Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-23
CHOLERA IN DETROIT
INDIAN WAR.

DETROIT, July IL, 1882.
Dear Sir-The cholera continues to prevail in
this city. Between thirty and forty cases, in all,
have occurred; and of these about eighteen have
resulted in death. Most of the others are con-
yaescent; the remainder doubtful. Facts and
experience have fully demonstrated here, that
the disease is not contagious, but epidemic, and
that undue excitement and fear exercise an active
agency in producing the mortality among its sub
jccts The town is almost deserted by its labor
ing inhabitants; and the countenances OF the re-
manning citizens, with some few exceptions, ex-
hib,t marks of unusual depression and melancho.
ly. This is greatly to be lamented. The effect
is unhappy. With every determination to resist
the mental contasiou. occasionally find myself
just in the act yielding TO il. My family have.
so far, entirely escaped, How long this exemP-
ton may continue, know not; but l 90 not al.
low the idea of dread to prevail among them,
and believe that, up 10 this moment, they have
not known what apprehension on the subject was.
| regret to add, that the intelligence from the
regular troops is disastrous. OF the three com.
panics of artillery under Colonel Twigss, and
two or three more companies of infantry with
them, few remain. These troops, you will re.
colIect, landed from the steamboat Henry Clay
below Fort Gratiut. A great number Of them
have been swept of by the disease. Nearly all
the others have deserted. OF the deserters,
scattered all over the country, some have died
in the woods, and their bodies been devOured by
the wolves. | use the language of gallant
Young officer Others have taken their flight to
the world of spirits, without companion to
close their ewes, or console the last moments OF
their existence The struggling survivors are
occasionally seen marching, some OF them know
not whittier, with their knapsacks on their backs,
stunned by the terrific inhabitants as the source
Of a mortal pestlen,e.
You will remember that the troops under Col.
Cummings, several Of whom died here, embarked
ON board the steamboat WIN. Penn, on Sunday
last, for Chicago. The sickness among them in
creased as they proceeded to Fort Gratlot, aud
became so great by the time they arrived there,
that they were dsembsrked, and have returned
to the vicinity of this city, aud encamped at
Snrinowalls, about three miles below town. Sc
yenteen or eighteen of them have died, and some
Of them still remain sick, probably never to re-
cover One half of the command OF Zen. Scott,
ordered to Chicago by the Lakes, will never
reach hun; large portion of them dying; still
larger number dcserting from an overwhelming
dread of the disease, and the residue obliged to
march back again.
Col. Twigss himself, and Surgeon Everett, have
both been attacked, and are very low. lhey
were still living at the latest accounts from Fort
Gratiot, and sanguine hopes were entertained VI
their recovery. No other officers have yet been
assaulted, except Lieutenant Clay, lot New Jer-
sevA whose death was mentioned to you 10 my
previous letter. -, -,
This is gloomy picture: But it is literally
true.
We have had intelligence from the scene Of
Indian war, Yesterday and this morning. Gene'
raj Dodge, near Galqna, had encountered ban:
dnti of savages, consisting OF twelve, and Killed
every man OF them, scalping eleven Captain
Stephenson, near the same place, had encounter
ell another body of them, and killed six or seven,
losing three of his own Den. The hight was
close and desperate, the instruments OF the san
ru,narv contest being chiefly bayonets, knives
and tornahawks. ;,
The most unfavorable part of the war intell
sence is, that Black Hawk, With the main lndi
an army. had retreated to the west OF the Missls
sippi, where it will be difficult to take him, l
il to he honetk that peace will never be made Will
him or anv Of his hostile allies, until they ar
niaced beyond the possibility Of committing ano
! Their depreciation or massacre. Inc frontier III
babitants have become exceedingly exasPerated
and manv Of them. without knowing the real 81
tuatiou Of General Atkinson. have blamed his ap
paren,Iy slow movements. have no doubt tina
he has. under the circumstances, acted for tn
hest. Yours truly, JOHN NORVELL.
RopERr Nouns, ESQ. Editor of the Inquirer