The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-04-18
From the st. Louis Intelligeneer. April r.
Prospective Indian War.


Prospective Indian War.
Tho steamer Arabia arrived yesterd ay
from the Missouri river. Among her pas.
sengers were Mr.. }. l.. Hatcher, Of Mora,
MIR. Folger, OF Santa Fe, and other gen.
,lemen from different parts OF New Mexico
They arrived on the frontier on the 27th
of March last, having left Mora on the
25th of February. There were sixty per-
sons accompanying Hatcher's Folger's.
Armijo's and Moore & Reese's trains-the
last named being from Tecolate. At the
date of their leaving Mora. there was no
snow, and they encountered none until
they reached the Pawnee Forks, when it
showed for about forty .eigh. hours. The
snow covered the plains to a foot in depth.
They suffered great deal from the cold
during the storm, but, aside from this, the
journey was very pleasant. No stock
was lost on the way.
The news brought by Mr.. Hatcher. re-
lating to the Indian tribes, is nnfayora.
BILE. The Utahs and Apaches. after con-
.tinued depredations on the whites. had at
last united for more extended of3ensive
operations. The Apaches had nearly all
left the South, and gone North to the
sUtahs. Five companies OF volunteers and
two Of regulars had been preparing 10 60
in pursuit OF the two tribes. They, hear
ing of this. had sent word to the troops to
come on. and the troops were to have left
on the 26th Of February-the day sue.
ceeding the departure Of Mr.. Hatcher's
train.
The troops were under the command
|of Col. Fon,elroy. The Indians. at the
last accounts. were awaiting the troops q,
a poin, called Balos Salsdo (Salt Valley
on the head waters Of the Arkansas
They number, MIR. Hatcher thinks, from
500 10 800 warriors. On their journey
Haicher's hunter, when at a distance o
two or three miles from the train, was
pursued by party of Apaches. but. he
being on mule and they on foot, he es.
capped without difficulty, and reached the
train.
A. Brni's Fort the train saw numbers
Of the Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, Apaches
kiowas, and other tribes. All of the In
dams have suffered terribly during the
past winter. There is no buffalo any.
where in the vicinity Of their lands. and
they have not only killed their own stock
have also stolen and killed one hundred
and sixty head of cattle belonging to
Bent's Fort. and from forty TO sixty head
also, belonging at the mouth of the "Or
phan," a tributary of the Arkansas. The
train saw party Of the Csmanches a
Canadian Fork. They stated that they
had not seen buffalo during the season
and though the Camanches were the
richest tribe, in the amount OF their stock
yet nearly all Of their stock had been
killed to give them subsistence. MIR
Hatcher was informed by the Indians a
Bent's Fort that the Camanches had al
ready declared war against the whites
This statement, however, Mr.. H. did mo-
credit.
All the Indians seen are restless and
dissatisfied with their condition. They
make no concealment Of the fact that, i
ammunition, or permit them to procure i
Of the traders. they intend to commence
an offensive war, and 10 plunder every
train. They state thatthey are now wait
ing, and will wait time, to see what &C
ton Government takes upon the matter o
permitting them to get amunitlon from
the traders. II they do not get an an
swer within reasonable time, they vii
then open hos,ilities.
AT the time Of Mr.. Hatcher's departure
and journey. most Of the Indian tribe.
were suffering from small Pox. 1t hae
but recently broken oat among them
They were then scattered over the prai
ries, in order, if possible, to rid them
selves Of the contagion, but considerable
numbers had already died from it. Mr.
Hatcher saw no buffalo until the trains
reached Little Coon Creek. From the
poin, to Cow Creek they were very plenty
From all 3hat he could learn, Mr.
Hatcher and other gentlemen are o
the opinion that tanother winter Of suffer
i ing like the, past among the tribes will re
sui. in their uniting against the whites.
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