Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-01-04
From the St. Louis Republican
Murder Of PaWns.s byU.S.trOOpsin cold blood

Last evenings mail brough, US letters
from Fort Mann, the headquarters of
1t. Col. GILpIN's "Indian Battalion"
dated on the 18th Of November. They
were brought to independence by trad
ing train, and convey intelligence which
will shock the sensibilites of the Ameri-
can people. From these letters, we con.
dense the following statements:
On Tuesday, the 10th, between three
and four o'clock in the afternoon, a gen.
eral alarm was given in camp the opposite
side of the Arkansas. For few minutes,
there was much confusion and excitement
in the camp. Many were mounted on
the top of the walls of the Fort and OF the
few houses attached thereto, some looking
through spy-glasses, and all intent upon
discovering what was to be seen. Some
supposing they were buffalo, and others
supposing that they were the animals
belonging to the battalion, hearing at a
distance. But it was soon determined
that they were Indians, and that they
numbered nearly a hundred strong.
When this was ascertained, the men
were ordered to arms. Three companies
were paraded inside of the Fort, when,
after the lapse of fifteen or twenty minutes
they were misunderstanding been inform
ed they were party of Pawnees, suppos-
ed to be friendly. They approached the
Fort with several white flags, forded the
river, and encamped about quarter of a
mile below the Fort. The chief, who is
said TO have been dressed in the costume
of a Mexican officer, continued on up to
the Fort, and was met by the officer. in
command, Capt. Peltzer-Lt. Col. Gilpin
being absent. They saluted each other,
and signs ofshe usual friendly character
passed between them. Capt. P. escorted
the chief with a few of his warriors,
about the Fort-showing them his artil-
lery, and causing one piece to be discarg.
ed, to show them our superiority in arms
and appliances over them. a.t ~
After taking him through theFori, Capt.
Peltzer made signs to the Chief to bring
his men to the Fort;this order was at once
responded to, the Chief marching before
his men, soon seventy in number, all
brave and warlike looking men, with
nothing save buffalo robe around them.
Before entering the fort, the Chief stopped
his men and addressed them, in shor
but emphatic speech, to which they seem
ed to yield their assent. After being
satisfied that no suspicious rested a
gainst them, they proceeded to the Fort
where all of them gathered around one
of.he cooking fires. From that place, the
latter says, ''they were invited inside o
the Fort, for what purpose | was at a loss
to know, bu! have been informed will
the avowed object of disarming them. NJ
sooner had such preparatory steps beer
taken, than the whole party seemed in
simultaneously to have their suspicion:
aroused, and they made one general rusl
for the gate, intermingling in every direc
ton with our men who were outside q
the Fort. Orders were Immediately givel
, to fire upon them--and by few the or
! der was promptly obeyed. l say q fen
as there were but few who were in read
l mess, some Of them happening to hav
their arms outside of the gate. Heweve
t it was not long before the companie
, were all armed and in pursuit of the In
dians, but they were soon beyond III
3 reach of our guns. On returning to tn
4 Fort, we found that three Indians wer
, wounded--one shot through the leg, an
y one through the body, a wound whic
f must prove mortal-and the third was Gu
over the head, but not dangerously. Blu
this was not all the blood shed--for tire
I more Indians were found in Captain Pei
f tiers quarters, who had gone there I'm
suspectingly, and were afterwards unabl
to make their escape and were murders
in cold blood, by order of Captain Peltzer
Four were thus killed, two were wounde
and are prisoners, and the supposition i
that some fifteen or twenty were wounde
five of them MORALLY, outside of tn
fort"
!, Gen. Price, with his escort, passed For
Mann on the 18th 'ult., accompanied b
! Major Beale, on his way to Santa Fe
HE made but short stay with us, bu
=, gaveius, information of train that was bu
a few days behind MIN, with provision
for orr use this winter. The Genera
was well and in good spirits. Our tw
. mounted companies were expected {
winter at Fort Scott, but have been Oh
dered to the Big Timber, some seventy
= : five or eighty miles above US. Their ratio
= and forage having been sent to Fort Scot
: they will be obliged to receive supple
, from US. unless Col. Gilpin should succee
! in.getting the same at Bent's Fort whithe
= he has goue." ei
@Two sexons met, the other de!