The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-06
lFrOm the Fort Smith CArk.) Herald, July Ill
From fls plnIns

1 tFNA tne Fort smith tArk.l Herald, July l7.l
From fhe Plains.
Ae!rt6te MassGcre-- Melancholy and diStress
tng Hsie9--Aar6er Of Capt. Aarey's Com
g29Hy ty the Camaaches.
n Two expresses arrived in this city t,
Sol. wilson, commander Of the fort; one from
hors Arp9ckle and the other from Fort Wash.
re On wednesday evening last, with the
1ny 1he.ancnoly aud distressing intelligence Of the
destruction Of the expedition to t6e head wa.
ters OF hed river and the murder al Cant
Marcy aud the whole Of his command. abouf
~ men. IL appears that Waco chief came
llVo Port Arbuekle; lew DAYS ago, and Stat
n tha5 W1en out on the plains, with his band.
aoout ~ DAYS travel from Arbuekle, a com.
pahy OF Camanches and Kiowas came into bis
camp, some Of them dressed in soldier's clothes
ana others with bayonets fastened on sticks.
and other articles he knew belonged to troops.
ana they told him that as they were on Their
way 70 attack the post on the Brazos they came
aeross capt Marcy expedition, went Into his
camp, when they received presents and then
leI' at night the Indians caused stampede
among the horses and mules aud run them
OH aud about daylight they attacked the com.
lhahq, there being about 2,00U Indians, and
lought al that day, and the next day they
succeeded IN killing of the whole company.
me same CHIEF reports that they intend at
tacklng Fort Arbuckle aud the posts on the
brazos. He says that he escaped by giving IN
all his peltries. The Wacos live in the neigh
OOrhoOd OF Fort ArbUckle, aud the officers at
Lhe post place tull confidence in the report. -
Inc express sent IN from Arbuekls and Wash.
lta show plainly that they appreheud an attack
lndeed, reports OF the gathering OF the Canaan.
ehes and their determination TO attack tht
ghitos, haTe be0n frequent ia this place foi
the last four or five months, and they accord
with the statement Of Col. Humphreys, Of
Fort Washita, who went out some time ago to
trade with them aud was robbed by them and
ms companions murdered, an account OF which
We published two weeks ago.
II this report proves to be true, aud there ap-
pears 10 be not much room TO doubt it, an ll-
dian war is inevitable. There must be COM
binatiOn OF all OF the wild tribes that roam
over the prairies, and through the mountains
Of New Mexico. The real strength OF these
Indians, Is not known, and when combined will
present formidable force, that the United
states will find very hard to subdue. The
prairies West will afford the Indians means OF
avoiding troops, as intricate as the hammocks
Of Florida. They extend for hundreds Of
miles, and in many places are nothing but
sandy plaln, upon which man nor beast
'an flnd subsistence, being generally destitute
u water. The indians are acquainted with
,he prairies, and know every hiding place, and
places for retreat, most OF them beng inacces-
lble to the whites.
There is but one regiment Of troops on the
Brazos, and that regiment having only about
lalt her complement OF meu, divided into two
losts, some distance apart, and are, therefore,
n no situation to meet large aud formidable |
,and OF Indians, and are SO far from the |
White settlements as to be able to get no aid |
rom that quarter.
The lives Of hundreds Of soldiers and citi- |
ens are sacrificed upon our frontiers, aunu- |
lily, In consequence OF the penuriousness OF |
'ur government. Instead OF sending Capt. |
Marcy out with 60 Or ~ men, he should have |
lsd about 3OO, as the Importance OF the expe-
litiOn demanded it, the country being unex- |
,lored and unknown, and filled with bands OF |
Indians, who make murder aud |
Obbery business.
We regret exceedingly, the loss Of so many
lives, aud we are led TO mourn over
ne sad fate OF Capt. Marcy, an intimate
riend, and an enterprising high-minded Of
icer OF the army, and DR.. G. q. Shunatd, All
unable and respectable physician OF our city;
llso, Capt. STRAIN, Of Fort Washington and Mr..
J r. Sny dam OF New York, who accompanied
,he expedition for pleasure, besides others, OF
lssa nate. but whose loss to their friends will
be n6thiiig the less on that account, and will
I'LL their hearts with sadness and grief.
An express left here on Thursday morning,
Tor Little Rock, with dispatches from the COM
nander OF this post, for Washington City.