Arkansas intelligencer., 1847-09-04
Deprtdations Of the Indians.


The Union has been favored by the war De-.
oartment with the Official accounts Of an attack,
which has occasioned much attention from the
western papers, and excited considerable in.
forests:
CAMP ON THE "ARKANsAs," June 81.
Sir-I have the honor TO report that company
"B," Ist Dragons, marched from Fort Leaven.
worth on the 7th inst, to join the army in New
Mexico, -esortng some three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, Government funds. On our ar
rival at "Pawnee fork" (about three hundred
miles from Fort Leavenworth) we found two
''trains'' of wagons bound for Santa Fe, and one
returning to the United States. The day before our
arrival, one of the trains for Santa Fe, and the
one for the United States (encamped about one
mile apar,) were attacked by the Indians, sup
posed 10 be either Pawnees or Osages, leach tribe
receiving an annuity.) All the oxen OF the re.
turned traiE were driven of and killed in sight OF
Pawnee Fork. One man Of Mr.. Wenihered's
trading party was severely wounded-anced in
five OF six places. | at once deter To travel
with the trains for Santa Fe, and give them all
the protection in my power. Our first day
march from Pawnee Fork 5rought US on the Ar
kansas river, whero encamped; one train n
quarter of mile from the river; tho other nearly
the same distance from the river, and three or four
hundred yards from the first. With my compa-
ny encampcd on the bank Of the river, between
the two trains. ~
On the morning Of the 26Lh. Just as the oxen
of the first train turned of the coral Ia pen
formed by the wagons,) the oxen Of the second
about turning out to Craze, and the horses Of the
company were pickeled, the Indians made their
appearance half mile distant. in full chase after
the oxen. The herdsmen used every eGor, to
drive tho oxen back into the coral; but unable to
do so, placed themselves between the oxen and
Indians, hoping TO prevent their being driven off
The Indians charged boldly amongst the oxen
frightened them and drove them into the prairie
wounding in the charge two three herdsmen
As soon as ! saw the Indians, | ordered the com
pany 10 saddle. Some Indians seeing my in,en
lion TO pursue, Immediately appeared on the oppo
site bank Of tho river, numbering fifty or on,
drod men. 1t now became necessary for me
10 protect our own camp; therefore dsmountec
all but % men, and stationed them around this
camp. The 25 men | ordered. under Sergcan
Bishop, 10 pursue tho Indians, and recover the OK
en-. When the sergeant arrived IN the vicinty
of oxen, the Indians swarmed in from all drec
tions and completely surrounded his platoon: he
charged fearIessly amongst them, but our horse.
being wild and unaccustomed 10 the yes of the
Indians and shaking Of bakets, (nI! done 10 fright
en- the horse,) could not be held by their rilers
So great was the number of Indians, supposed tc
be three hundred on the north side, and two hun
dred the south side of the river, that all hope
of cutting a way through 10 the oxen aban.
doned. 1t is with the deepest regret that | have
TO report five Of our best men killed: Pnvales
Aredge, DIckhart, GuskiIl, Short Wake; and Ser.
geanl Bishop and five mon woudcd. Sergeant
Bishop (who gallantly led the chargc) and pri,
Yates LoveaEce and Vankaster are severely
wounded; privales Bush, Wilson and Ward
slightly. With pride call your attention TO the
Hoo, t,,ft r ,b.
shown in the list Of killed and wounded.-
The number of Indians killed and wounded We
have no means Of telling, as their dead were car.
ricd off the fed.
: The oxen OF one Train having been driven of
cncamped both trains together. and shalt remain
with them until enough trains arrive to take the
Government property TO Santa Re. would re.
spCctrully call our attention 10 the fact that il is
the determination Of the Indians. headed. as
have every reason to believe, by white mon and
SPonarJs, 10 destroy al the Government proper.
ty in their power. 1t would seem al frs, sight
that one company of soldiers ough! TO be enough
TO secure any number of oxen and mules from
indians; but sir, you must reflect that the animals
OF train have 10 be scattered over a Ia rye extent
OF country for grazing; that in an attack it j,
nearly as much us company Of dragons can dc
TO prevent their horses from taking a stampede
that the Indians. thoroughly acquainted with Tho
country and constantly having spies TO watch on
movements, never attack unless every thing is il
their favor; that being the most expert horsemer
in the world, they are enabled to mnE. an attack
alarm the animals and be out of sight in very
short time. You can judge, when from the timC
they were first seen approaching, on the 2Gth
until they had the oxen over the river and out o
sight vas not moro than half an hour.
The only way then, sr to insure safety 10 public
property on this road is, in my opinion, to sta
ton about 800 mounted men al Puwnee Fork
300 near the crosscng of A Arkansas. and 100 u
| or near the upper CIneron Spring, these to hav,
their permanent encampment ut these points, bu
10 scour the country in all directions and at leas
keep the the lndIans in check if they canno. cate
them. Scarcely party has crossed the prairi
this sping and summer without being harrasse
by them deem it my duty to make this repor
10 you, believing proper represention has nc
been made TO you Of all the outrngcs commitlo
by the Camanches and other lnGlns during tn
last SIX months; and to represent the imporlanc
OF taking active measures 10 secure safety 10 III
provision trains. There was for, or depot es
IabIished by the Quartermaster's Departmer
near the crossing of Arkansas; but This wa
worse than useless, as the Indians kept the fe,
men there Penned up, and have eventually sue
ceeded in compelling them TO abandon and bur
the fort. This learn from a wagon master. -