Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-31
Indian War in Oregonl

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| Seventy Days Later from Walia Walla.--
Massacre at the Presbytari1n .Mssion.-
Proclamation Of the Governor.
| Jos. L. Meek, ESQ.,, the celebrated
Oregon guide, arrived here, en- route for
Washington city, with dispatches for the
United States Government. A party Of
seven left, on the 9th of March, and trav-
elled 900 miles in sixty-six days-a part
of the way, in crossing the mountains, the
snow was four feet deep. He is speci-
al messenger from the Government of Ore
gon to the President of the United States,
asking for immediate assistance from this
Government, to defend the citizens of that
trritory from the depredations of the In
dams. -Four Of the most powerful tribes
have already commenced horrid and bloo-
dy war.
Mr.. Meek represents the state of affairs
in Oregon as most alarming and Distress
ing. Four battles had already been fought,
in all Of which except one-an attack up
on an advance guard which fell back up
on the main body the whites maintained
their ground. The last, and most desper-
ate, battle, previous to his departure, was
fought in February, on Big Plains, near
Walla Walla. Five hundred whites,
commanded by Col. Gillian, maintained
their position manfully against two thou
sand or more Indian warriors, of four
tribes, for seven hours-tll night--when
the Indians gave back little, and both
parties camped on the field. During the
night the Indians retreated. No whites
were killed, but a great number wounded.
Eighteen persons had been killed by the
Indians previous to the last battle. All
the Indians on the Columbia, below Fort
Hall, appear to be preparing for war
BY passing himself and party as English,
they had no difficulty with the Indians, but
as an Amer can, or Boston man, he
would, probably, have hadto fight his way
through.
A horrible massacre was perpetrated
on the 29th of November last, by the
Cayuse Indians at the Presbyterian Mis-
sion, at Waillalpu, in Walla Walla Valley.
Doct. Whitman, Mrs. Whitman, and nine
others were killed, and sixty or seventy
persons, men, women and children, were
taken prisoners. BY the courageous and
energetic effort of Peter Skeen Ogden.
Esq, Chief Factor of the Hudson Bay
company, at Fort Vancouver, the surviv-
ing prisoners were ransomed, and resto-
red to their friends.
Mr.. M. says, the settlers want help,
and help they must have, Immediately.
This gentlemen and his company have
had fatiguing and hazardous journey
They have been exposed to severe storms,
and suffered great privations; they were
obliged to kill seven mules for food, to
prevent starvation. The latest date from
Oregon city is January 20; the mail carri-
er who left there since for Walla Walla,
was killed and the mail lost.
They met about 200 wagons of Oregon
and California emigrants; the first about
200 miles distant; all getting along we'll.
Governors Proclamafion.--In consequence
of the low state of the finances of this
country, and the general impression be-
ing that the Indians in the upper country
were not united, small force was thought
sufficient to proceed to the Walla Walla
to punish the Cayuse Indians. ard proc
lamation was issued by me for one hun
dred men; since which information has
been receievd here, which leads to the be-
lief that the Indians have united, and the
force ordered out, in that case being in
sufficient, l, therefore, call on the citizens
Of this territory, to furnish five hundred
men, and appoint the following persons
brevet captains, to enroll such citizens as
may wish to enlist, viz:
Wesley Shannon, John Ford. Thomas
Mckay Champoeg county; John Owens,
VIM. Williams, } ohm Stewart--Polk coun-
ty; Philip Thompson, Geo. Nelson, Felix
scott--Yan Hill County; Isac w. Smith,
BENZ. Q. Tucker Tualatin county; James
Officer--Clackamas county.
The enlistments to be for six months,
unless sooner discharged by proclamation.
Each man will furnish his own horse,
arms, clothing, and blankets. The compa-
MES will bring all ammunition, percussion
caps, and camp equipage they can, for
which they will receive a receipt from
the Commissary General.
Here follow an enumeration of the pla-
ces Of rendezvous. Companies are to
elect their own officers, and proceed, as
soon as organized, to Walla Walla.
AS the Commissary General will not
be able to furnish sufficient quantity of
provisions for the army, the citizens oithe
territory are called to deliver to his agents,
all the provisions they can, that the opera
tons OF the troops may not be impeded
for want of provisions. Agents will be
appointed by him at Salem, Yam Hill
Ferry, Champoeg, Butte, and Portland.
In witness whereof have signed
my name, and affixed the Seal of
[r. S. the Territory, at Oregon City, this
twenty-ffth day of December, one
thousand eight hundred and forty
seven. GEO. ABERNErHy.