The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-05
Lo! the Poor Indian!

10! the Poor Indian!
Alas! the poor Indian! The snow beneath
a warm springs sun disappears no faster than
than the remnants of the once powerful tribes
of red men are now melting away before the
white man. But as if the gradual advance of
civilization-the ring of the woodman's axe, the
CLEAN of the ploughshare, and the sound of the
rifle among the fleeing game-were not enough
to hurry away the steps of the red man, the
white man has robbed, cheated and outraged
the poor son of the forest, and with sword and
bayonet forced him from his old haunts, and
made him wanderer on the face of the earth
or in the spirit land But of all murderous,
cowardly and scoundreliy outrages against
the Indians the recent s'battle" between Gen.
Harvey and troops with tribe of Indians on
the plains certainly was the most disgraceful
if the reports before us are correct. Five hum
dred American soldiers, opposing little more
than half their number of naked half-armed
Indians numbered with women children, tents,
provisions, &c.-and leading these Indians
into a trap, and to keep them quiet while the
net was being spread, using flag of trnce'--
But read the account as given by one of the
troops in letter to friend. Recollect the
Dragons had been sent off to ambush the In
dians;
'tAs we moved up, the Indians showed signs
fparley; but, as we had come for war and not
for peace, we paid no attention to them As
soon as they saw that, signal was given to their
lodges; and they began to move beautifully in
the very direction of the dragons; that is, in
the position soe thought they would be. The
Indians, being we'll mounted, were about to
escape us, as we thought, when we determin-
ed to talk while with them, so as to give the
dragons time to show themselves. We gave
the signal, and the Chief, Little Thunder came
up to us. We had long talk with him, and
discovered that this was the band which had
attacked the mail train. While talking with
the Chief we perceived great commotion
among the Indians, which showed us plainly
that the dragons were near. The conference
was broken up and the Infantry were ordered
to place their rifles at long range of from six
hundred to one thousand yards, and advance
rapidly. The Indians ran, of course, to the
hills, and were in fine position to repel an at
tack of Infantry when the dragons showed
themselves, then, can assure you, dear -,
the fun commenced in reality. | never saw a
more beautiful thing in my life. When the
/ Infantry saw the dragons coming down in
beautiful style, they gave one yell, which re-
sounded far and wide. The Indians threw
away everything they had in the world We
suppose we killed about seventy. You know
they carry off their dead so rapidly that it is
almost impossible to say with certainty as to
the number killed or wounded. We lost four
men killed, four wounded and one missing
They shot remarkably WELL We, ofnecessity,
killed good many women and children.
The Indians showed signs fparley"--rhey
were for peace-probably they wished to set
tie the difference in some Christian way. AT
all events, they had with them all their wo-
men and children, and all their worlds goods,
and peace they no doubt felt like begging
But no. The troops had come for aoar, and
blood they must have. The Indians saw this
and sought to escape. But as they commenc-
ed moving off rapidly, the white Christians
thought that perhaps the dragons had not
been able yet to get in position to intercept
their retreat-so a flag of truce was shown
regarded by men of all colors and countries as
time. The Indian Chief no doubt with q
bounding heart Of delight at the prospect o.
being able to save his women and children, al
once stopped the retreat of his braves, and an
swered the flag. He was kept talking till the
dragons had surrounded the Indians in a
manner, and were discovered. Then COM
menced a hasty retreat, and the most beauti-
full thing Gin the way of wholesale, damnable
murder ever the writer had SEEM Seventy
Indians were killed, and ''of necessity, good
many women and children! Is there heart
that does not boil with indignation at this cold
blooded recital? Is there an American who
can remain patient and see his country and
the American arms disgraced in this manner by
q set OF scoundrelly cut threats? No wonder
when such acts of barbarity as this are but
common circumstances On the frontiers, the
Indian retaliates in all the cruelty of his race
j OF The weather yesterday was very
changeable. 1t was watched with great inter-
est during the day. on account of the Parade