Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-06-23
From the Arkansas Gazette, May %.
MORE INDIAN MURDERS.


MORE INDIAN MURDERS.
Maj MCCLELLAN, Agent oil Indian az
fairs for the Choctaw Nation in this Ter.
ritory, arrived here the beginning OF last
week, from Fort Smith, at which point
his Agency is established. He informs
Us that just before he started, a man ar
rived there from Red River, bringing in
formation that the Osages have recently
committed another outrage on our ci,i-
Gems, by the murder of three men by the
name OF Lawrence, an old man, his son,
and nephew, citizens of Miller county,
who, with party of ten or twelve, were
engaged in catching wild horses, on the
Foe Washita, branch of Red river,
and in country 10 which the Osages
have no claim. The old man and his
son, with three others, were in a party
by themselves, when they were suddenly
surprised by large party OF Osages,
and the two former killed. The me-
phew was in another small party, at the
time he was killed. The remainder of
the party then fastened to their camp,
reused those who had been left there,
and saved their scalps, by making pre-
cipitate retreat, but rot without having
to abandon their baggage, and about IS
mustangs which they had taken, all of
which fell into the hands of their pur.
suers. The old man had been engaged
in hunting mustangs for number of
hnR arol
friendly Indians in his excursions, and
was severely wounded by them on for
mer occasion.
AS Maj. Mcclellan came down, he
met deputation Of Cherokees, accom-
panied by Maj. Du Val, Agent OF Indian
Affairs for that nation, on their way to
Cantonment Gibson, for the purpose Of
holding Council with the Osages, and
demanding of them, satisfaction for the
murder OF two or three of their people
who were killed some years since, and
restitution Of several horses which had
been stolen by the latter nation. If their
demand shall no, be complied with, we
understand the Cherokees have deter
mined to wage war with the Osages i'm
mediately, and tina, they will be support
ed by several strong parties Of Shaw
nees, Delawares, and other tribes in alli-
ance with them. The Osages are said
to be considerably alarmed.
Lafer.-Since the above was written,
we have conversed with several gentle
men who left CantonmeDt Gibson only a
few days ago, and learned that the Coun.
Gil between the Osages and the Chero-
KEGS had broken up without an accom-
modalion Of their differences. The for
mer nation objected to treat.ag, i, corse.
quence Of lie recen, death OF their Agent,
Col. Nc Nair, and positively refused to
make the satisfaction required by the
other party, until another Agen. should
be appointed--The consequence OF
their refusal, was an immediate dec lara
ION OF war against them by the Chero.
kees--but, through the intercession Of
Col. Arbuckle, they have consented to
suspend hoslilities for the space of three
months, for the purpose OF giving the
Osages further time to deliberate on
the matter, and ior the appointment OF
an Agent, and receipt of instructions
from Washington City, which, it is hop.
ed, may have a tendency to prevent an
effusion OF blood between the parties.
We also learn, by the same gentle
man, that an express had been received
at the above post, from Cantonm en-,
fowson, bringing some further parlicu-
lars of the murder OF our cilizens on
Red river. 1t appears that there were
five hersons murdered, instead OF three,
as originally reported; and it is stated
tina, it is doubtful whether the murders
were committed by the Osages. Some
OF the Indians, it is said, were armed
with muskets, and dressed in SPANISH
uniforms, which makes it probable that
the outrage was commit,ed by the Pau.
nees, or some other nation living in the
Spanish country. We are assured by
Mr.. Chouteau, a respectable French
trader, who has lived and traded among
the Osages for many years, and is per-
fectly acquainted with all their affairs,
that there is not Spanish uniform in that
nation, and that they do not use mus.
kets. . -t..
We also learn that the express brought
Information, that party OF 80 or 40 ci-
tizens OF Miller county had gone out in
quest Of the Indians who committed the
outrage.
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FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The following letter to the editor, from