The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-05-03
Territorial "Reminiscences.


Territorial "Reminiscences.
The interesting biographical sketches Of
yanderburgh and Pssey, by Judge Law,
are received everywhere in the State as val
liable contributions to its history. Few
persons know anything Of the men whose
names they were daily using till the publi-
cation of these papers. Mr.. John B. Dill
Ion, the Secretary of the Historical Society,
who is now writing history of the State,
in acknowledging the receipt Of Judge
Laws communications, speaks OF them as
highly valuable and interesting historical
contributions to be filed in the archives of
the Society, and suggests, that be would
crafty the public by writing a short me-
moir of Gen. Robt. NJ. Evans, the man from
whom our city derives its name. He was
conspicuous man in his day, and rendered
the State some service. His family are res
idents of the city and his widow is still oc-
cupying the old homestead; the materials
for his biography must be abundant and it
would be pleasant to hi S old companions and
neiqhbors 70 recall the "reminiscences Of his
life, and be instructive to the recent settlers
and the younger portions OF the citizens to
hear narrative of the labors and priva-
tons of those who first made an opening in
the wilderness, where the city now stands !;
it is duty no one can fulfill so well as
Judge Law.
IL may not probably be known 10 most of
our readers that one of the most terrible
massacres perpetrated by tue Indians in the
West took place in the Indiana Territory at
the close of the year 1872, in what is now
Scott county, and that twenty-four persons
mostly women and children-constituting
nearly all the settlement Of place called
the Pigeon Roost,' were murdered by the
sayages The only persons OF the whole
settlement that escaped, were part OF the
family Of Mr.. Collins, who defended their
house successfully with their rifles, and q
Mrs Beade and her two children, who, hav-
ing concealed themselves in q siDk-hole,
while the Indians were engaged In plumber.
ing and burning the houses, escaped on foot
and vending their way to the nearest settle
nent, six miles distant, carried thither tb,
hrst news of this terrible calamity. "Pos
vincennes was then the seat OF territorial
government The country was then a per
feet wilderness occupied by savage foe
and it Uas a long time ere the news of thii
terrible disaster reached that place. Genera
Robert Evans after whom our city Is named
vas then Adjutsnt General Of the Territory
with the rank of Colonel We have in our
possession the original order issued by job,
Gibson, Secretary OF the Territory, and
signed by Col. Evans, addressed to Nsjo
John Upton, afterwards General Upton
and United States Senator from this State,
directing Major Upton to take command o
four companies ordered on service from tn
counties Of Harrison and Clark, f" to be sta
toned on the frontiers of those counties il
such manner as will best comport with To
safety of the country, aud there to remair
tili further orders"
We publish below the original order Z
Col Evans aud the reply Of Major Tiptor
- interesting documents connected with on
territorial history never before publishe.
and as evidences Of the dangers and suifel
ings of the brave and gallant men who wei
the pioneer settlers Of our now great an
populous State. Wha. change in our col
dit;on has been effected in less than half
century Indiana then contained but fo'
counties within her borders-Knox, Harr
son, Clark, and Dearborn;
REGINESTAL ORDERS.
YNcESSEs, March 10, 1912.
Mai. john Upton will Immediately pr
reed to take command OF the four compani
of railiii,, ordered into service, pursuant
general order from John Gibson, SecretaI
and acting Governor OF the Indians TER
tory. from the counties of Harrison al
Clark, which he will station on the frontis
ofthose counties in such manner a. will b.
ronlfort 10 the safety Of the country, the
10 remain until further orders.
ROBT. NJ EVANS, Col. Comd' r.
SIG on being informed that your naI
was omitted 10y mistake in the general I
ders 10 COT. Padtlocks, applied to ,
GoVernor who sent on Immediately an