New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-05-16
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brought by almost every arrival of news from
those fertile but thinly populated regions
while Congress and our paltry spoils- mongerine
Administration are making themselves extreme
" busy with all sorts of questions-the war in
Europe. the Nebraska bill, the quarrel witt
Spain and the acquisition of Cuba--the defence
less and unfortunate settlers Of our Western
frontiers are left to the murderous fury of the
savage, the mercy of the tomahawk and scalp
ing-knife
There is every reason to believe that com
bined and systematic warfare against the
whites has been commenced by the numerous
tribes Of Indians that skirt the borders Of East,
ern New Mexico and Western Texas--the dwell
lers of the almost illimitable prairie deserts
into which no Insignificant or disappointed force
can pursue and combat them with success
And il is indisputable too that this combination
includes some of the most powerful tribes in the
south west, and perhaps many far north of the
eastern part of New Mexico. For many months
past we have been receiving news of hostile de,
monstrations towards trains on the different
northern and southern routes to Santa Fe, and
on the 9Th of March last, there was a regular
attack made by party of Jicarillas upon
small force of dragons, under the command Of
Lieut.. Beale, in which two of his men were
affair it was stated that the Indians, after
losing six of their number, fed from the battle,
being Whipped for the first time" After
this came the sanguinary battle on the road
from Taos to Santa Fe, near the Seneguilla
between about sixty dragons under the com
mand Of Lieut.. J. W. Davidson, and about 25G
Apache warriors, in which the dragons, al,
armed and equipped in the most complete man.
ner, were utterly defeated and more than hall
their number slain, only eight of the whole force
escaping unframed, and nearly all their horses
and arms falling into the hands of the enemy.
contemptuous opinion of the proves Of
these ferocious prairie Indians has been gen
orally entertained by those who knew nothing
about the matter, consequence, probably, Of
the thousand exaggerated stories which western
adventarers have told of their own feats and Of
the cowardly and thisving propensities of the
savages But it does not follow, because they
have hitherto been in the custom Of stealing,
running Oft cattle, horses and mules, and per
haps abandoning their plumber and taking tt
flight, even when greatly outnumbering then
pursuerss that they have not the courage to
6ght with desperation and terrible effect agains,
a mere handful Of dragons and infantry, when
combination of tribes and unity of purpose give
them confidence and determination Later in.
dications lead to the belief that some of thu
most warGke and numerous of the tribes of the
Northwest have arrayed themselves with this
hostile confederation, and that a series of bloody
events will take place unless immediate and de
cisive steps are taken by the Government The
Crows, the Arraphoes, the Cheyennes, the Canaan
ches, the Lipans, the various divisions of thea
ehes, and numerous minor tribes besides, could
muster a formidable force of well trained and
well-armed warriors should they choose to com
mence simultaneously systematic warfare
against the Santa Fe traders, the Government
trains and the frontier settlers.
And what does our Government oppose to this
threatening outburst of savage war A few
orts scattered here and there throughout the
indian countries, garrisoned by forces of dra
5oons and infantry barely sufficient to defend
their walls, but not to keep the country imme.
ilately about them free from rapine and muir
der; the dragons not better mounted nor much
better armed than the savages, and the infantry
Of course powerless for all purposes of warfare
except defence, whore the only question should
be one of pursuit and punishment.
And hence such shocking scenes of barbarity
and murder as few days ago befel the unhappy
Forester family, within eighteen miles of San
Antonio, where the father vas shot down and
calped in the midst Of his family, and the others
vi butchered or carried into captivity, with one
Exception, the mother, who escaped and lived to
hudder and weep over the recollection of the
lorrid sight-her gasping husband covered with
blood, her children struggling in the grasp OF
the frightful and murderous savapes. And
lastly, the almost entire destruction of Co
Vernment train, on its way from Fort Ewell
TO Isl Paso. the particulars of which will be
ound in another column of this mornings issue
Our Government should put an immediate
md to this condition Of things, by liberal ap-
preparation of men and money War, vigorously
prosecuted, e1terminating war if necessary,
hould be let loose upon these blood thirsty
'arbarians. whose whole code of law and morals
$ force; who plumber and kill for subsistence,
md murder women and children in their dwell
ngs for pastime.
GREAT CENTRAL ROUTE FROM New ORLEANS
TO THE EAST The completion of the railroad
rom Alton, H., to Chicago, has opened d new
quite for travellers from this city to the North
md East, by way of St. Louis and Chicago,