The Georgetown news., 1856-04-10
The Indian War at the North.

O3
lowing:
The actual state of affairs throughout the
settlements is truly deplorable, and Judging
from the past, the future has in store much
gloom and darkness. 1t is true, the little
communities along the Sound are not in
such immediate danger as heretofore, in be-
ing attacked, sacked and leveled with the
ground, and their inhabitants savagely
butchered, though that danger is not all
past; but the country is suffering worse and
with the horrid prospect of getting still
worse for time to come, Notwithstanding
the many idle stories to the contrary contin-
ualiy being circulated. Small bands of
hostile Indians are spreading through the
country, going from place to place, house
to house, lying in ambush for single persons
or small companies, cutting them OF, burn
ing, and otherwise destroying property, and
driving away cattle and horses. This war
fare is one little practised by them until re-
Gently, but one by which they can damage
the people to the greatest extent, and cpe
which naturally suits the willy cunning of
the Indian character. The main body Of
them, it is true, are confined to the almost
lUlpcDclIdDlC SWdIDpS ldf1uCo uhu nOONo VI
Puyallup and White River countries where
something over FIVE hundred regular and
volunteer troops are operating against them
and apparently with as good success as
could be expected; but their abundant re-
sources and stores, their position and know
ledge of the whole territorp, together with
the tact and bearing which they possess,
added to increased advantages which the
opeding of spring will give them in fleeing
to the mountains, to return and plllage,
plunder and murder the settlers, there can
be no possibility of doubt, but that one or
two years at least will pass before we see
that ''good time coming" Governor Ste
vens spoke of as being close at hand, in his
first address to the people of Washington
Territory on his return from the Blackfeld
country this winter.
The Indians have not carried on a war
of hostility in the settlements heretofore, to
that degree to which it might have been
Expected of them, and of which we are ac-
customed to believe is acting the true saw
age Indian. There are probably many rea-
sons for this. They were not accustomed
at first to fighting; but this war is fast
learning them all its secrets. They, again,
thought peace would be extended to them,
but being mistaken in this, they foresee in
evitable doom-death and defeat at last
and are resolved to fight to the end.
might proceed, like many Others, to cry
''Lol the poor Indian" but as one wrong
action does not justify another, l have spoke
of him as doing wrong, for which terrible
retributive justice will repay him; and it is
to be hoped, through Gods willingness,
that those scourgeS of humanity, who fill
Offices of trust and profit mo honor in the
Indian Department of this Territory, thro'
the hands of high authority, by reason of
political antecedents, may suffer their just
dues in equal proportions, for bringing
about this war. Here is where all the blame
lies in cregting this war, and where the wild
owed and fatherless will all lay their sor-
rows and misfortunes. There is where the
hostile Indians all lay the blame; there is
where the people lay it; and there is where
the world will lay it! At the feet of gov
ernment, through its ignorant, gouty, su-
perstitious and wilful agents.
On the lot inst, the volunteers, under
Major Hays, had battle with the Indians
in which 25 or 80 were supposed to have
been killed, two being found in the field
-Four OF the volunteers were wounded, all
severely; none killed. There were l1O vol
unteers against $50 Indians. The battle
took place on Connells Prairie, at White
River.
The regulars, also, have had a number of
brushes with them, killed a number, and
took band of Is claiming to be neutral,
killing one IN the act, and have brought
them into Fort Steilacoom. Another COM
pany of regulars was dispatched to-day for
the field, together with number of teams,
and pack horses transporting supplies. The
whole regular force on the Sound is now
eight companies, seven in the field and one
holding the Fort, all under command of
Col. Casey, of 9th Infantry.
A company of 60 men, under Capt. Max
cd, arrived in Thurston county from the
Columbia river, few days ago, and are
now ferreting out the redskins on the
plains and in the swamps in that county
and this (Pierce.) Other companies are
also expected soon.
The steamer Traveller arrived to-day
from Victoria, Vancouvers Island, having,
| understand, been down for goods and sup
plies for the volunteers.
No news has been received from the for
ces down the Sound for some time, conse-
quently it is supposed nothing very impor-
tant has happened
The Indians on the west side of the Sound
at the different reservations, continue to be
peaceable and quiet.
A rumor is afloat in town that a son of
Ieias, head chief of the Klikotat and Y a.
klma tribes, has recently come over the
the mountains with eighty warriors, to re-
lnforce the hostile bands on this side.