, 1860-09-14
From Maj. STEMS Command.
CAMP IN GREAT MEADOWS

CAMP IN GREAT MEADOWS !
August 10, 1850.
Lat, As deg. 81 mn Lon. lis deg 80 min; 80, fron
Dalles. "
FRIEND CooN:-Maj. STEMS command
arrived at this place on the evening Of M
10Th inst, having made a thirteen davJ
scout in the direction of the Snow uount.
aims. This part Of the country being bitI-
erto little known, the men,suifered greatly
for want of water, having made on one oc.
casion march of As miles without finding
that Hecessary element. This for footmen
you viii think was severe. The countrv
beyound the Snow mountains seems to be
an uninhabitablc desert even for the saw
age, immense plains Of sage desert stretch.
ing away to great distances, occasionally
broken up by rocky hills and impasabe
canons. No large bodies OF Indians were
encountered in this region, but several
small parties were met, Eve warriors killed.
and three squaws and eight children cap
tured; the latter averaging from to ia
years Of age. 1t is believed that the hos.
tile bands in this region are broken up and
scattered, most Of them having taken the
direction Of Fort Boise and Snake river.
That portion of the command left by
Maj. Stein to guard the train, was attacked
by Indians on the night of the l4th inst,
while encamped 10 Mint Valley, that Is to
say, the Indians entered camp for the pur.
pose of stampeeding the animals, were fred
on by picket, returned the FIRE aud re-
treated. Afterwards they fired the dry
grass to windward of our camp, with the
intention Of burning us out. The Gre how
ever went out in about half an hour with
out iIjuring us. Last evening another at
tempt was made by small party Of the
enemy to steal animals, q few shots were
fired without any result, and the enemy
gracefully retHed Pelayne with his ma
rauding band is thought to be in this Eicin-
.ity. This Indian was with Capt Wallen
last summer as guide; and wound up his
affairs with government by stealing a few
horses and q rife, and decamped without
regular discharge. His parting words
were, when / next meet the soldeFs,0I
will give them hell" This savage, from
his knowledge Of The habits of the troops,
and generally of the whites, is a very dan
gerous leader and will probably prove very
troublesome to our people for years to
come, unless he is captured or killed. He
was undoubtedly the leader in the attack
on Capt. Smith, as also in the attempted
fray since on our command Mai. Stein
expected to make another scout on the
2lst, but to-day having discovered signs of
Indians near camp sent Capt. Smith with
so dragons in pursuit. When this com
mand returns will resume.
WEDNESDAY, Aug, %, 1860. I
Capt. Smiths command returned about
2P N to day. The Indians continue to-
gether about 20 miles in direction N. 3.
Of our camp, and finding themselves pur-
sued scatter in every direction. Capt.
Smith was unable to come up with any OF
them Yesterday be left the few pack ami
mails that accompanied him from this camp
iu valley about 20 N. e. of this place,
aud secuted the country some Is miles 10
every direction without success While be
was gone, three Indians were seen on a bill
some distance from cump, whs, as soon as
they saw they we're diseoIered, fed. -
Another scout viii be made in o
few days, but the details are not yet deter
mined on. Of ss.. .+r-u ~ v1l9
! should judge from appearances that
this country contains great mineral wealth.
Large quantities Of rotten quartz (gOld
bearing) exists all over the region, yet I'M
explored, and believe these valleys to be-
the very centre Of that FL Dorado which Is
destined some day to pour its exhaustless
treasure into the lap of millions On these
bills, now desolate, will be seen the bone
and sinew of the land, delving with untirs
ing arm for riches now buried far down in
the bowels Of the earth. ...r. t..-t
In these valleys win be found, FIRST, The.
miners humble cabin, then cultivated fields;
these hollows will be filed up, and those
rayincs rendered passable, and the Sound
of the church going bell, as its iron tougue
ribrates in some neat village spre, will call
the tired laborer from the pursuits Of mann
mon to the worship Of his Creator.
Should this view seem to you chimericaB
you have have only to glance at your sister
state, California. Why may not the future
Of Oregon be greater even than hers =
Cor. Vancouver Chronicle.