New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-07-13
NUMBER Ill.
Later from California.
ARRIVAL or rHE OVERLAND MAIL.

NJ.
find in the paper little Of interest beyond the par
tiealars Of q battle near Pyramid Lake, between /
the volunteer and regular forces under Col. Hays
and the Indians who some time ago inflicted the
bloody and disastrous defeat upon the expedition t
Of Col. Ormsby. This account ii contained in /
letter Of the 4 inst. to the San francisco Bulletin
from Pyramid Lake, from which we extract the |
following:
REMArs Or INDIAN FtcTnHs FoUHD.--Dnfng tile
afternoon, and about two hundred yards from our
encampment, some of our men discovered the re-
mains of one OF Ormsbyis party, and here COM
menced our initiation to the sckenng evidences of
that massacre we were subsequently To witness.
1t was, apparently, the body of young man,
about feet inches in hight, dark hafr-Without
beard the second and third toes of each foot were
partially adherent evidently congenitaI. The
teeth were perfect-VeTy white and even. On his
finger was a heavy gold ring, design shield j; |
probably overlooked by the savages when they
stripped the body. am thus particular in des-
seription, as from it he may be recognized by his
friends. His throat cut, and his chest perfo-
rated by two bullet-holes. During the brief inter-
val that had intervened the body had become
much wasted and parchment-like, and was par
tally devonred by birds aud beasts Of prey. This
was about 1s miles from the battlefield. The hext
morning the body was inferred
1t rained all night, but had by this time
learned to construct temporary shelters, with
bonghs and blankets, which in some degree pro-
tected them from the wind and rain have been
aSt0nlSneQ tnat so lew Colds anu fheuflati5nS have
resulted from sleeping upon the soaking ground,
often with insufficient covering. Owing to the con-
tnuance of the storm, we did not break camp until
z. M, when VIC proceeded about5 miles down the
river to our second encampment, on the Truckee.
Here we found plenty of dry reeds with which we
made excellent beds that protected us from the
wet ground
MORE INDIAN NIcTfMs-TIL ILEIR MUTILArED BODIES
Indian Propensity to CIT TtfoGts.-Ihis after
noon three more bodies were discovered near the
| trail upon the plain above our camping ground.
They were recognized Jones. Elliot and NcCoud.
Some had their skulls broken with stones, and from
/ the body of McClond, which was lying upon its
face, the tendens Of the dorsal muscles had been
\ removed for bow-stFings ALI bore evidences of
the dreadful conflict through which they had passed.
and all had the same cash in the throat. These
4 sayages are perfect Thugs in their propensity for
4 throat-cutting. OF the thirty-nine bodies found,
| in addition to the gun-shot wounds nearly every
| one had this ghastly accompaniment. ! would
here remark that considerable speculation existed
among us, whether this butehering process had
| taken place previous or subsequent TO death.
inclined to the former opinion for during the fight,
when the men fell exhausted from theif wounds,
their puisners probably resorted TO this mems 10
insure their death, thereby guarding against any
possible contingency OF escape while then con-
tinued the chase.
Certainly the attitudes or positions of the most of
the bodies would favor this conclusion. for in 10 in
stance did observe the quiet composnre OF the
limbs that precedes q death comparatively free
| from struggle or agony. The contracted muscles,
clenehed hand, and gasping open mouth, bespoke
q scene Of horror that made one shudder to CON
| template; suggested thoughts of the moment when
bleeding and exhausted, these victims had fallen
\ upon the sands with the hofrid whoop OF their
ruthless pursuers ringing in their ears-ther last
vision upon earth being the hideous features Of a
savage, as with cleaning knife he stopped to stihe
the expiring gasp for mercy. Around two of the
bodies near the camp the savages had evidently
had war dance, as they lay IN the center Of well
trodden circle.
A PARTY OF OBSERVATION sEsT aur TOWARDS
PYRAMID LAKE.--It was arranged by Col. Hays
during the afternoon, that party of mounted
men, 40 in number, should, in the morning., proceed
, toward the lake to make observations, or discover
the whereabeuts of the enemy we were all anxious
to meet. Iobtained permission Of Col. Hays to be
one of the number provided was well mounted
This was dilemma that could not be overcome,
for my Rosinante, as ascertained during our last
engagement, was adapted for anything rather than
speed or celebrity of movement; so, as the result
showed, wisely concluded to remain
j, The morning Of the I'd June dawned brightly.
assembled to the plain where the trail ran near the
base Of the mountains to visit the bodies that had
4 been discovered the day previous. should have
mentioned soon after our arrival in camp, that
Sias Fletcher, private in Capt. Story's company
was accidentally shot by the discharge of his gun
as he was removing it from the stack, and almost
~ | instantly killed. While viewing the bodies, WI
saw the mounted scouts, under the command o
Capt. Story, ascend the hill and trot rapidly VI
Q with the same object in view. " Ride round men
and then pass on as fast as you can,' was tn.
order of the Captain, as the men filed past Poo
fellow? How little did he imagine that in o few
brief hours he would be stretched, mortally wound
i ed, upon the same plainly the same foe tha
had prosrated the unfortunate victims before him
A WOUNDED Scout IN THE CAMP--Ihe Indians
D at Pyramid Lake The afternoon was wearing
J quietly away; some were dozing lazily in tht
shade, others gosspng around camp-fres, whers
they spitted sticks and roasted dainty looking
bits of beef 49, merely for pass-time. Suddenl,
there was commotion in camp, for on the sand
t hills, not far Distant a horseman was seen dashin
,o1a pp1 hf
until he refined up in front of the Gommissary'
tent, swearing like trooper He was assiste
(, to alight, for in his hip he carried so.ceti Q
Pyramid Lake, in the shape of an Indian bullet
y which he had received at the first discharge.
appears that our scouts had reached the broa
plain of Pyramid Lake before they were discover
, ed by the Indians. With whoop and yell on the
came, and then began the race for life Back owe
the narrow rocky trail came our horsemen. follow
ed by their pursners-in some instances tw
mounted upon one horse, and firing as often a
circumstances would permit Woe to the ma ma
will be his portion Fortunately neither cata
2 strophe occurred; Hasey, who was wounded. wa
= perfectly able to retain his seat and reach gu
& camp in safety. The others, when about mil
! and half from our position, reined up and stoo
2 on the defensive.
The HuRRYINti TO AND FRO EAGER TO BE A
J THEM.-Meanwhile, our camp was all eommot1on
d it was hard to believe that the Indians designe
], attacking us in position but all were certain tina
9 tho ball had opened. Already were the regua
9 forces and Capt. story g company, who were mue
4 nearer the scene of action advancing to the sup
s port of those ON the hill. Our men, eager for III
fray, were driving in and saddling their horses j
haste while our footmen were betting and armin
themselves as fast as possible, then hurrying ava
{ to the field. Col. Hays his fine black charger
= was issuing his orders in the quick emphatic mar
= ner that have observed characterizes him on sue
: occasions. noticed Coils. Saunders and Faiffa,
y together with other officers of the staff, eager
= the performance of their Duties Dr. Bell and
: after providing ourselves with the necessary surg
= :, cal apparatus for tho field, in company with d
~ ~ Tiader, of the Carson Rangers, rode briskly 70
~ = ward toward the battlefield
:. The SCENE OF ACTION The Battle of PilR0c
il Mount Having assembled the hill and folows
y ~ the trail to slight eminence on the plain,
" citing scene was before us. From the base OF Il
i; mountains, which were divided by deep valleys
- cahons, extended o plain about a mile in breadt
and terminating in sandy ridges, furrowed byroel
H. ravines gnlches, it sloped away to the feft
bottom on the lett. Scattered in groups upon L
IN mountain spurs across the plain and down up
he the .'hat were the regular and volunteer force
ID who kept mp IN almost ineessant firing The reg
ii lars were readily distinguished from our forces
he their dark uniforsls and more especially by thl
his firing which was not so frequent as with the "
mr. unteers, and only when they were satisfied tht
st foe was in range. Their conduct and that OF the
at officers on the field was admirable. Opposed
lis our men and eorrespon1ingly scattered, were q
On indians whooping, yelling and firing like nen
| iunornata Ernp this mimi we f0NlG OTefi0l