The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-29
Deprcdations or the Indians.


We have been favored by tho War Department with
che ooial OF attack which has occasionsd
much stsntou from the Western papers, and excited
considerable interest
CAnP on THE ARxAxsAsn June n, 1917
Sin III have the honor to report that company "B,i'
l,t Dragons marched from Fort Leayen worth on tha
7th inst to JOIN the in New Mexico sscorting
funds On arrival ct Pawnes Fork" about three
hundred miles from Fort Leavenworth) We found two
tr.ns OF wagons bound for Santa Fe and one return
Ing the United States Tho day before arrival
Of tho trains" for Santa Fe and the for the United
States asoat one mile apart were 10y
the Indians suppossd to be either Pawnees or Osages
(each tribe receiving annuity All the oxen OF the
return train were driven Off and killed 10 sight of
PAwuse Fork. One man Of Mr.. Weathered's trading
party severely woundedauoed in dve six places
at ds 'rminsd TO travel With the trans for Santa
Fe and give them all ths protection in my power Our
tlrsJ days march from Pawnse Fork brought the
Arksusas river where encampsd train quarter
OF mile from the river tho other nearly the dis
from river, and three four hundred yards
from the irst With my company encamped on the
bank NJ the river, between the two trains.
Ga the morning OF the 2sth--just the oxen Of the
rss train were turned out Of the coral "a pen formed
by the wagons the oxen Of the second about turning
out to Craze and the horses Of the company were
psckst.d--tho indians made their appearance halt
mile distant Ia iul chase after the oxen. The herds
used every effort to drive the back into tho
coral but unable to do 80, placed Themselves between
the oxsa aud indians hoping to prevent their being
frightened them, and drove them into the prairie
wouadnx in the charge two three herdsmen. As
sooa as saw the Indians, ordered the company to
ssids. Some Indians seeing my intention TO pursue
immediately appeared on the Opposite bank Of the river
nuIloerinx nifty hundred IL now became
necessary for me to protect camp therefore,
dsuonted all but IS men, aud stationed them around
tue canp The as men ordered. under Sergeant
Bishop to pursue the Indians, and recover tho
Whsn the arrived iu the vicinity Of the oxen
tho Indians swarmed In from all directions, and com
pletsy surrounded HIS platoon no charged fearlessy
amongst them but hopses being wild and unaccus-
toned to the yes Of the Indians aud shaking of blsn
kst (an done brighten the horses could not be held
BY their riders SO great was ths number Of ndians
supposed to be three hundred the north SIDE and
two hundred on the south side Of the ryer-that all
NAV tn tha han
doned II Ia with the deepest regret that have to
port i've of our best men killed privstes Arledge,
Dckhsrt Gaskin, short, and Wake; aud Sergt Bishop
and five men wounded Sergeant Bishop (who 30 gal.
ianty led the charse and privstes Loveace aud Van
and Ward slighty With pride call your attention to
the gallant conduct OF this platoon of thu company,
shown In the list OF killed and wounded The number
indians killed an iwouuded means Of telling
as their dead were carried of the field
Ths ox9n OF ono train having been driven of, havt
them until enough trains arrive take
property to Santa Fe would respectfully call your
tsnon to tho fact that It Is the dermi the
dams, headed Gas have every reason to beiovs) By
Will men and spanards, to destroy oil thu
that company Of soldiers ought DO enough to
any NUN Der Of and mules from indians but.
sir you must reflect that tho animals train
DO scattered over large extent Of country grazing
that in an attack it is nearly Is much company OF
dragons do to prevent their horses from taking
stampede ~ that the Indians thoroughly acquainted
with the country and constantly having spes watch
onr movements never attack unless every thing s in
their favor that being the most expert horsei en- in thu
world they enabled to make attack. alarm thu
animals and be out sight 10 incredibly short time
You can judge when from the time they first
appro ichins on tho 2Gh until they had tho
the river and out of sight, not than half
hour
The only way then sir TO insure safety to public pro
party on this road L. iu my opinion, station about
800 mounted men at Pawnee Fork 900 the crossing
OF Arkansas, and 800 more at the upper Cine
ron spring These troops TO have their permanent
campmsns ut these points but to the country
directions and at least keep the Indians In check
tney cannot eaton them Scarcely party has crossed
The prairie this spring and summer without being ha.
tsssed by them deem it my duty to make this report
to you believing proper representation has been
made TO you Of all the outrsges committed by the Gu
nanchus aud other Indians during the last sX mouths
ana to represent the Importance Of taking
surcs to insure safety to the provision trains There
was fort or depot established by the Quartormasters
Department near the crossing of the Arkausas but this
vas worse than useless the Indians kept the few
there penned up aud have eventually succeeded in
pollug them to abandon and burn the fort This learn
from wagon master The only way to deal with thesa
indians is 70 station force in their country pursue
aud whip them for any nisconduct.
vans JNO LOVE
lst Lieut.. LIST Dragons, comd'g comp. Is.
Brisader General K Jones
Adj. Gen U, j. Army, Washipgton.