Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22
STORMING AN INDIAN STRONGHOLD IN
CALIFORNIA.

The Sonora Herald of January 25 gives the following in
restng account Of the taking Of Indian rachera among
the mountains, about the headwaters Of the Maposa The
expedition undertaken Of the murder Of three
men at Savage's Camp, on the Fresno creek
"a company of seventyve men, well equipped started
from Aqua Frio under the guidance Of Savage After
Yelling distance the company divided into two boz
dies having charge of the provisions and baggage who
directed encamp while the others pushed in search
Of the Indians. The latter DIVISION forty five in number
continued on the trail till dusk, when Savage told them he
heard Indians singing and said it would not be safe to adj
any further All Stood STILL but none could hear the
singing except Savage himself. oHl
They then crept along very cautiously little further in
their stocking feet and laid down for tho night arranging
themselves in suitable for defence. With the first
gmmer Of light morning they sawan Indian on peak
acting sentinel. He looking directly at them, and
continued to do SO for time. But they remained
perfectly quiet be unable to detect the of the OBJ
jec before him until the light became stronger and then he
suddenly gave whoop Instantly the Americans sprang to
their feet and rushed toward the ranchea They had
climb up the walls if climbing The spot selected
was impegnable by nature Mr. Wilson said that dozen
white could defend against thousand Of their
equals. tr fa
sit vast basin in the top Of mountain with walls
almost perpendicular down which large and rocks could
be rolled upon army Of assalants completely pre-
vent them from climbing the steep and rugged sides. But
the Americans gained the heights before the alarm had been
sufficiently given and then ensued most ferocious engage
ment, which lasted three hours and half Forty -four Of
LnQlaDS ancheria hTed. Screech
ing that followed described most heart.rendng aud
there be little doubt that many Of the old women and
children were burnt DEATH The loss on the American
side killed, nortay wounded, and five six
others more or less injured M .E8.@ %,
"Ths ranchera is described the largest yet dis
covered California; covering about four with the houses
hus It was wholly unknown to Savage himself Seve
raj tribes collected together and the number Of braves
warriors could not be less than thousand From four
to five hundred present at the engagement have de-
scbed and they said that six hundred had been sent of to
attack Maposa The location of this ranchea the
Isno, about forty miles from Savages camp, just the
encement of the SHOWS 10 the mountains. sixty
venty miles from Sonora. &" ssaE ~ sts9 81
eater the battle over, the chiefs from the hill tops
told Savage that they would have shown better fight only
six bundled Of their braves had been sent destroy Mari
posa and that white would be found alive there.
Savage says the force of the Indians is much greater than
has been supposed heretofore They raise fifteen
thousand braves and according all accounts the Of
braves not applied incorrectly They say that all the In
dams from Oregon the Colorado eagued together and
have eternal enm the white face hence and
Savsge has disguised himself be recognised
by the Indians The miners in all that section Of country
have left their work and ocked Aqua Fo for protection
Almost every animal the Tuolumne and MERGED has
stolen, and there is at present neither security for life pro-
perry company of about hundred and sixty efficient
men has been organized for protection Aqua Fo, and al
ready proceed to battle ammunition provi
sons and moderate pay for time furnished by the Legs
lature. i1'atH3 t ssa t43@ r58@E ts' ESQ.,
"Maposa has yet been attacked and the rumor that
seventy miners had been killed Ratesnake creek ap
pears TO be without foundation" g sa7g