, 1856-07-11

/ The Indians repeatedly expressed them
selves perfectly satisfied with the business
transactions between US. The imputatior
that the Volunteers and their officers
"Plundered the friendly Cayuses" is ma
lignant fabrication. l hesitate to believe
that Gen. Wool has so grossly debased
himself as to originate this shameless defa
nation. In his dstempered spleen be has
suffered 10 be palmed upon his eager will
lingness to believe all things detrimental tc
the citizens Of Oregon, these shameless Ii
bells which had their origin in the vicious
brain of one or two persons whose reputa'
ton for truth and veracity is not of a very
high order in the community Of their resi-
deDce.~,
Gen. Wool should have made some little
inquiry as 10 the character Of bis inform
ants before lending the prestige Of his
name and official station to the endorse
ment Of so grave a charge 1t would have
been far better for his own reputation for
prudence and a willingness to accord to
the Volunteers their just deserts, had he
resorted to this precautionary measure. 1t
would have saved him from the painful ex-
posure of q portion Of his vindictve senti-
ments towards our citizens, which he has
frequently and weakly suffered to become
manifest.
Another statement made by Gen Wool
| beg to notice. He says: In Februa-
ry, thirteen wagons loaded with supplies,
including ammunition, for the volunteers,
guarded by only four men, were captured
by the Indians between the Umatlla ard
Fort Wnlla-walla." This charge is as
basely false as the one to which l have
above replied. Until | read this in the
National Iaieiligenor, the report had not
reached my ears, and was not aware that
this unmitigated untruth was employed by
Gen. Wool TO the dsparagement of the
Volunteers and discredit Of our whole peo-
pie. From the commencement of the war
TO the month of March last, not a single
wagon belonging to- the volunteer service
had been between " the Umatilla and Fort
Walla-wallaP
At no time were there as many as " thir-
teen wagons in any train, loaded or un-
loaded From first to last, the Indians
have not captured q wagon train, loaded
with supplies During The irkOie period of
The tcar he Indians hare not suocealed in cap
turing a single article Of QuartvmasteT or
Commissary stores or supplies, ammunition,
or a icagoH. ~ -,
In this respect the Volunteer service pre-
sents a much clearer record than does that
of Gen. Wool. The indians haze captur ed
from the forces Of Gen. Wool supplies for
the regulars, while from the Volunteers they
have not such snccess to boast. In this
connection / may nllude to the fact that
in April last, in the Yakima country, my
command re-captured from the Indians a
portion Of the ammunition obtained by
them when they attacked and captured the
Cascades within rife-range oDthe veteran
Wool's own trained bands.
have thus noticed the only accusations
preferred by Gen. Wool against the Vol
unteers and their officers since the date Of
my commission as Colonel Of the Northern
Regiment-the 2lst Of December. l re-
gret the necessity that demanded ofme the
refutation Of the grave and serious false
hoods promulgated by Gen. Wool, and so
persistently adhered to by one, who might
have added laurels, and enhanced the es-
teen in which he was once held by the
people of Oregon, if he had applied his
strength to the defense of our widespread
and unprotected settlements, in lieu Of
having wasted his energies in unmanly dis
semination Of base detractions and false
accusations of those brave and gallant men
whom | had the honor to command.
/ have the honor1to be,
Very respectfully,
Your Obedient serv't,
THos. K. CoRHEuUs,
Col lst. Regt. o. NJ. V.
To his Excellency GEO. L. CURRY, a.
Gov. and Commander-in-C Chief.