The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-27
COngressmanCalderh toUrge
OsawatOmie Development.
Will Talk at Dedication of John
Brown battle-ground.
DRILLING FOR TROOPS
Col. Roosevelt Talks After Ar
rival on Wednesday.
Other Items of General Interest
to Kansas Readers.


Osawatomie,- Kan, Aug. 27.-The
dedication of the battle-ground OF Osa-
watomie as a state park at which The
odore Roosevelt will be the central
figure, begins here Tuesday next-the
fifty-fourth anniversary of the battle.
Colonel Roosevelt will be here Wednes-
day. Tuesdays program will consist
of drills by United States troops,
and Kansas National guardsmen, mus
ic and addresses. among them one by
Representative w. A. Calderhead on
the question of encouraging the. state
to make a beautiful park Of the his
toric grounds that are to be dedicated
next week.
A tract of twenty-five acres, the
supposed scene of the battle. was pur-
Women's Relief Corps of the Kansas
G. A. r. and given to the state. On
this spot, where 81 years ago John
Brown. the abolitionist, with hand
full of men defied an army or 400 IN
one of the most memorable struggles
of the border war, the exercises are to
be held. The place is to be called the
John Brown park.
The battle of Osawatomie. the
first instance in which the anti-slav-
cry men of Kansas, known as the Free
State party showed organized assist
ance to the hands of pro-slavery ma
rauders, commonly known in that day
as "Ruffians" was fought August 30,
1866. A few weeks prior to the battle
the town of Lawrence, the headquar-
tiers of the Free State party had been
sacked by pro-slavery forces. -Four
cannon were trained on the Free State
hotel and the two anti-slavery news
paper offices and three buildings were
completely destroyed. Homes were
burned, stores and houses pillaged.
There followed a night of drunken
orgy by the triumphant marauders. A
quarter of a million dollars worth OF
property was destroyed.
The destruction of Lawrence brought
matters to a head. Emboldened by
success the Pro-Slavery leaders. back
ed by guerillas, mostly from Missouri,
openly avowed a policy of extermina-
ton. AS pro-slavery newspaper an
noCnced it, they set out to tar ana
feather, drown, lynch and hang every
white-livered abolitionist who pullut-
ed the soil of Kansas" The stern John
Brown who, with the spurs, recently
had come out from the east, was one
of the first to aspire to leadership of
the Free, State fighting forces. With
the sack of Lawrence as capital he be-
gan to arouse his party to armed re-
sistance The battle of Osawatomie
was the direct result of the sack of
Lawrence.
Hearing of Browns plans a band of
Gen. John w. Ried, marched on Osa-
watomie where Brown was gathering
his fighters. After crossing the MariaS
DIES Cygnes river, at a ford four miles
below, the band marched on the lit
tie village about daylight. Their adj
vance guard met Frederick Brown, son
of John Brown, attempting to reach
Lawrence.
"Good morning, boys" said Brown.
care you going to Lawrence?'
mot that we know Of" replied the
leader of the guard, and shot the son
of John Brown dead.
Word of his sons death reached
Brown before the Ruffians entered the
village. Forty-one men were all he
could gather. With these he took up
back of the village. The first attack
which was made on the right wing of
the Free State troops was repulsed.
Then the Ruffians brought up the one
solitary cannon which comprised their
artillery. They placed it in position
about 400 yards from Browns line,
loaded it with grape shot and turned
it loose. But their craftsmanship was
SO poor that the Brown men suffered
nothing from the cannonading.
Disguised with the gun the Ruffians
abandoned it. All dismounted and
charged at the little enemy in the
woods. Browns men held out stolidly
against ten times their number until
further resistance meant massacre.
To save themselves they were compel
led either to retreat or surrender. Most
of them escaped across the Marias de
Cygnes, some going in boats. some
swimming.
The leaders went on into Osawato-
mic and began the pillage of the de-
fenseless town. All the houses but
foru were burned. Then the Ruffians
left. Their baggage train consisted of
twelve covered wagons. two filled with
men who had felt Browns lead, and
the other with plumber taken from Os-
awatomie citizens. The Ruffians took
seven Free State prisoners, two of
whom they shot.
Historians never have agreed upon
the loss to the invaders in the battle.
1t has been placed at from five to thir-
ty killed. John Brown lost six men
killed in the woods.
The three survivors of the battle of
Osawatomie, the only ones so far as is
known, are to be here for the dedica-
| ton. They are Edward P. Bridgman,
| of Madison, Wis, who will have his
three sons with him; D. w Coils, of
| Santa Monica, Cal, and Luke E. Par
sons. of Salina, Kan.
TEACHING HOME ECONOMICS.