The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-04-04
STOR MING A STRONGHOLD
~ CALIFOR MA.

pl l!lc idhiHG hl dN lDuldn ihH'icIId
among the mountains, about the head.
wayers Of the Mariposa. The expe,
dition was undertaken on account Of
the murder Of three men at Savagc's
Camp, on The Fresno creek:
"A company of scvcn'y.Iive men,
well equipped started from hgua
Frio. under tie guidance Of SAVAGE.
A flcr travelling some distance the
company was divilcd into two bodies.
one having cha,ge of the provisions
and baggage. who were directed to
encamp. while the others pushed on
II, search Of inc indians. The latter
division. fortv.f five in number. conrin.
ucd on the trail till dusk. when Savage
,old them he heard Indians singing,
and said it would not be safe to ad-
vance any further. All stood still,
but none could hear the singing cx-
ccp, Savage himself.
"Thcv then crept along very eau
tiousIv Il little tWlher. in their stock
ing feet. and laid down for the night,
arranging themselves IN suitable
manner for defence. With the first
e!immcr of light next morning they
saw an Indian on a peak acting as
sentinel. lie was looking directly at
them, and continued to do so for some
time. Bnt, rs they remained perfect.
" quiet. he was unable to detect the
nature Of the Objects before him Until
the light became stronger, and then
he snddenI V gave a whoop. Instantly
the Americans sprang to their feet,
and rushed towards the ranchcria.
They had to climb up the walls rs il
climbing a tree. The spot selected
was imprcgnabIe by nature. MIR.
Wilson said HAT IA dozen white men
could defend it ilngainst two thousand
OF their equals.
ii, was vast basin in the top ola
with walls almost pcrpcn-
dicular. down which large and loose
rocks could be rolled upon an army
of as,a'ants. 50 rs completely to pre-.
vent them lrom climbing he steep
and rugged sides. But the Americans
Gained the heights before the alarm
had been sufficiently given. and then
cnSucd most ic:OClonS engagement.
W,i!Ch lasted three hours and n halt.
Forty four ui tie Iudlans were killed
and the ranchcrIa fired The s"iccch.
l., 4 =, a.. 4
most heart. rcudlng; and there can he
little CUuht that many 81 The old Wo-
mcn and chl!'iiCn Wcre burHt f. death,
The loss on the American SIDE was
one killed. one moriaIi, wOuuGcd. and
five or six others more or less injured.
~ his ianchcria is described as the
largest ever yet discovered in CaIilor-
MIA, covering about four acres with
the houses or huls. 1t was wholly
unknown TO Savagc himself. Several
tribes were collected together. and
In, number of braves or warriors
:ould not be less than one thousand.
From .our 10 five hundred were pre-.
'cnt at The engagement we have dc.
criucd. and they said that six hundred
rad been sent of to attack Mariposa.
inc location OF this lanchcrla was on
he lylsno, abou, forty miles from
Sa"age's camp. just at the commence
neut OF the SHOWS in the mountains,
some sixty or seventy miles from
Sonora.
"Aitrr the battle was over, the
chiefs from the hiIl.t0ps told Savage
that they would have shown letter
fight, only six hundred OF their braves
had been sent To destroy AlaripOsa,
and that no white man would he found
alive there Savage saws the force
of the Indians is much greater than
has been supposed heretofore. They
can raise some fifteen thousand braves,
md according 10 all accounts the
name oi braves is not applied ncor.
rccilv. fhcv say that al the Indians
from Oregon Ia the Colorado are
Icagucd together. and have sworn
eternal cnmutS IL the wIlic iacc hence
aud ipIovCr.
"SavAgc has disguised himself SO
as not Ia be recognised 10y The Indians.
The miners in all that section OF coun.
irv have left their work and ilockcd
10 Aqua Fro for protection. Almost
every animal on the Tuolumne and
,lcrccd has been stolen and there is
At present neither security tor life nor
property. A company OF about one
rundrcd and sixty cllirlent men has
,ecn organized for protection Il; Aqua
Fro. and all are ready TO proceed TO
plti!e as soon as ammunition, provi-
SONS, and moderate pay Tor time are
by the Legislature.
"AIariposa has not yet been attack
I'd, aud the rumor that serenty-two
niners had been killed on Raitlesnake
.reek appears to be without iOunda-