"Fort Scott, K.T. [Kansas Territory], Apr[il] 22, 1838, Gov[ernor] [James] Denver, Dear Sir, Yesterday some of Jim Denton's gang from the Osage, to the number of 20, commenced robbing pro-slavery men and national free-state democrats on the Marmiton [river], above town. The Marshall and 20 men under Capt.[ain] Anderson went after them and chased them into some timber, behind a bluff from whence they fired and mortally wounded one soldier, scratched the Capt.[tain] with a ball, killed two horses and hit the Capt.'s [Captain's] horse in three places. The Capt.[ain] sent for 20 more men, with long guns. When they got there, however, and charged on the ravine the scamps had made their escape, leaving all sorts of plunder, which they had been carrying away. We had hoped they would have all been caught. The affair created great excitement here. It is said they notified all Pro-slavery men to leave the Marmiton. - What are we to do? The very old Nick is in the people for mischief. The great mass of the settlers are well disposed - but this organized band strikes terror to them. Yours in haste, Geo[rge] A. Crawford."