Washington telegraph., 1855-06-06
From the Plains.
ARRIVAL OF COL. vAUGIIN-WAR DECLARED
Ell 5000 INDIANS
ST. JoSEPH, May 10, 5 o'clock. Pm.

FL 5000 INDIANS.
ST. JosEPH. May 10. 8 o'clock. Pm.
Col. Vaughn. Indian Agent from Fort
Pierre. arrived in town yesterday evening.
He states that the Indians on the plains are
IN very unsettled condition in fact as
suming hostile attitude The Black Feet,
Apaches and Sioux Manacunques, San
sarc and YanchtnoS banded in mighty host.
and scoffing existing treaties, have unburied
the Ratchet. and bid defiance to the powers
that be. These tribes combined with tue
Brulays and Ogalaties. of the Platte. num-
bering at a small calculation, three thousand
warriors, have thrown up fortifcations on
Draining Bull, at the source of Grand R!v-
er. and are not only ready but anxious to
meet any force that the Government may send
against Observation-Disclosures by the case with
which they massacred our soldiers IN the late
skirmishes and remarking the terror ever
since manifested by the whites in their ne
eessary intercourse with them, and scoffing
at the power of the United States to dis
charge them of their strong hold, The
Asinabianes, Riccaries, Crovatres and Man
danes having the fear of the four new reg
iments before their eyes. have told their
agent, Col. Vaughn. in council. that they
will no. only aid and abet, but furnish ma
terial assistance in subduing their refractory
brethren
Mr. Culvertson and Lewis were taken
prisoners bv the Yanchtnos. between Fort
Union and Fort Pierre, but were released on
surrendering their effects and promising to
decamp The latter named gentleman is
from St. Louis.
The Colonel states there is no snow in
the mountains. so we may expect no rise in
the river from that quarter.
Indeed, the whole country is indebted to
Mr.. Williams for his intrepid daring and
his successful trip. Mr. Williams had nu-
merous POW vows with the Sioux chi efs !;
they told him that Big Bear" had fallen
in the skrmish with Grattan and party.
and the blood of Grattan and party had
satisfied their thirst for his loss; but Big
Bears" sister, having taken his death
very much to heart. had grieved herself to
death, and they called another pow WOW"
and concluded that another slaughter of the
| whites should be had at the earliest opportu-
nifty Hence the attack of the mail party
| They say that now they are satisfied with
their revenge for big Bear and sister,
and those who murdered the mail party are
! ready to give themselves up to the whites
| to be hung or shot, as shall be determined
upon. They inquired particularly where
! all the white faces were that they heard so
much talk about bat never seen-why don't
they come and eight and not talk so much2
Mr. Williams also reports fires kinded
upon the highest peaks of the mountains.
which is signal for a grand combination of
all the tribes TO adopt measures for their
safety. They have quantities of furs and
are busily engaged in making clothing
moccasins, SC. They have also been pro-
viding themselves with Notwithstanding
buffalo meat. &c. for general campaign.
Mr.. Williams met the mails for Salt Lake
for the months of March and April, near
| Fl. Laramie Teams all broken down. and
could not possibly make over twenty miles
dag. He reports the mail contractors in
bad repute all along the line-they having
failed to pay up, and restocb the road with
the people should call for immediate re-
dress. If McGraw & Co. cannot comply
with their engagements. give the contract to
I SOlie one NHO Will.
Mr. Williams reports that many of the
old traders who have lived in the mountains
for twenty years, and have Siopz wives and
children. are in great fear of their lives
| As his party came along, several of these
traders had been robbed of all their stock.
! Should the war commence they will fee to
the States. Mr.. Williams thinks the Grows.
Cheyennes, ,Rappahoes and probably the Ca
manches arc banded with the Sioux against
the whites, although they say they are not
anxious to 90 to war with the whites, but
if the pale faces come they will try their
| best
Mr. Williams travelled most of the dis
'ance from Fort Laramie into the States.
in the night and laid by in day time in
camp, being very careful in selecting camp
ing grounds that the Indians could not sur
prise him, always placing one or two men on
the highest points. a mile or two from their
! camp, we'll armed and with a good spy glass
to keep look out. His plan of travelling
completely deceived the Indians, several
bands of whom they saw about sunset in
the neighborhoud of their camps The In
dians supposed they would on y drive few
miles after nj ght and then camn-of course
they would attack them before mornino.-
But Mr.. Williams understood their game
exactly, and gave them the slip in every
case. He will start with large train for
Salt Lake City, from Leavenworth. about
the 1st of July