, 1855-12-14

command of Capt NJ Maloney, U. S. 4th
Infantry, again advanced; but after cross
ing the summit, were Oyertaken by an ex-
press, informing them that delay had taken
place in the movements of the troops from
the Columbia river. Capt. Maloney conse-
quently fell back to the first grazing ground
on this side of the mountains-the White
river prairies. During these movements, a
band of rangers had been organized, under
command of Capt. Charles II. Eaton, whose
duty it was made to guard the outskirts Of
the settlements, and watch the various noun
tain passes. Scarcely had the command
commenced its operations, when detach-
ment of eleven men, on regular scouting du-
ty, were suddenly attacked by Indians, here
tofore supposed to be friendly. Taking ref
uge in a log house, after gallantly sustaining
siege of some sixteen hours Duration the
Indians were repulsed The murder of sew
eral highly esteemed citizens, travelling from
Capt. Maloney's camp into the settlements,
and the massacre on White river, followed
The return of the command under Capt
Maloney, cannot but beAoOked upon as
most fortunate event for the settlers on Pu-
get Sound asst is impossible to say what
might have been the result with the settle
ments entirely unprotected, and many of the
Indians at open war, and the rest, to say the
least, wavering The battle on White Riv-
er, in whichboth, regulars and volunteers,
so admirably distinguished themselves, can
not fail to impress the Indians with the su-
deriority and power Of the white man, and
that, however protracted the contest may
be- ruin and desolation must necessarily come
upon them.
The calls upon the people Of the Ter
ritory for their services in the present war,
have been met by the organization Of IL
companies, consisting Of two companies Of
Rangers, and ten companies Of the LIST Reg
iment of Washington Territory Volunteers,
amounting, in all, to upwards of seven hnn-
dred men. OF these about five hundred are
mounted. In addition to these, there is a
company Of Rangers at the Cowlitz Farms,
under command Of Capt. Peers, not reg
Iularly mustered into service, butready to per-
form such duty as may be required Of them.
deem it my duty, here, to make public
acknowledgement Of the services rendered
by His EXcellencs, JAMES DOUGLAS, Gov
crnor of Vancouver's Island Upon the
alarm naturally attendant upon serious ln-
dian outbreak, almost within arms-length Of
us, and owing to the scarcity Of farms and
ammunition, application was made TO him
for such an amount Of these munitions Of war
as he could possibly furnish. That applica-
ton was promptly aud cordially responded
to, to the extent Of his power; he at the
same time regretting that he had at the mo-
ment no vessel Of war at his disposal, and
that his steamers, the "0tter" and Beaver"
were bOthabseut, but upon the arrival Of
either, she should be dispatched to the Sound
to render such service as might be required
of her. Since then the "0tter" has visited
this. place.
This movement on the part Of the Execu-
tive Of Vancouvcrs Island, cannot fail to
have its influence upon the Indians residing
upon our waters, having tendency to show
to them that whatever differences may exist
, between the Americans and the English
men, in their social and political organiza-
ton, as far as savages are concerned, they
are but one hoo % .i...- rH
The Indians west of the Cascades, with
: the exception of those be fore alluded To-,
still continue friendly. They have been col
lected at various points, disarmed, and pla-
ced under the surveillance Of local agents,
and arrangements have been made for their
: support. The only fear, atpresent enter
tanned, is that, by some act Of indscretion,
they may be frightened into the hostile
ranks.
The disposition which has been subse-
quently made Of the troops in the field in
this portion Of the Territory, has been with
the desgn-while at the same time to
keep the hostile Indians in check, adequate
force should be moving on the outskirts Of
the settlements order that the farmers
, might be enabled to return to their claims
to provide for the coming years subsistence.
The general stagnalion in trade and in
: dustrial pursuits arising out Of the present
state Of affairs, loudly calls for prompt and
speedy action on the part Of the general
government. Should Congress adjourn
without afTording the relief so pressingly
needed in this emergency, it will much retard
our Territorial growth and advancement
! l therefore earnestly recommend memorial
calling for sufficient appropriation to remu-
nerate the citizen soldiery for their valuable
and patriotic services, and the citizens gen
orally for the supplies they have so promptly
furnished and for the property destroyed.
Beyond the limits of our Territory to the
North, the Coast and inumerable Islands are
inhabited by nWnerous-tribes Of Indians Of a
fierce and warlike character, bands Of which
arc constantly in the habit Of descending in
to our settlements for the ostensible purpose
of procuring labor. Besides the alarm oc-
casioned to the most exposed settlers by the
presenceof these unwelcome visitors, com
plants frequently arise from the various
J thefts committed by them In case punish
ment is attempted to be inflicted, Isolated
settlers, as we already know from past ex-
prience, are liable, in revenge, to be cut Of