The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-08-28
Late and Important from Santa Fe.

SAD NEWS OF THE ST. LOUIS BATTAL-
ION-SEyERE BATTLE WITH THE IN.
IANS-EIGHT AMERICANS KILLED
FOUR WOUNDED!
To the very attentive ST. Louis cor.
respondent of the Louisville Courier,
we are indeb for the following inn
portant letter from the West:
CAMP ON ARKANSAS RIVER, July %, l847.
have no news worth transmitting TO
you, but what will be painful TO your
readers. We leftCouncil Grove when
wrote yeu last, the 9Th inst, and ar
rived here 90 miles below the crossings,
on last night. The battalion has moi
moved together since, we lett Fort
Leavenworth; Captains Sheppard and
Wecham were separate, while Cap
tains Cunningham, Paul and Ca:nes
were in one body, under the command
of Lieut.. Col. Easton. have never
heard any reason assigned why tho
other two companies do not join ",
although have inquired often.
On the evening Of the Goth instant,
while some of our men had crossed the
Arkansas river ION the banks Of which
we were encamped,) for the purpose
Of procuring fire wood, the Indians
pounced upon them, and before any as.
sstance could be rendered, eight OF
them were killed, and four wounded,
The alarm was soon in camp that the
Indians had attacked our men on the
opposite shore, and in lew moments
Capt. Barnes company, which, was
encamped at point nearest the river,
fastened to their relief; but before they
could get in musket range. the Indians
had made good their retreat on their
horses. McNarr's company Of Caval-
nv, which has been with US since We
eft Council Grove, were soon in their
saddles and in pursuit, but they did not
succeed in overtaking them.
The party of Indians which made the
attack was about so in number. Scout
ing parties, in all numbering, it is sup
posed, between three and four hundred,
were seen on the surrounding heights.
They were we'll mounted, and were, it
is supposed, Camanches. Fifty OF our
men were across the river at the time
the attack was made, but were in small
parties and entirely unarmed. Nearly
all OF the killed and wounded were hor.
ribly lanced and scalped. One ofthem
was literally covered with lance and
arrow wounds. The names Of the XII
led and wounded are as foliows:--
Company D.--KlIled-Capt. Paul, P.
Porter and Charles Frass. Wounded;
Company Of Capt. Barnes-Wm. Dun.
can, Lodwick, James and H. Barlow.
KiIled--V Volunteerregiment--J. john
son, and, wounded. We will re-
main here four or five days, to repair
wagons and to rig up Hayden's train
of wagons, which are now lying at the
Ford, the cattle for which were nearly
all stolen by the Indians, preventing
them from going over.
The report that the Fort had been
surprised by the Indians proves TO Be
erroneous, The Indians attacked and
killed three men, but did not burn the
Fort. .f
The man who built and has charge
of it says he will abandon it, unless
some thirty Of our battalion are order
ed 10 remain withhim-ofwhich think
there is no probability. s.9.
FuRTHER!-A letter from the Bat
talon dated 25th of July, informs US
that Capt. Shepherd moved on the day
previous, and that Captain Wechen
would leave on that day. Three com.
panies, comprising the Battalion, would
leave on the following day. Coons,.
and several of the traders, were trav-
cling in company with Capt. WGchcn.
The Baltimore Argus says:--"keep
it before the people that IN every war
:, ,,,L;oh we have been enpaued the