, 1856-04-04

nate slaughter the towns. and settlements
present the only attraction for the display
of their Gendish propcnsitics, and hence
the recent capture and destruction by them
of the Cascades, the most important link
in the chain of communication between the
volunteer forces of Oregon aud the head
quarters of the civil authorities of that
Territory. At the lowest figures upon
which we have seen a calculation prcdlca,
ted, there must have been at least 500 In
dams in the body that plundered and dcs-
troyed the Cascades showing conclusively
that the hostile Indians are divided into
strong bnnds-that the capture of that
place was the result of mature deliberation
that the Oregon volunteers and regulars
occupy position between two rather pow
erful hostile forces, and that the retreat Of
that portion Of the enemy to the east side
of Snake river was more or less r1tse to
decoy our forces as far as possible from the
settlements, to the end, that in their alb
sence, the bands that remained behind
might desolate and lay waste the settled
portions of both Territories-cut off all
communication between them - between
our forces and the settlements, and then
turning to the east Of the Cascade noun
tains, if possible, net and destroy them, the
volunteers and regulars, between two fires.
Whatever may be the opinion of Others,
to us it is perfectly clear that the apparent
retreat of the hostles to the eastern side
of the mountains, after their defeat at Con
nell's prairie, was but a well digested
strategy to induce our volunteers and reg
ulars to cross over, and thus afford them q
favorable opportunity to run riot, unre-
strained over the entire settled portion Of
our Territory. 1t may be possible that
the son Of Ouhi, with band Of some 40
warriors who participated, as it is reported,
in the late engagement at ConnelPs prairie,
have re-crossed the mountains for ammuni-
ton, &C., with an object of returning in
force. But the capture of the Cascades,
and every connecting circumstance goes to
prove that at least portion Of our Ms
qually band participated in the attack, and
that perhaps Leschi, Kitsap, and the entire
body of our hostiles were there. Should
such be thecase, and appearances be worth
anything to base conclusion on, it is evi-
dent that Leschi and his coadjutors, after
being defeated at Connelps prairie, passed
over to the Columbia to assist, per agree
IrAnt, the taking and sacking of that place
and Vancouver--induce those there at
peace to take up arms-then turning to
the Cowlitz, cajole or overawe the Indians
in that vicinity into open hostility, and
thus, with force augmented by the adhe-
sion Of the Chehalis tribe, wipe out the
settlements along the Cowlitz and Colum-
bia rivers, and blot from existence in Che
halls, Pacific, Lewis, Thurston, and the
country along the Sound, everything bear
ing the mark Of civilization. This, to be
sure, is the dark side Of the picture, but
who is there that is prepared to say that
the drawing may not prove a reality? We
have no faith in the sending Of any more
troops out of the settlements in the direc-
tion Of White river or the Nah Ches pass,
unles blow, certain, can be struck. The
Indians are familiar with scores Of trails
by which they can elude pursuit-dmbus-
cade, and pick of troops in detail, and
make their way into the settlements, whilst
our force may bo at too great distance
from them, in toilsome and fruitless chase
after the destroyer, to punish him or afford
protection until a vast destruction Of prop
erty and loss of life may have been con
summated. Rumor and recent indications
confirm the opinion that at present there
are but few, if any, hostiles in the immedi.
ate direction Of the Nah Ches pass, although
there are undoubtedly bands Of Indians at
the heads Of some Of the rivers, Nisqually
or Cowlitz, engaged in drying meat and
otherwise preparing for prolongation Of
hostilities. .. ' -''i. .'. '''-
To avert the devastation of the settled
portion of our country, our Territorial
authorities are at work night and day IN
i .
the maturing Of plans, and our citizens,
generally, can rest assured that every thing
will be done that can be done, as speedily
as possible to afford them safety, by the
erection, at convenient and important
points, Of block-houses, &c. ]. i3.'''oh
Coming at once directly home, promising
that the foregoing conclusions are correct
what are the measures that should be