The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-06-09
Defeat 4 Maj. ornssy's Party viii orsat L.
Exasgeratea Reports Afloat.



The last Posy Express tack intslligence
that several Americans bad besn murdered
" the Indians while aslsep, . Nillss's Sta
ton, on Carsoa River, sems thirty niles
from the settlements Of Casse0 VALLEY; and
also shas various companies had organized
as Virginia City, Gold Hill, and sshar set
Elements in the Washos mines, snd gone in
pursuit Of the Indiens, supposed 70 hare
committed the murder. Ii subsequently APP
peared that the volunteer had united IN one
BODY, under command Of Major Ornsby.
They we're uounsed, and numbsrsd ons hun
dred and Eve men. This force, on the l2th
inst, At 4 p. NJ, came spon the Indiaos at
bend Of Truekee River, about sixty-6ve miles
northward towards Pyramid Lake from
Virginia City. The Indians were in ambush
at narrow pass through which the Ormsby
party we're proceeding, and numbering, it 10
supposed, not less than 6ve hundred, all hav-
ing FIRE arms, plenty Of ammunition, and one
hundred and ffty horses within convenient
distance. They opened ere upon our troors
from their safe hiding place. and Major
Ormsby ordered charge, but the Indians
continued to skulk, firing occasionally from
behind rocks and sage bushes, doing dam
age, without suffering much in returp. This
condition Of things continued two hours,
when the ammunition Of Ormsby's party
gave out, Tho lndians seeing this, closed
upon our men, pouring in volley after volley.
killing many on the spot. They were pur-
sued twenty or thirty miles By the
mounted Indians and many detached parties
cut off. The survivors came struggling IN
to Virginia City during the two following
days. The exact uonbes Of killed 10 mot
vet ascertained, but il probably exceeds so.
Among the slain are Maj. Ormsby, Henry
Meredith, distinguished California Law.
yer.
Total known to be killed, 81 wounded, 3.
The fate Of 43 is unknown. Returned alive,
SO. Wagons have been sent out to pick up
any wounded that may DO found, aud also
an armed force to protect parties burying
the dead, but no account has yet been receiv-
ed from the battle ground.
Very exaggerated accounts Of this battle
were telegraphed to MI parts Of California
on the 18th. 1t was 6rst reported that all
Of Ormsby's party we're killed, except six;
that the victorious Indians, numbering 600,
were marching upon Virginia City, deter
mined to kill all American citizens in the
Wsshoe mines; that all the Indians from
Walker river on the south to Humboldt on
the north were in'full war paint, and had
sent away their women and children; and
that while thus threatened with destruction,
the Americans in Washoe mines had no
arms or ammunition for defense. These
exaggerated reports caused powerful exer-
At Placerville and Sacramento the people as
sembled and raised about s., 900 and fitted
out company Of well armed volunteers,
who started from Placerville on their way
over the mountains on the 14th. On the
18th $50 volunteers started out from Dow
melville, and another company from Nevada.
All the principal military companies in the
State expressed rerdiness to embark in the
same duty. The State authorities promptly
dispatched 200 stands Of arms, with good
supply of ammunition. General Clark,
commanding the Pacific division U. s. A.,
dispatched from San Frncisco, on the l4,h,
l50 United States troops, oil the available
men in Central California, together with
500 stand OF arms and l00, 900 rounds Of
He also sent orders to the
100 Uniicd States soldiers stationed at
Honey Lake, one hundred miles north Of
Carson Valley, to proceed to the Pyramid
Lake regions and aid in suppressing hostil-
tiles. These movements warrant the belief
that there are now not less than 800 welt
armed volunteers from California and 260
y. S. soldiers ready for duty on the eastern
slope Of the mountains, which is an ample
force to protect the people as long as un-
paid volunteers can afford to remain in the
Geld.
At the last accounts, the hostile Indians
were all to the north Of the Pony Express
and Salt Lake mail and emigrant route, and
the troops will be so posted a, to keep that
route open. The Indians Oh the eastern
eide Of the mountains, extending north into |
Oregon, and westward into the ihtefio. Of
Utah, number probably 1900, and from
their contingency with Morinons, and other
Unavoidable causes, are all liable to become
hostile to Americans, unless permanent |
means are taken by the Government to |
restrain them. At least 500 U. s. soldiers |,
should be stationed at different exposed |
points, between the Humboldt and Walker
rivers.