, 1856-07-18

grimagc to this land, was present to shelt
US from danger.
Contemplate few Of the incidents o
this war, and see how wonderfully we are
indebted to Divine Providence for our pro
tection,' and not to any foresight or pru
dcncc of our own. While the plans of the
savage were being matnrcd, and expresses
were passing from tribe to tribe, to per
feet their combination, the gold mines were
discovered in the Colville valley. AIlured
by the hope of gain, hundreds Of our cti.
zens hastencd thither, leaving but compara-
lively few men for the protection Of the
country. This afforded golden opportu.
nifty for the Indians to have put into exc.
cution their nearly matured plans. And
such appears now to have been their de-
sign but while they were preparing for
the slaughter, they thwarted their own
plans by butchering numbers of our citizens
who were on their way to the mines, which
led, among other things, to the speedy re-
turn of the whole number. And here let
me remark upon these cold-blooded, unpro-
voked murders. The traduccrs of our
country in the Atlantic States have charg-
cd that this war originated, and was
brought about, and these murders were
perpetrated, in consequence of the wanton
conduct Of our citizens on their way to the
mines. Never was there uttered greater
or more malicious falsehood. These men
were murdered secretly, having FIRST been
misled from the main trail by the Indians,
protesting the most profound friendship.
Take but one case US an illustration of the
others, the murder Of ourfelow-citizen Mr..
Mattice. And | take this one, because we
know more of the particulars, the murder
having been witnessed by Spokane Indi-
an, tribe that would not enter into the
combination. Mattice had fallen little
into tue rear of his companions in travel
He is overtaken by the son OF the Clcka-
tat chief and two or three other Indians.
lie is put upon false trail-he is fired at
by the Indians, while he is attempting to
slake his thirst at brook, and missed.
lie is warned by the Spokan that the In-
dians design to murder him-he tries to
make his escape-at last pleads for his life,
TO the savages all his gold,
($l5O0) his watch and revolver on the
promise that his life should be spared, and
when thus stripped Of his all, naked aud
defencelcss, he was murdered with his own
weapons. Shame on the head that can
thus SANDER o suffering people
On the return Of our citizcus, the country
was alarmed, though not half apprized OIL
the magnitude Of the danger 1t was only
the Indians east Of the Cascades we sup
posed TO be hostile. 10 prevent hostilties
with them, Indian Agent Bolon went bold
ly among them, to demand the murderers
Of our citizens, but he himself was barbar-
ously murdered. Maj. Haller was then
sent from the Dalles with 100 regulars,
while Lieut.. Slaughter with about so men
crossed the mountains from Steilacoom, de-
signing to form junction with Haller in
che Yakima valley. But Haller was at
tucked by more than thousand savages,
aud after desperate fight, was compelled
to retreat with the loss OF nearly one-fourth
of his command. Having disposed Of Hal
Ter, the Indians prepared TO annihilate the
little band under the lamcnted Slaughter,
who were approaching through the noun
tain passes, ignorant of Haller's defeat,
aud of'the imminent danger which threat
ened them. So certain were the sayages
of annlhilating Slaughter and smeu, that
expresses were dispatched to all the differ
ent bands of Indians on this side Of the
TO let them know that Slaugh-
ter and all his men were killed. But Prov-
denee interposcd to save him and bis men
from the well laid snare Of the enemy. 0hI
the v,ry morning OF the day when he would
have fallen into their ambuscade, some OF
our citizens who were returning from the
mines, and who had managed TO elude the
enemy, reached his camp aud apprized him
Of danger, and he fell back to this side OF
the mountains.
Then it was that our worthy executive
called upon the citizens TO rally for the de-
fence OF their country and nobly did they
They feared not the Indians in
our midst-these they believed to be friends
But to chaslise the murdorers on the other
side, and prevent them from breaking
through the mountain passes and lay waste
the settlements. In the course of few
days we had armed and equipped nearly
200 Of our citizens, who had joined Slaugh-
ter, and taken up their line of march
through the Nah Chez pass, to form q
junction with strong force Of regulars and
volunteers moving from the DaleS into the
Yakima country. But no sooner had our
citizen soldiery left. the settlements, than
we began to have our eyes opened to the
greatness Of our danger The Indians
were only waiting their departure to COM
mence the work OF DEATH The families on
White river were butchered, the little band
of rangers who had been left to scout
through the settlements were attacked,
their horses and accouterments captured,
and Lieut. kMcAlliSler and his companion
slain, Fear seized upon the Inhabitants.
The largest portion Of their available force
was gone. As speedily as possible, stock
AIDES aud block houses were erected, aud
the families were gathered Into them, hut