, 1855-11-16
Editorial Correspondence.
SrE1LAcooM, Nov. 8. 1855.


Dear Sir-Since my last, l have to in
form you that the Rangers, or a portion of
them arrived here, on Thursday evening, and
take their departure from here, probably to-
morrow evening or Saturday morning. A
portion of them were delayed, in order to
bring into the fort the bodies of Lieut.. Nc
AL1srER, Col. A. B. Moses, and Lieut.. Col.
JOSEPH MILES. They all appeared to be in
good health and spirits, and will again take
the field, under recruited circumstances, with
tents, and otherwise amply provided for.
Since we were last out, the Rangers have
re-crossed the Puyallup and White rivers
Joined the general command of Capt. Ma
LoNEY-subsequent to the engagement on
White river, and returned to Ft. Steilacoom
for further orders and instructions. The COM
pany is now filed, with the compliment re-
quired. The whole command will, for the
present, rendezvous at, or near the house of
Mr.. Montgomery-being the next to the
furtherest removed house on the plains, be-
fore striking the TIMBER on the military road
leading TO Walla WaHa-thence distant from
the plains to the crossing of the Puyallup,
about twelve miles. At this place, it is an
ticipated small fortifcation will be made,
in the way Of block-house and pickets.-
Suggestions have been made, that it would
be altogether proper, to establish small
fort near the penetration Of the military road
into the settlements-t move on, establish
similar fort at or near the re-crossing of
the Puyallup, and another still at the cross
ing Of White riVer-perfecting and garrison
ing them all as the work progressed.
The country between the present camp at
Montgomery's and Fl. SteilacoOm, is desc
late Of population-the inhabitants all hav-
ing left their abodes for protection, either in
camp or at Ft. Steilacoom. Such is the
case, also, on this side of the Nisqually river
the Yelm is deserted, the Tenalquit and
Chambers prairie-all are in fort in the lat
ter named prairie near the residence Of An
drew Chambers, as understand.
A person travelling through the prairies
bordering on the Sound, is forcibly reminded
Of line in the Gathering in Sir Walter
Scotts Lady Of the Lake--in which he says
The plow was IN mid ftrrow staid-
The scythe left in the half mown swathe."
That all things around seemed to bear the
marks Of blight and desolation. l have
heard farmers suggest the propriety, mas
much as they have been obliged to desert
their farms and fee to places for safety and
succor, with their families, that the mounted
companies should range round the settle
ments, lat present mustered into service)
and protect the frontiers, in order to afford
security to the land claimant, to till the soil
and raise crop for the next year. 1t has
been suggested that these companies, in what
ever numbers they may be, should range be-
tween the Cowlitz landing and the Snoqual-
mie pass. One thing is certain, that an i'm
mense quantity Of wheat, oats, potatoes, are
still outside Of any Enthusiastically at
any moment to be seized by whatever
Indians may be opposed to us.
There appears to be a spirit amongst
some aOhite persons, to create disaffection,
not only between the Indians and the whites,
but also to embrace the Hudson Bay COM
pany within our limits. Charges have been
made that DR.. TouHE, Chief Factor Of the
Nisqually station, is cognizant or party to
the transaction Of selling of ammunition to
the Indians since the war commenced. This
would not have been taken notice Of, had it
come from any common source. l would
venture the assertion, that DIR. To1nE-the
ii. B. and P. s. Agricultural companies, are
as much interested, as far as their rights are
concerned as we are ourselves. think that
Dr.. ToLHE is deserving of as much credit,
in the prosecution of the present hostilities
m the prevention of the alliance of peaceable
Indians in warfare against us, as any other
man on tho coast.
In connection with this subject we might
say, that this war has been termed one of
political nature, to-wit -" Gov. Stevens
War" Shame upon the head and heart
hat had the brass to term it so. '
1t was reported here that the revenue cut q
er, Jefferson Daris and the slOop of war (
Decatur, are lying severally, at SteilOcoOm
md Seattle. Kproperly backed up by the
;itizens Of those places, they will be Of effec-
i've service in the defense of those towns and '
The adjacent settlements.
In conclusion, have but one word to q
lay, with regard to the language that should '