, 1856-01-11

daylight until dark The night of the lOtl
they packed up and left to move their fam
lilies across the Snake river, when they 81,
they will return and try US again. W,
killed 10 of their number that we knew of
they left 80 or 40 bodies on the ground
| believe there was $50 killed and wound
ed. think they numbered near 1000
warriors. They had 1871 campfrcs, or l5t
lodges They had their camp will, thcil
families about miles from us during thu
fight. The warriors were cnmpcd within
q few hundred yards of u.s. We could Sc,
them dancing their war dance from ou
camp.
l have given you brief but correct nc
count of the fight. We captured consider
able Indian muek.a-muck, which answered
as luxury for our hungry volunteerstN
Now Mr.. Editor as | am through will
my history Of our little skirmish with the
Indians, | wish to make an appeal to the
good citizens Of Oregon; the ycomanry Of
the country, as they are the persons we
look to for succor in the way of supplies
The people of Oregon well know Of the
many dcprcdations committed by the 7ed
skins, some Of our best citizens have fallen
victims at the ruthless hand of the savage,
and that without any cause; make this
assertion without fear Of successful contra.
diction, and no man who pretenlls to be a
true hearted American, whose veins flow
with, the blood Of American principles, can
say that the whites have ever been the az.
grcssors. Then, say, when we see our
fellow men bru'ally murdered innocent wo.
men and children sharing the same fate;
aud not stopping at this, but they have
been laying waste the country, burning
houses aud destroying property wherever
they could. Now ask, will the people Of
Oregon allow this imposition, or will they
adhere to their country's call, and sec That
her citizens are protected in their rights;
but all we ask at your hands, (ye good cit
liens OF Oregon, is to keep the volunteers,
who have nobly volunteered and answered
to their country's call supplied with provis-
ions. Your garnaries are full, you have o
surplus of everything in your country that
you can certainly feed few men who are
now fighting for your rights as well as
theirs. We are all interested more or less
Except Q few demagogncs who are trying
to make it political matter but VIC as
volunteers do not look ut it as democrat
ic and wbig war; neither are we fighting
against wings or democrats; but tho wild
savage whom we have been trying and us.
ing every means in our power TO christian
izc and ciyilize for years, but all to no cf.
feet. Are the Indians who have declared
war and are killing our citizens, poor2-
No sir, they are an intelligent and wealthy
people; they have large herds Of stock, .
good and extensive country, set apart for
them by the superintendent Of Indian af.
fairs Of Oregon aud NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
but yet they are not satisfied. Then we
must chastise them and. bring them to
terms BY the edge Of the sword, as we sec
soft words and turfs Of grass will not do,
that We must try the virtue Of other means.
Then ! say, give US supplies and We will in
two mouths bring them to terms and re-
store pcaOc to our salubrious cline once
more, and ! do assure you it shall bo o last
ing peace. We do not want any assistance
more than q supply Of provisions and cloth
ing; we have volunteers enough to do the
work; we are satisfied with the officers and
men in the field. Col. Kelly is; our man.
We have no use now for any regular sol
diers. or for Gen. Woors cannon. He had
better keep his ,howitzers which Col. Mes
mith asked for at his fort to protect him
self and men, and would advise Major
Rains to remain at home us the inclcmency
of the weather would not allow him to ven
ture out, as we have Apow, hail and rain; ;
but the volunteers are hoping that he is
consolng himself with the great victoryh he
won in conqaering Kamiakin, thatis inre-
treating when he was within 60 miles Of
his main force. Think the Major took a
wise plan, for the weather is very cold, and
Kamiakin's force number about 700 war
riors, some think more, but as Col. Kelly
expects to meet him, together with the
force he has been fighting, in few days,
and when we give them good tlogging VIC
can then give the Major q better state
ment of their number. Col Kelly has
about 45O available men. We would be
glad that the military would come up after
We get them whipped and assist us to con-
sumo the beef we captured. Come on then
Major, the Indians will be whipped and the
snow will all be gone ~. .'' l'l" '.''
So hoping to sec Gen. Wool in his sad
die soon, (as am told that is where he
makes his head quarters, and Maj. Rains
up soon, at all events by next July, will
close hoping all things Tor the best. IF 90
non,a Da~ o Respectfully yours, .g.l -ao
2G 3I. -~.n. ..,0i9H J. THUS go
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