New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-21

IHE INDIAN WAR.--A correspondent Of the St
Louis Republican, writing from Moro Valley
New Mexico, under date of the Sd of July, gives
the following particulars of the fight in which
Lieut.. Maxwell was killed:
The Apache Indians are growing worse, and
gathering fresh courage from the success thew
have hitherto met in their engagements with
the United States troops. A skirmish occurred
between the latter, under Capt. Sykes, and a
party Of Apaches the day before our arrival nj
the Fort, in which Lieut.. Maxwell was killed
and two soldiers severely wounded. Mr.. May
well is said to have been a very promising Young
officer, and leaves behind large circle Of
friends and relatives to mourn his untipely
loss. The light took place about twenty miles
from Fort Union. The Indians were discovered
concealed in canon, and endeavoring to make
their escape, when Lieut. Maxwell, at the head
OF detachment of four or five men, separated
himself from the main body, in order to cut off
their retreat. just as he was ascending the
brow OF small hill, the Indians, who had con-
cealed themselves on the other side, let fly their
arrows at him, one taking effect in his right
arm and another lodging in his breast Not
wlthstand1ng the severe wounds whicl&be had
received, Lieut.. Maxwell still continued to
charge them with his revolvers, until he had
expended all his ammunition when, STOPPING
breast, he was shot down lifeless corpse from
Off his horse, the unerring arrow taking effect
IN the crown of his head. His body was re-
covered, brought to the Fort, and duly Inferred
with military honors.
1t is believed by men well qualified to pro-
nounce Judgment in the premises, that Gov
eminent is pursuing wrong course in the con-
duct of this Indian war. If it wishes to reduce
these Indians to subsection, or to exterminate
fhhff1 H., IL.
the end. 1t is a well-known fact, attested by
the history of the country, that Indian warfare
is entirely different from that carried on by
civilized nations To carry ON an Indian war,
and to bring it to successful issue, it is essen
TALLY necessary to possess thorough knowl- /!
edge of the Indian character, their habits, man
ners, customs and modes of warfare If this
knowledge be wanting, there is little or no hope
of success; and this knowledge is possessed by
those alone who have lived among the Indians,
and spent the greater portion of their lives in
the Indian country in the capacity Of hunters, |
traders OF trappers
These are the men Government ought to en-
ploy to wage this war, and bring it to success
full close. Let us not deceive ourselves. So |
long as the present order of things is kept UP, |
long will the lives of fellow citizens ira
Yelling through this country be endangered and |
heir property jeopardized There are men
Ia mountalneers and trappers - scattered |
through the Territory, who are ready and will |
n,y (provided they were to receive sufficient
"a VI to volunteer their services in this war, and
ri ag it to a speedy and successful close; and |
o effect this, one hundred of such men would |
IMPLY suffice. They could, as certain as the |
un rises in the east, exterminate these Indians |
n less than three months
The Indians themselves acknowledge this |
hey say that so long as these mountain men do |
lot interfere nor take part in the war, there
will be nothing to fear.