, 1856-02-01

volunteer companies respond TO the proc
Iamation of the Govcrnor-that U. s. alp
propria',on lie withhcld-that the regular
force statiopcd on the Sound and Co
lumbia river, merely hold the Indians al
hey, and that hostilitics, and the present
predatory warfare is continued by them
compelling our farmers to remain in forts
to the neglect of seed time and harvest
The result would inevitably, be that the
people of the territory would soon be
starved out, and majority of all that re-
maincd amongst us, would he compelled tc
take up arms in defence of the TcrritoryNir
order to obtain a subsistence from govern
ment stores.
Again, affairs are in much better con
dition now, to induce enrolment, than
when the first companies were raised. a
supply of government arms and ammuni'
ton has since been received. Vessels oi
war are with us, and others paying us an
occasional visit. A large amount of stores
for volunteer subsistence is being collected
at different places, and the attention OF
the home government is becoming ava
kcncd to the importance of making pro
vision for liberating us from our perilou'
situation. But enough of this. 1t is TO
he hoped that every consideration calcula
ted to initiate against the immediate or,
ganization of the volunteer force will al
once be buried and forgotten, and that the
muster roofs will be reported forthwith.
In addition to the information contained
in the following letters VIC arc informed
that the sloop-of-war Deeatur-STERErT
Commanding-which vessel, by the way
we rejoice to learn is again aaoat-did val
uable service during the attack on, Seattle
AS an Illustration, shell was thrown by
her into house in the cSirons Of the town
in which q body of Indians were stationed
killing, it is said, some four or five Of thciI
number. May the Decatur, with her gal
liant commander, corps officers and scamcn
never " get aground" again.
The following is the substance of a letter
addressed to Hon. A. A. DENYY-dated
. 6rI,s, SEATTLE, Jan. %, 1856.
"Hon. A. A. DENNY:-Dear Sir-Se'
bastopol is not taken yet. We had an en-
gagement with tho Indians last Saturday
(JanI26.) Itcommencod at half past 6
o'clock, a. NJ, and continued until dark
incessantly, and resulted in the death ot
two 'Bostons'- Milton Holgatc and Chris
tian White Fortunately, none were
wounded. / have no idea how many In
dians were killed, but there were NUM-
ber My house was burned on my claim
during the actiong but the out-houseS arc
still standing around the ruins of the
cabin. Your cabin, on the point is stand.
ing, but your house in town was robbed Of
-four, md perhaps other things on the
night of the attack. The Indians, we sup,
pose, nre back near the lake, where they
must be from 500 TO LOCO strong, and
say they will give us two or three months
siege. Our company is disbanded, and
another has been formed this morning fol
the protection of Seattle; and from the
best Information Gun obtain, the majority
of the Indians on the Sound will join
them. Shirley is true grit.
Please find out, and inform me what
course must pursue 10 obtain remunera,
ton for the loss of my house. But part
of my cnttle came in last night Should
this state Of things continue, there will mol
be six families left here in the spring. The
Decatur is a1oat and most Of our wo.
men and children are on board Of her.
"Yours respectfully,
(Signed,) w. n. BELL"
The following are extracts from a pri
vate letter, addressed to Hon. r. S. RoBIN
soN-House of Representatives-dated
e|,. PoRT TOWNSEND, W.T..
January %, 1855.
FRIEND RoBNsoN: The Northern Ind
ans are becoming quite bold in their ma.
raudihg excursions >of late. On Friday
last, they committed several depreciation,
on Whidby's Island Among the rest
they robbed Col Ebeys premises of q
large amount of wearing apparel; linen
&c. Also, the sails, oars and compass
| from tim cneton, honoa hoaE The lotto,