The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-29 00:00:00

FIGHT WITH THE INDIANS IN

CALIFORNIA.

The following is taken from a letter, dated San
Francisco, August 20, relative to the actions that
have taken place between the United States' troops
and the Mohave Indians :
" By the overland mail which arrived this morn-
ing we have received the following important news
from the Mohave country. The correspondent of
the Star at Los Angelos, writing from Fort Ma;
have on August 6, furnishes the following :
" Major Armistead left Fort Mohave with 26
men late in the evening of the 4th inst. for the
lagoon, 15 miles below this fort, the head quarters
of the Mohave Indians. Lieut. Marshall was
directed to follow with a reinforcement of 25 mem
early next morning by the mail train. Major
Armistead succeeded in gaining the head of the
lagoon by a circuitous route, unobserved by the In•
dians, during the cover of night.
" At about six o'clock on the morning of the
sth he commenced to reconnoitre down the left bank
of the lagoon. The trails leading down showed
heavy signs of Indians. He had not proceeded
more than a quarter of a mile when three Indians
were espied on the opposite side of the lagoon plant-
ing beans ; three men crawled up the bank and fired
upon them and killed one: the others fled and gave
a yell, which soon the whole country about seemed
to reverberate. After proceeding about half a mile

further through the heavy thickets of arrow wood,
the major thought it prudent to return to the head
of the lagoon, as the Indians apparently were ga-
thering in large force. Here at the head of the
lagoon, on the right bank, he took a position, the
men deployed in groups of four each, at about 20
paces interval, occupying the high grounds on the
edge of the lagoon. The lagoon here is about 25
yards wide. On the opposite side of the lagoon
from this position is a dense thicket of arrow wood,
along the bank of the lagoon a few scattering cot-
ton wood. To the rear of the position, and close
up, is a grove of mesquit, the ground open and
clear underneath. Here they awaited the Indians,
which was not more than 20 minutes, when they
commenced to show themselves in large force, sur-
rounding the position, and closing in on all sides,
within short range of the rifle muskets, which were

soon brought into play with deadly effect. Major
Armistead thus fought them for three-quarters of
an hour against overwhelming numbers, which
were increased every moment by the arrival of
fresh warriors from the more distant places, when
Lieut. Marshall arrived with a reinforcement of 25
men. The lieutenant had heard the firing when
yet some four miles from the scene, and hurried his
men up at a double quick. The Indians upon the
extreme right wre taken very unexpectedly by
the arrival of this party in their rear, which Lieut.
Marshall immediately charged, driving them from
their position.

"'Major Armistead, learning the proximity of
the second party, immediately ordered a sergeant
and eight men to cross the lagoon, and charge the
Indians in front in the arrow wood, which was suc-
cessful, and drove the Indians beyond gunshot.
Major Armistead, recalling these men from the op-
posite side, ordered Lieut. Marshall.to cross and

' iake a position on that side. The Indians, though
forced to retreat, were not beaten; they soon rallied
and returned to the fight, attacking the party of
Lieut. Marshall with great pertinacity. This con-
tinued for some 10 or 15 minutes, when he was
ordered to fall back again, recross the lagoon, and
take a position facing to the rear parallel to the first
party, as the Indians were showing a disposition to
charge the position on all sides at the same time.
Not liking this manceuvre, they withdrew them-
selves out of reach of gun-shot, giving occasionally
a few random yells. The men finding nothing more
to do crowded under the shade of the mesquit trees,
as the sun was very hot; they remained for about
two hours without being disturbed.
" Mikjor Armistead, believing the Indians to
have given up the fight, ordered the command to
fall in, and commenced the march back on foot.
The command had not proceeded far when the
Indians again rallied, and crossed the lagoon at the
position just left in great numbers.
" Major Armistead, anticipating the attack,
halted the command, faced by the rear rank and
deployed them on the bank of the lagoon, which
was here wide and deep. The whole bodT of In-
dians came running up, yelling and whooping, and
charged fearlessly upon the command, the bravest
of them coming up to within 10 and 15 yards of
the muzzles of the rifles. These, however, paid
dearly for their temerity ; the steady and well-
directed fire of the men held them in check, when,
after 30 minutes' hard fighting, Major Armistread
ordered the command to, charge them, which was
done fearlessly. The Indians raised and broke in
every direction, perfectly discomfited ; not a yell or
a sound of any kind was to be heard from them
after this ; the victory was complete. Twenty-three
Indians were found dead close to the position ; the
ground further off was not reconnoitred. In fact,
many were seen carrying their dead and wounded
from the field. It is supposed that some 50 or 60
have been killed. Of the command three men were
slightly wounded. The command returned to the
fort on the evening of the sth inst.' "