The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-12

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Sketch Of the Indian tribes Thsir hostility -Psussit Of
The muTdsrus Of Mrs Waite Mounted troops nsees-
sary 10 Tie protection of New Msxico.
Los vEoAs. IN NJ Dec. 1. ls49.
The Indian difficulties still continue in all quarters
The Euawr, Navios Apaches, and Jcorilles all at
open hostes, and unless the general takes
prompt and energetic measures 10 check them at once
will give infinite trouble. Most OF these troubles have
by American troops. The Mexcans with their inherent
cowardice accustomed 10 submit quietly to these
depredators, and allow themselves TO be plundered by
these maraudlng bands, until the Indians have been
taught 10 look upon il their natural and legitimate
right and 10th 10 yield this lucrative and easy mode
OF obtaining Subsistence.
Grande number about seven thousand They have been
hostile for the last fifteen years, but their hostility has
occasionally been interrupted BY short and eacheous
peace. The inhabitants OF New Mexico have annually
been laid under heavy contributions TO repenlsh their
hocks and herds. They more industrious and are
further advanced in civilization than any other Indians
bordering the county. They have no permanent ha6.
itatons, but cultivate largely and wheat to small
extent make blankets from the wool OF their herds OF
sheep OF which valuable and OF rare beauty
Some OF the fruits common to this climate, are also cul
tvated by them. But the great source OF their wealth
consists in their horses goats and sheep OF which they
have nsenumbers, and which, to considerable ex-
tent have been stolen from the New Mexcans and Pue
bio Indians. single Navijo will frequently have nj.
teen or twenty thousand head OF sheep and goats and
FIVE six hundred horses These horses are small but
OF superior quality, and will run for many hours with
out firing Col. Washington made movement against
them last summer, and, in skirmsh killed the principal
chief but afterwards made treaty Of peace with them
with which they have failed to comply in every partlcu.
lar and have since committed more depredaons than all
the rest OF the Indians combined Their chiefs have
but little influence and authority over them, and i will
be difficult matter to make lasting treaty with
them until they have been soundly whipped.
The Eutaws nhabit the north and northwestern from
tier and number between four and hve thousand They
brave, athletic. and warke, subsstIng entirely upon
plumber and the game OF the country Their only articles
for traffic their horses and dressed skins OF buaoes,
bear, and deer. Their hostility Il Of but recent date.
They have been pretty roughly dealt with once or twice
by our troops During the summer they stay ~ their
mountain retreats and Businesses and is impossible TO
wage war against them with any degree OF success
but during the winter they driven into the plains by
the SHOWS, and readily be overhaued Large
parties Of them go into the buffalo country every tall
when the buffalo are fat aad kill and dry Their meat
which furnishes Of their winters subsistence They
have been comparatively quiet for the last two months
and they forced by the snow to abandon
the mountains, they will again be suing for peace and
this amcable disposition will last just long as the
snow lies on the mountains
The Apaches nhabit the country east OF the Rio
Grande and north o. n ras6 ael nore 1a' maze ire
always The look out for small parties on the famous
"ornada del muerto or journey OF the dead man. ihey
very brave, but have Just appreciation oil Mex
lean valo and will attack Mexican party with much
less dsproporon OF numbers than they will party OF
Americans. Major Steen LIST dragons, commanding at
Dona Anna, has had several skirmshes with them, IN
OF which he was dangerously wounded, but ne has
measurably recovered. They raise grain whatever
The maguey root which has swedish and rather
pleasant taste when roasted forms important Item OF
their diet Wild game is very abundantin the mountains
they inhabit.
The Apafhes bordering on New Mexico do not num-
Der over five thousand
The Jicorilles tribe OF the Apaches, inhabit the
northwestern frontier, Though numbering not over fye
hundred they have very much annoyed the inhabitants
from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe. They efemi-
and cowardly men, attacking or lighting I'M
less they have the advantage They make rough earth
burt
for blankets and ammunition, with which they sup
piled by the Mexican traders who 60 among them These
Indians have had several blows during the past
Lieut. Burnside with detachment Of Bragg's Bate
ry Tell upon party OF them last August, and cut down
thirty with the sabre, and took seven prisoners
But nine ten OF the entire party escaped Ihey were
afterwards oyerhaued by Captain Papin's company OF
volunteers Major Ger has just returned from an expe
dtion against them In October, Mr. White, merchant
of FL Paso who was bringing out his family, lett his
irain the weather was becoming too cold and disa
greeable for Mrs White and child. and came on in adj
vance, with party OF eight persons .,-;,..
from Los Vegas, the first settlement, and killed MIR.
White and all the of the party, taking Mrs White,
was reported 10 The Commanding officer Of the depart
ment, Major Grief ordered with his own company,
and Captain Vadezs company OF volunteers, to proceed
70 rescue MIs White, u possible axIng MI larson ,,
the oil The outrage, thence 10 follow the trail The
Indians had taken every precauton TO avoid pursuit.
lney travelled IN every uecuon, one Jay gong east anu
the next going west, encamping near where they had
been the previous night On leaving camp, they had
moved off in small parties, dvergng in many directions,
and together after getting some miles distant.
Though seventeen days had elapsed. the interchangeable
Kit Carson and Lerieux followed the trail with the pre-
cison and certainty OF bloodhound, coming on the
camps night after night their precauton
Major Grer finally upon OF the camps, the fires
OF which still burning and imagining that they had
got OF his approach and flying he gave chase,
and after running about sixteen miles he came upon
them They had again encamped, and were only APP
priced OF his presence by OF their hunters few
minutes before he was on them. They had time, how
ever 10 mount their heetest horses and Major Gres
were much fatgued that the Indians could readily
outrun them. Five six were killed and three taken
prisoners In their fight they abandoned everything,
and threw their children away they ran 50 much
they pressed Their lodges, horses saddles, brides,
Blankets ammunition, provisions, dressed skins
lin word, everything except their denuded
and the horses which they rode, captured Fifty
animals packed with the most valuable things the
rest were burnt When Major Grer got on the ground
which had been occupied by the Indians he found the
body OF Mrs. White transfxed with an arrow-eless.
but still warm. She had evidently been put TO death,
and thus freed from her suerngs al the time the alarm
was given She still had her Bible and prayer book,
which had been her companions during her captivity
They marked at various places where she bad been
reading. The child and negro grl were not seen or heard
of, and they are doubtless with the Indians.
Major Grier had Mrs White buried dccenty as cir
sumsiances would admit; and, that the Indians might
discover her resting place, and that her bones might
lie undsturbed he burnt grass over her grave, and set
fire 10 the prairie around II.
Besides the Indians above enumerated there the
Camanches Arapahoes, and Cheyennes. all bordering on