The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-10-23
News from the Army,


WANT OF MORE MEN, AMMUNITION AND PRovI-
| sIoNs-Ihesto following letter was received in this
city yesterday afternoon from Capt. Maxon, by ex-
| press, borne by Mr.. c. w. Cooke of the army. The
news of the melancholy death of Col Gillian, as
| it passes from mouth to mouth casts a deem gloom
the cOunenances of the citizens of this valley
! Mr. Cook was in the engagement mentioned in the
| letter below, and represents the suffering of the
| little party which pursued the enemy as immense,
! and the conflict at the To0sha ford as terrible
| Capt. MaXOn calls for men, ammunition, and pro-
visions. There is considerable ammunition in the
country and it should be freely advanced for the
| use of the army. There is sufficient wheat and
flour in the country to supply with bread, until next
| harvest, every white person in Oregon We have
several times called upon the people through the
columns of the Spectator, for bread for the army
| Capt. Maxon now calls, and may his call touch
! chords which OuTs failed to reach.
Gentlemen of the Hudson Bay Company, in
rescung the unfortunate prisoners from the Indi-
ans, performed an act worthy of eternal gratitude
the expense of which we hope will some day be
cancelled. Very much Of the ready means of the
country is in the hands of British subjects. Will
not they render further assistance in the pres
ent crisis
Capt. Maxon asserts that Maj. Lee possesses the
confidence of the army, and we are happy in being
able to announce that this gallant officer has re-
ceived and accepted the appointment of Colonel of
the First Regiment of Oregon Riflemen, in the
place of Col Cornelius Gillian, deceased Col.
Lee has also received and accepted the appoint
ment of Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the
place of Gen. Palmer, who has resigned this office.
Clothed with the powers of a civil and military
office, Col. Lee will return 10 the army with in
creased powers to serve his country.
WAsKoPAM March 18th, 1s48
the sudden and unexpected death of Col Cornelius Gillian,
who shot by accident the Path inst, while his
way TO this place. | at a dlEtance from the wagon
where the accident occurred and therefore refer the
notes OF his bTOtherinaw and s0nnlaw for particulars.
You doubtless advised of proceedings up TO the
10th ins at which time left Fort Waters with about
200 and proceeded in search of the enemy far north
the TOosha river; at which place met StccaI with
murderers give up Some 50 head of cattle half that
AZ o sg PGne1 co 9a IAN @ =, o1ng a@ Of
the 18TH Capt English with number Of others, whose
horses were too much reduced to continue the pursuit
ordered back to the fort with the property and the remain
ing l58 men continued the pursuit till r NJ, when
There Johnson Wetepoleske's son came to US with as
sqances Of friend from the young chief and solemn de-
ClafaOns that he would have no hing TO do this
matter johnson informed that the young chief was
camped the short distance above The enemy
divided and dispersed Tam Sucis gone the land of the
red wolf TOquOt and the remsiqder of the murderers
gone the preceding day down 10 the mouth OF the river
GTwO Cannon) to cross Snake river into the land OF the
At dark we mounted proceeded TO the mouth of the Two
Cannon, in the vicinity of which we arrived about two
stock we rested TIL daylight when we moved down upon
them wholly unpeTceived until within half mile Of their
camp.
descrbabe it nevertheless failed deprive them of their
long sighted policy of cunning and deception by which they
have so often escaped vigilance: and uDon Uhi" ''
out vRh Uyads OF then camp we were met et by an
W " n and wn1d moi fight us That the mnrdet
e were gone and our only resource would be to take their
stock, with which the hills around were covered
armed but from their repeated assurances OF friendship were
ordered fire. but to proceed to the hills and collect IN
their stock When reached the highlands, Snake
river just below, full of their stock; swimming over and
thousands ascending 6 e 9Pe sa Of 9 Roe aR os snd
proceeded about mile on our route 9 he tort when we
had inst spared and Pelouches the number of about AGO.
We continued very warm marching Hght I'LL about DARK
eDcamped small stream without fOOd or hTe
Iey H tI53 Ne tnTDad ont me stock Al daylight
we renewed march and with it the fight, as vigorously
the day preceding, until within about two miles OF te
river to get posseson of the brush the ford in which,
owing the swness of their horses they partially succeeded
The history of warfare contains few instances 81
greater Indian proves and daring than the scene which fol
lowed The struggle for the ford was obstinate io some
time; the fire OF the comDatants inlhgng
the obstnacy Of the combat And here must say haa 1t
not been for the bold and decided stand OF lew young men
at the most vulnerable point the amy must nave
a heavy loss crossing the stream perhaps been thrown
our our rifles had flushed The long battle ended We
were all the river alive and but nine or ten Wounded
none mortay Ii was not with enemy. The deaf
eE ~ boTrs had died away-tbeir shr war whoop
es i3 I 3 tn he esncholV death song@whe number
of their ieles brothers, who lay on the nelu heaIu not e
They called off their wariors-more anxious to leave the
ford Of the TOosha than they had been to gain IT, We
moved to the fort at which place We arrived on the eve
ming of the 10Th, down with fatigue and hunger
nothing but small colt Tor three WO
days after council OF ofcefs was eOhYeneu ~ wli IL
was resolved that had accomplished all we could without
more men and ammunition and that was best for l5O Of
Us TO proceed forthwith TO hls place. ana remove %
cheney of ammunition, and confer with you on the lahe
US in pursuance Of this resolution when the fatal accident Of
his death occurred at the spring this side OF the naLa
/ river We brought with all the wagons but tWo ana
find here about 80 men, no ammunition ana te ProS3nS
the war and have the Indians in the valley in month";
stealing our property and numbering the iOnueT selusI5
Waters will not accent the chief command. We must have
commander of prudence, wisdom and perseverance anu
men You have thee there either OF whom has the conn
dence Of the regimenaMaJor Lee as iuy as any ps on
force of less than 500 men cannot successfully Cy
offensive operations the enemy have thaL ioIce VI to
within fifty miles OF Fort Waters What men MG nave orc
in destitute situatlon-s0me almost WINCH b g
without horses the principal portion Oh me noses we nave
to them What few remain not worn out are In the hahds
The ANY 6eafens soon to be dbanded account Of
the expiration of the time OF many who made short enlist,
baya enlisted for but three months-Captain Thompson
bGt four months This should be investigated. There are
| most without ammuniton-wholly without bread:
shall be constrained remain here until receive farther
orders from yon, for which shall look with an possible
speed. Their situation Is truly critical one, and there Is nc
! ammunition here to take them. .,.;r
If there continuation OF operations nope lIieIe WIN
he patriotism shown in the valley OF the Willamette
| Indeed there must be. or we are lost. .,,,
Join u.s. The Colonel wrote them, if they would deliver
The D Sg and Waa Waas both would help
Necessary were the proper course taken with them .
Several of the quite anxious to return home
save their farms learning that who have stayed
home have been so unmany to occupy them their alb
sence decided stand of the citizens, well as an assn
rance from you that their rights will be protected would b.
productive of beneficial results. Yours,
H. J. G. MAxON,
GEN A, L, LoVEJOY. Capt. 4th Company, q. K.
Statement RETIRED TO in Capt .Ma10ns Letter
FoRr WAsCoPAM, March 18th, 1913
We were within fifty yards of the deceased Colonel whe
he shot. We heard the discharge Of gun and som
one said, there is man shot" We went on and "eF
told it Col. Gillian.
When arrived at the spot we inquired how I haPpenel
and were informed that the Colonel went to the nina pa
the wagon tn get rope, stake out his horse WIN tna
California remarked that ne would get 1t tor him. anu W
TO the fore part of the wagon for that purpose anu E
hold of mat and pulled it, when gun IN the ~ mi
charged and that supposed that the coz y @
Cdushl III lie mat winch "" ~ A. GAGE,
WIN SHAW.
STONE Coal AND OREs.-Mr. Moses n. mel
Iogg has shown us the cooper tobacco box man
uiactured from the virgin ore OF oregon wlILou