The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-05-14
Deadly Fight with the indians,

The Los Angeles Vineyard Of April 18th,
containsa letter from Samuel A. Bishco. ESQ
TO Col. Hoffman, the commanding officer at
Cuchana Talley, calling for a detachment of
men to aid him in ciIecting crossing of the
Colorado river. This letter is of deep interest
detailing as it does, the treachery Of the
Mohaves and ether bands of vagabDud
Indians, who are now hurting defiance at
American citizens ard the entire military
force Of the Union. MIR. Bishop has written
as follows:
On my way to meet Lieut.. F. +. Bcale,
with supplies. agrccably to his official direc-
, ti"ns, and to assist him in working the road,
arrived at or near the Colorado river on the
18TH March, when | was met by six or seven
hundred Indians. claiming to be Mohaves.
| Pah Ctahs, dumas, armed with bows and
arrows and club in their hands, who forbid
our further advance. banded my rife and
pistols to one Of my men, and made signs to
! one of the chiefs to lay aside his arms and
| meet me, as | wish to have talk with him,
which he did.
In few words as possible, l explained to
hn the object of my expedition, and that
wished to'pass peaccably through his coantry
lie then gave his consent that might do SO
but wanted me to give his people some
tobacco. ! ordered about one HUNDRED pounds
of tobacco, which had Intended for them.
to | e bought ont and divided amongst them
l also gave shirt tn each of the chiefs. We
then drove to the lake and cncanped for the
night. Being acquainted with the treachery
OF these indians, was not fully satisfied that
all was right.
Early in the morning of the Goth we pitched
up our teams and finding AN Indian that Offer
cd to guide us to Bcal $ crossing, we started
to cross the river without further drlav.-
Aitel marching to the river, We launched our
boat, and stretched a rope from one shore
to the other, and as we were in the act of
crossing part of the men, I was told that it
was the order of the chief that should not
cross the river unless | gave shirt to every
marrof his tribe, as well as to each Indian
there assembled. This was impt ssible. even
if we had given up those Of every man in the
company, had our disposition been to comply
with the demand. | told them that | asked
OF them no more than what was right and
that would not submit to anything that was
wrong.
AS there was assembled ut least four hun
dred Indians ON the opposite bank of the river
to prevent our crossing unless the demand
Tor the Shits was complied With, ! gave i'll
structions to have the rope cast loose from
the other bank ofthc river. Mcssrs. Akerd
and Pool were sent to the other side for that
purpose, and while in the act of untving the
rope, the Indians began shooting at them with
arrows They escaped unframed; but the
India rubber boat was pierced in many places,
so as to be nearly flied with water by Ihe
time they reached this side of the river. AT
the time they commenced shooting on the
opposite side Ofthe river, by means OF a signal
made by the Indians to communicate the in
tclIigtncc to those on this side, the arrows
commenced pouring forth from the willows in
the rear of the team.
knowing full well that we must fight, re-
paired to an open place where we could
better contend with such superior force
On reaching the lake where We had encamped
two days previous, and while in the act Of
corralling the wagons, we We're greeted with
showers Of arrows. / then gave orders to the
men to kill and scalp every one that could he
seen. 1t was warm time for about three
hours, my men killing at least two Indians for
every three shots fired, and taking some of
their hair. This has deferred them from fur
Their molcstins us tn the present time although
they are collected in large numbers on the
opposite side Of the river. and dare us to
cross.
| have forty men, and as | believe we have
whipped them ON this side ofthe river, think
l could do the same on the other, were it
possible to cross the stream with all my men.
But as | should be under the necessity of
dividing my company, as well as having the
river. which is one fourth OF a mile IN width.
to obStruct my movements, | think it would
be dangerous to attempt it without assistance.
| am satisfied that fifty men would lie ample,
knowing, as do, that / could whip them had
not the river to cross. IT., therefore, you
can with propriety and in accordance with
your duties, or without iranscending your
official power, yon will send to my assistance
detachment OF men.