, 1856-02-08

Columbia river, embracing the country east
Of the mountains.
According to the figures, the recent ac-
ceSsions to the force at Ft. Vancouver and
the Dalles, would swell the number of regu-
lars at those stations to about 1900.
we are not advised as to the number Of
volunteers remaining in the field, in the In
dian country, but our latest accounts lead us
to believe that considerable force is still
engaged in active operations there. With
the late accession of some $50 troops of the
9th Infantry, Fl Steilacoom might now be
able to muster about 1876 regulars, all told.
We will suppose, by way of argument,
that the regular force at Vancouver, in con-
junction with the volunteers, enter upon a
determined, exterminating and vigorous pros
ecution of the war in the Indian country
driving them from every point and position
where they may have made stand. Is 1t
not evident and natural that all who survive
or escape our forces, would seek shelter and
protection in some quarter or other? And
is it not equally apparent that their course
would be directed to the Bitter Root, or
some other mountains, eastward, or other
wise, that they would cross the Cascades,
and join the enemy on this side?
The rule is universal, and but natural in
warfare, that a partially vanquishcd belli'
gerant will retreat from the stronger, and
attack the weaker opposing force; and
with an unequal and inadequate number Of
troops-regular and volunteer-with, bands
of hostile Indians almost within gun-shot
of our settlements-with thousands Of
others that may at any time, join their hos
tile brethren, and with fresh recruit
driven here from the eastern side of the
mountains, uniutentionally, by our own
troops, what would VIC have to oppose
the onward march of devastation and
death that would inevitably follow? What
rotection-what defence have any of our
settlements or towns to offerH With what
success could Olympia, Steilacoom, Seattle,
Port Townsend, and other places, oppose a
combined attack of the Indians this side Of
the mountains, aided by their brethren from
the other side, and pcrchance, the North
ern British Russian hordes?
One thousand regular troops, at least,
in addition to the volunteer service pro-
posed and required, and two or three ves-
sells of war, for service on the Sound and
Straits, are urgently required to put q
speedy termination to the present war.
The government has certainly had lessons
of experience sufficient to know, by this
time, that the quickest way is the cheapest
way to conquer peace.
Although, In the foregoing, we have
been looking at the dark side Of the pic
turc, as far as this portion Of the Territory
is concerned, and presented the probabili-
ties in favor of our enemies, yet our object
is to awaken attention to our dcfcncclcss
situation, in case those probabilities should
be likely TO assume the character Of real
lies. The safety Of our people requires
that the present regular force designed fol
the Indian service, should not only be equal
lied Wih tie Sound, and country adjacent
but that tie force should be increased, Will
this be done?
Now is the time for operations here
whilst the snow is in the mountains-and
the resources of the Indians, in conse-
queuce, for obtaining fresh supplies Of arms,
ammunition and provisions, is, to certain
extent, cut Of. The spring will soon be
upon us, and with 1t will come anew the
season Of roots and berries, upon which
the Indians can subsist in their ambuscades
for months. The war, east Of the noun
tains can be prosecuted nearly as well in
the summer season as in the winter; and
at any season, the Indians con do but little
damage compared with what might be
done here. There, they cannot ambuscade
to advantage, except in the rccesses Of the
mountains. Not so here. Heavy forests
of timber and dense underbrush, line the
shores Of the Sound, and oil our streams
and rivers. Now is the time for vigor-
Gus prosecution Of the war here.
VOLUNTEER COMPANIES first com