Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-09-08
OLD SERIES VOL. D, NO. 80
REPORTED BATTLE BETWEEN THE

Indians ana the CuttfOrntu EmtgfuntS!
The following account of reported battls
on the plains, is from the ST. Lonis Reveillej
Extra, of the 10th inst. The Revelle does
not appear to have much faith in i,s truth.
From the Plains Battle betueen the Indians
and California E,nigronts-1t 1trenty persons
Killed and Wounded-Vagons Seized and
E,nirrants taken Prisoners.
The following letter was received at inde'
pendence by merchant of that pace, from
California emigraut which we believe is
the only intelligence received as yet, giving
any account of the horrible affair; and We
can hardly credit il on this account for there
would have been most certainly some other
letters coming through at the same time; as
we have the letter, we give it for what 1t Is
worth, although the story appears TO be lit
tie doubtful:
SoUTH Pass, June IS, 1912.
Dear Sir:-This morning at 2 o'clock, we
were aroused from our slumbers by an exi
press rider, who states that the emigrants at
Fort Hall ION Snake river,l were In fierce
strife with the Indians. The express rider
did not stay with us long, and all lcould learn
from him, was in substance the following
He states that when encamped at Fort Hall;
tribe of Indians Uhe name OF which he did
not know,) numbering about two hundred,
attacked them about day-break; on Sunday
morning, and after turning all their mules
and oxen loose, and making general search
of the wagons, they were put to flight by
about dozen of the emigrants, who fired
upon them, killing one or two and wohnding
some half dozen. But while the emigrants
were capturing their stray cattle, the Indians
returned with greatly increased force, and
commenced desperate attack upon those
that were in search Of their mules--killing
three of them, but he only remembers one Of
their names James Welby.
The emigran,s at this time mustered all
their men together, numbering from one hun:
dred and fifty TO two hundred, and under
command of Capt. Cunningham of St. Louis;
were determined TO protect their lives and
property. They stationed themselves In and
around their camp; and about O'Clock, in
| the afternoon, the Indians made their ab.
pearence, and after lurking around for half
hour, srthck up tremendous yellj which
could have been heard mile on the plains,
and rushed into the camp, whereupon, Cap
tain Cunningham ordered his men to fire upon
them, which they did with great afect-kill-
ing four or five and wounding eighteen o.
twenty. The Indians were prepared aId
fully determined upon their intent; they sei
up their war-whoop, and fought bravely, and
caused the engrants TO retreat some distance,
killing Mr.. John Ransom, Joseph Span,
Joseph Nevland and two or three others,
whose names are not recolected wounding
Captain c. TODD, Gray Dunlap, and King,
and number of others, bnt none, he be.
lieves, dangerously.
In the course of half hour after their 70.
treat, the emigrants again rallied, and with
renewed vigor and strength, met the red
skins face to face in open combat, but were
again repulsed; nothing daunted, they sp-
preached tie Indians the third time, and
commenced a deadly attack. and after .
fierce struggle Of forty minutes, the red skins
were obliged TO retreat, and leave the field
10 the conquerers.
He further states that ho does not believe
there were more than five or six Of the emf
grants klled-,hree of them he said were
teamsiers.
| When he left the camp the dead and the
dying Indians We're still on the ground, and
several were made prisoners. ..