, 1856-02-01
THE INDIAN WAR;! !!
The Ball Opened at Seattle!!
TWO MEN KILLED. HOUSES PlUNDEREO AND BURNED!


ALDEN commanding, which arrived here or
Tuesday evening last, brought to this place
an express from Seattle, and other places
on the Sound, containing news of the
greatest moment to the people of this por
tion of the Territory.
We are indebted to Hon A. A Denny,
Speaker of the late House of Representa-.
tives, and Hon. Il. S. ROBINSON, member
of the House from Jefferson county, for
their kindness in furnishing us for publica-
tion, the following extracts, which we
make from private letters addressed to
them relative to the recent Indian attack
on Seattle, and in reference to the state Of
Indian affairs on the Sound generally.
This attack upon Seattle, and that, too,
in broad daylight, is decidedly the boldest
moyO that has yet been made by the red
skins-not at all in conformity with Indian
character, as their Sorties are almost inva.
riably made under cover of night and dark.
ness--and affords US evidence for the be.
lief that they consider, thus far in the war,
they have not only held their own, but Oh,
tained tho advantage.
In view of the state of affairs as below
depicted-with the savage war-whoop, as
it were, at the doors of every town and
settlement within our borders, it Is not q
little astonishing that the work of filling
up the companies, as per proclamation Of
the Governor, should proceed so tardily.
Wesare well satisfied that this apparent
indifference on the part Of our citizen sol
diery, in promptly stepping forward to aid
in the protection Of families-our towns
and the agricultural community generally,
cannot arise from any lack Of courage or
patriotism, or. because they do not see the
necessity, imperatiVely demanded, of al
immediate'E appehlto arms."a We regret
and are ashamed to let the fact be Known
that out of three companies, originally dc
signed by the proclamation to he raised il
this county, as yet, not one muster roll has
been filled with the allotted complement ol
volunteers. How is this2 At the first
blush of Indian hostilities around us, three
companies of volunteers, under the com.
mand Of Captains Hays, Cloudy and Hen.
Miss, and one company Of Rangers under
Captain Eaton, were at once mustered into
service with full and competent muster
rolls, all from this cOERty. Then, there
appeared to be no lnggOrding iE falling
into line, or indifference as to the neces
sity which called them into the field. Is
our condition any more secure now, sine,
those companies, having served three
months and been discharged, than Gefor,
they entered the ranks as guardians of the
homes and families of our scattered pop.
ulation2 Nay, is not the evidence becom.
ing more apparent every day, that our
danger is more imminent than ever before.
We are loath to say it, but we truly lear
that political predictions, prejudices aud
animosities has played some part to induce
the backwardness referred to, in effOcting
an enrolment II our surmiscs be correct
as explaining, one cause of the dilatory
action of our people, we say, out upon oil
such considerations at the present time!
We are now in the midst Of an Indian war,
surrounded by savage foe, and the ques-
ton is, " shall our farming population
with their families, be compelled to starve
in forts and block-houses-th their dwellings
burned-their stock driven of and des
troyed-our towns sacked and given to the
flames, and our citizens murdercd.-cut Of
in detaii-or whether they will at once
come forward to the rescue. and conquer q
lasting peace?" Until that be accomplished
as far as military operations are concerned
let all political differences be buried deeper
than the Gulf of HadeS Success depends
upon unanimity of action--without which,
in the present emergency, all attempts to
ehastise the Indians, will prove bootless
A handful Of men will not serve the pres
ent. exigency. One man, unaided eau
not conclude the war. Let the rolls be
filledl
1t is true, that many of our citizen sol
diers, in the formation of the late compa
nies have incurred no inconsiderable ex.
pense in providing themselves with animals
arms, and other equipage for the campaign
and it is also true that they have lent their
time and services to "Unclc SAM fol
three months, on trust; and it is said
government is sometimes o very slow pay.
master. But should these consideration,
at the present time. for a. moment, weigh
against fresh enrolment? Most certainly