Year: 1877

that month, with arms and provisions
J to march into Kansas. In response Il
his appeal force of two thousand ,hei
: from the counties of Lafayette. Jackson
Johnson. Platte, Saline. Ray. Carroll ant
J Clay assembled at the village OF Santa Fe
) and invaded the Territory. This fore
was divided into two columns, one unde
the command Of Senator Atchison march
) ing to Bull Creek, and the other unde
General Reid advancing on 0sswatomie
Reid's c@mmand numbered nearly 50l
men. They were well supplied with
small arms and had several pieces o
artillery. John Brown, like Cesar. coulc
not only plan campaigns and fight battles
but could write their history. HI de
scribes the battle of Osawatomie in ths
following language:


Early on the morning of the 30th o
August the enemy's scouts approached tc
within one mile and half of the western
boundary OF the town Of Osawatomie. Al
this place my son Fredrick X (who was
not attached to my force) had lodged
with some four other young men from
Lawrence, and n young man named Gar
rison, from Middle Creek.


The scouts led by pro-slavery
preacher, named White, shot my son
dead in the road. whilst he-as ha, G
since ascertained supposed them to be
friendly. At the same time they butch
cred Mr.. Garrison, aud badly msngled
one Of the young men from Lawrence,
who came with my son, leaving him for
/ dead


This was not far from sunrise. / had
stopped during the night about two and
one-half miles from them, and nearly one
mile from Osawatomie. bad no organized
I bsnt ~. II
cruits who were ordered to leave their
preparations for breakfast, and follow me
into the town as soon as this news was
brought to me


"As ] had no means Of learning cor
rectly the force of the enemy. placed
twelve of the recruits In log cabin. hop
ing ne might be able to defend the town
/ then gathered some fifteen more men
together. who were armed with guns, and
We started in the direction Of the enemy
After going few rods we could see them
approaching the town in line OF battle
| about one half mile off. upon a hill west
of the village. then gave up all idea of
doing more than to annoy, from the tim
ber near the town. into which we were
ell retreated, and which was filled with a
thick growth of underbrush. but had no
time to recall the twelve men in the log
house and so lost their assistance in the
fight.


AT the point above named, | met with
Captain Cline. a very active young man,
who had with him some twelve or fifteen
mounted men, and persuaded him to 90
with US into the timber. on the southern
shore of the Usage, or Marais des Cygnes,
little TO the northwest from the village
Here the men. numbering not more than
thirty in all, were directed to scatter and
secrete them elves as best they could,
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 Captain Cline aud some of his
men were not even dismounted in the
fight, but cannot assert positively. When
the LETT wing of the enemy had ap-
preached within common rifle shot, we
commenced firing. and very soon threw
the northern branch Of the enemy's line
into disorder. This continued some fif
teen or twenty minutes, which gave US
an uncommon opportunity 10 annoy
them. Captain Cline and bis men soon
got out Of ammunition, aud retired across
the river.


after the enemy rallied we kept up
our fire, until, by the leaving Of one and
another, we had but six or seven lett.
We then retired across the river


We had two men killed. Mr.. Powers,
from Captain Cline's company-in the
fight. One of my men. Mr. Partridge.
was shot in crossing the river. Two or
three men who took part IN the fight are
yet missing, and may be lost or taken
prisoners. Two were wounded, viz: DR.
Updegraff and Mr.. Coils.


4" 4 cannot speak in too high terms of
them, and many others who / have not
now time to mention.


"Some OF my best men, together with
myself, was struck with a partially spent
ball from the enemy, in the commence
ment OF the fight, but we were only
bruised. The loss / refer to is one OF my
missing men. The loss OF the enemy. as
we learn by the different statements OF
our own, as we'll as their people. was some
thirty-one or two killed. and from forty
to fifty wounded. After burning the
town tn ashes, and killing Mr. Williams
they bad taken. whom neither party
elaine d, they took hasty leave, carrying
their dead and wounded with them
They did not attemps to cross the river.
nor search for u. aud have not since re-
turned To look over Their work


I" / give this in great hsste, in the midst
of constant interruptions. My second
son was with me in the midst Of the fight,
and escaped nnhaImed This | mention
tor the benefit OF his friends


"Old preacher White. ] hear. boasts of
having killed my son. Or course he is a
lion.


"J0HN BRowy


The battle OF 0sawatomie was the most
brilliant and important episode in the
Kansas war Ii was the high divide OF
the contest. Its importance cannot BE-
exaggerated. Ii was our Thermopyle.
and John Brown was


OUR LEoxIDAs


with his Spartan band. Thenceforward
there was no sneer that the abolitionists
dared not fight 1t was evident that
somebody was in earnest. The numbers
engaged were comparatively insignificant
No sonorous bulletins announced the re
suit There was little of the pride and
pomp and circumstances of war. There
were no nodding plumes. no naughty
banners, no stirring blasts from the bugle
calling the warriors to arms. But when
freedom recounts the sacrifices Of her
sons she does not ask the number or rank
of those who fell. Winkelreid is as dear
TO her as Washington, and Osawatomie'
il as sacred as Bannockburn or Bunker
Hill At her behest to day we reclaim
om common dust the sacred ashes OF
the martyrs OF Osawatomie. The sunshine
OF innumerable summers shall smile upon
this consecrated sward. The hearts OF
the generations that follow us shall swell
At the contemplation Of their heroic self
devotion, and guard with jealous care
this sacred sepulchre.


Nor shall their glory be forgot


While Fame her record keeps,


Or Honor points the hallowed spot


Where NaloT proudly sleeps.


Nor wreck, nor change, nor winters blight,


Nor Tunes ReInorseless doom,