN, stat
ing that Captain J. S. Eide of Lebo
was in the fight at Osawatonie. Cap
half-bTether of Ottawa asserts, and he
prepared the following statement to-
day setting forth the facts:
THE statement made by my half
brother. Miles c. Gilliland OF Ottawa,
stating that I was in the fight at Osa-
watomie with John Brown is untrue.
He was honestly mistaken and desire
to state how and why he is mistaken.
my brother at that time was a
small boy at home, and belonged to
company called the Ottawa Creek
Home guards, organized for home pro-
lection, also to protect other places
when thought to be in danger of in
vaders. Two or three days before the
fight at Osawatomie our captain,
Samuel Shores, received message
from John Brown stating that they
were in danger of an attack and for
our company to come to their relief,
had been at Osawatomies about two
days, as I remember, we received a
message from home that there was
danger of an attack there and for US
to come at once: T.
1--WE started for home early in the
morning the day before the attack on
Osawatomie. We went directly to our
company's rendezvous on Ottawa
creek, near where Captain Shores then
lived, about ten miles north OF where
the city of Ottawa now stands. known
then as the Ohio City crossing OF the
Marais des Cygnes river, and immedi-
ately sent out scouting parties
"One man of GU rcompany. who
was killed (not the Dutch Henry of
early Kansas history, but another, ana
I believe a much better mani. be-
lieve the band of men who We're
troubling our people at home was q
part of the main force which formed
| the main force in the night and at
| tackled Osawatomie the next morning
between daylight and sunrise with a
force of about four hundred men. We
received news of the fight and started
all over before we could possibly get
there, the fight lasting only about one
| hour. We learned the particulars,
| however, in less than twelve hours
after it was over from persons Wno
were in the fight, and the statements
that Captain Robert Shearer of Paola.
| Kan. made of 1t a few weeks ego are
| correct and just as learned them IN
less than twelve hours after the battle.
| .aPhe statement that my brother
makes that we arrived in Kansas in
| October, 1854, is correct, ana l was IN
ali the Kansas trouble in 1856 and
1876. was personally acquainted with
John Brown and Fred Brown Fred
Grown was John Browns son and not
his brother, as understand has peer
stated.
"When I left home about three days
before the Osawatomie fight told my
people that I was going with the com
| pany to the defense of Osawatomie
and did not get home again until 1ne
i Osawafomie troubles were all over. M.
i hrother did not consult me befor'
making the statement for the OF
tawa reporter, honestly believing tina
7 was in the battle at Osawatomie. bu
the statements that I make mere II
regard to the trouble at that time ar
true as I remember them. and l wa wa,
not in. the fight at Osawatomie Wit
Iohn' srown. for the. reasons hereil
J state. and. do not desire and VIII no
claim any honors which 40 NOT osion'
to me. ]. ;. ED1E' Aepo' 1>o"'