Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-18
From the st. Louis Republican. Aug. IL, 1855.
Sad News from Fort Riley.

Sdu NcWS from fOrt NIleys
Desertion from the Post-DeaM of Major Og-
den.
Mr.. H. +. Mayer, who has been for years estab-
lished in business at Fort Laramie arrived in this
city yesterday. lie left the Fort on the 10th of
July Mr. Mayer represents everything as quiet
in that quarter--no outrage having been commit
ted by the Indians since the murder of Captain
Gibson, Of which we have already given an ac-
count.
Mr.. Mayer does not confirm the stories which 20
often reach us through other channels, of large
Numbers of discontinued and hostile Sioux Indians
being collected on the route of the emigrant trains
with the intention Of numbering and robbing, nor
have they assembled at any place within his
knowledge, to make war upon the United States
troops, now rapidly concentrating in that country
with view Of compelling the Sioux to obedience
On his route to Forth Leavenworth he met no
Sioux Indians at ALL
Captain Foote's company of infantry had arrived
at Fort Laramie. Colonel Howes command, con-
sisting of several companies Of dragons, was met
fifty miles west of Fort Kearny, getting along fine
~ The road was lined with Russell & Majors
trains, conveying government stores to Fort Lara
mic. They were progressing well
From Fort Riley, the new military post recently
established by the government we have deplora-
BILE news. 1t will be recollected that the govern.
ment determined to make this prominent post
on the western border, and for this purpose large
number OF mechanics were employed to proceed
thither and construct additional barracks and other
houses.
On Sunday last, an express reached Fort Leaven-
worth with intelligence that the cholera had bro.
ken out at Fort Riley, in most vrulent form, and
that numbers had died every day since II made its
appearance Major Ogden, United States Army
and most efficient officer, was among the victims
OF this scourge. All the persons about the Fort
were panic stricken and fed TO the hills for refuge
from the pestilence, leaving the sick to die and
the dead unburied. The mortality is represented
to have been very great, one repoit-which we
hope IA exaggerated-statingt that as many as forty
had died in one day.
BY the Polar Star, yesterday, we received let
ter dated at Fort Leavenworth on the It'll in which
reference ia made to one written on the previous
day, giving all that was then known Of the extent
Of the ravages Of the pestilence. That letter has
not come to hand. In the one before ia, the wri-
ter says
Since my letter Of yesterday morning have
learned some further particulars Of the state of af
fairs Mt Fort Riley, and give them to you rs they
are received by persons coming in from there, one
by one IL Is 10 be expected that there IL no more
cholera at that post, perhaps for the reason that
there Is no victim left-in fact 80 far as we can
learn, the post Is abandoned, as who did not die
having left panic-stricken. As yet we do not know
the exact number Of deaths il IL enough TO say
that II was awful. Last Friday men were offered
ten dollars TO dig grave, and nobody would do Il.
The last man from there, who came in yesterday
evening, says when he left he saw four or FIVE
dead on the porch, and no man to bury them.
60 Honor to whom honor ia DUE gentlemen,
and cannot omit to speak Of one instance Of true
courage, though you may think Il too soon. Mr..
j. o. Sawyer, architect and builder, NJ ST. Louis
who went out to Fort Riley with Major Ogden, to
superintend the BUILDINGS the only man who
kept his place and took charge of all the public
property, and declared that he would stay until re.
lieved by a commissioned officer / am not able
to describe to you how much everybody here nd.
mires such true heroism."
Our correspondent proceeds TO reflect very sc.
yerely upon the conduct OF some Of those In tho
public service, and which cunduct If correctly
represented, was highly rcprchensible but II may
be that, in the flush of excitement and alarm,
caused by the sudden appearance Of the pesti-
lence at that exposed point exaggerated stories
have gained currency. Al all events, we shall
wait for details before passing condemnation upon
men who ought to have known their duty better,
and TO have performed It at all hazards.
The conduct Of Mr.. Sawyer cannot be too highly
applauded, and IL he escapes the pestence, Il
ought 10 be acknowledged in some proper way by
the government.
The telegraph line il down, and we can only
hope TO hear Of the extent OF this scourge by a
steamer from the Missouri