Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-21
FROM THE FAR WEST.


from an Officer of the Army stationed at Fort Kear-
ny, on the Oregon Route, will be interesting not
only to emigrants but to readers generally:
"Iwoud here take occasion to make known some facts
which appeal earnestly to humanity for ameoratiOn and
the decisive action of those in authority who alone
lave controlling influence the In the first
Instance the condition Of the Pawnees is utterly object
md hopelessy destitute; and what is most deserving
notice the fact that this state of wretchedness is
rot the result Of their own actions Only short time
,go buffalo and other game abundant in fact they
we're seldom obliged to go beyond this place to hunt
Now the establishment Of posts large annual emigra-
ion together with the free passage through their coun
ry at all times claimed by the white man, have driven
he buffalo some hundreds of miles further off, and the
are consequently compelled to pursue it into the
country claimed by the Sioux and Cheyennes both Of
whom are hostile to them, thereby mourning increased
,ardshps and perng their lives in obtaining actual
subsistence In addition these difficulties, they
obliged to take with them their and children while
iunng; for if left in their distant villages, they would
massacred by unfrendly band, who would take
advantage of the absence and revenge themselves the
Ceenceless portion thus left The Pawnees did not at
end the treaty at Laramie last summer; and as am
veil acquainted with the facts of the case, free to
ay that they could not with safety have gone there
hey were anxious to be present at it, and to this end
stationed themselves the Little Blue river some forty
niles from this place, and waited several weeks for Col
MITCHELL, whom it their intention to accompany
but while delaying there they told by some white
men direct from Laramie where the Indians then
assembling that the Sioux and Cheyennes said they might
come the treaty but they would destroy them on their
way back Such information from yeritable source was
naturally calculated have great influence upon them
They finally, tired of waiting, returned to their homes
nd oecaI hora ha eaup
them join train Of Indian goods destined for the
treaty ground and although they would willingly have
gone with the colonel, had they been here they were
fearful themselves the teamsters of this train
who the only persons with it. very justly concluding
that their protection would be insufficient.
"The result most unfortunate for them, because
they were excluded from all benefits of the treaty not
merely in being deprived of the goods then distributed
bat appears the tribes present asked if they bound
by it to amicabe relations with the Pawnees Upon be-
ing answered in the negative, they replied they would
go work and wipe them off,; and they have faithfully
endeavored since make good this assertion The Sioux
and Cheyennes both urked in the islands the post
most of the past winter killing and scalpng any stray
Pawnee they found II is much to be regretted that
had been introduced in the treaty consainng
the tribes present forbear from hoses with the Paw
nees the benefits of this would have been experienced
by the whites as well the Indians. Again, although
difficulties with them frequent than could be
wished yet it is be disguised that many Of them
induced by improper Of proceeding on the
part of the emigrants themselves The Indians some
times manifest merely natural curiosity to see persons
passing much less than in all probability would be shown
by the whites the reversed and for this they
in many instances fred upon by the emgrants with
regard age sex The fact of old Chirachorush
cited in Lieut. MARsHALLs report is of the lustra
tons of this assertion He is very aged chief possess
ing great power and influence over his nation both Of
which he always exers in favor of the whites Yet APP
pears that recently while out short distance from his
village he was going towards train merely to them
and ask for small of provisions which his age
position and previous friendly reception by white men
had authorized him regard legitimate privilege,
some of the train fred upon him. wounding him and kill
ing his aged squaw Such is not single act of the kind
As the Pawnees suffering severely from hunger and
actually starving is surprising that they would
endeavor suppcare for food and If emigrants are
able relieve them, they should at least give them init
nation Of it by reckoning them off before firing upon
them have strong suspicion as to the truth Of the
report Of the emigrans who caused the expedition
the Pawnee villages in consequence Of their refusing
TO accompany the command and endeavor the
property which they said had been stolen from them Al
though offered to arm them and supply them with pro-
VISIONS the day after the troops left they started for
the States. was confirmed in my opinion by the con-
Trajectory statements they made emigrants who met
then returning.
1 man was found murdered on the Little Blue river
Emgrants who carefully examined the body pronounced
the deed to be done by white men, his clothing had been
burnt near the spot where he found the clasp Of his
pocetbook was also discovered in ashes and shown
by IN emgran who said doubt existed in the minds
Of those present at the examination to the murderers
having been white pen. party Of suspicious. looking
persons were met going back they told several false
hoods as to the of their return and they sup
posed to be the perpetrators Of the act would here
urgently request attention the necessity Of the estab
shment of post somewhere in the neghborhood Of Ia
bic Creek (od Fort Kearny Near that place are locat
ed the Otoes 0mahas, Iowas, and Others the Pawnee
villages are also hundred and fifty miles from this
place. and only twenty-five miles from the State Of Iowa
the consequence is that many depredatons committed
the settlers the frontiers Of Iowa and Missouri which
this naturally embolden the Indians and gives
them encouragement to frequent repettons. When acts
Of violence done persons in the vicinity Of these
Indians ten or twelve days necessarily eapse before
information can be given here and force from this post
reach the place where the dpredatons committed
the consequence is the depredators and in all proba
bity would be many miles off. All this could be eec-
tually prevented by small force where
the Missouri river in the section Of country alluded to
the morale would be effective in preventing hostlites
and should they occur the offenders could and