The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-06-08
Arrival OF Overland Mails.
ST.. LOUIS, June l.

The mail from New Mexico arrived at
Independence to-day, having left the former
place on the 18th ult. The mail party over
took an escort Of soldiers coming in with
officers wives and children, who Travelled
with them four days and then came in alone.
-Four Kiowa Indians came to one of the
mail stations near Pawnee Fork, but did
not modest the men there, but seemed dis
posed for peace.
At Pawnee Fork some Delaware Indian
spies were sent out and discovered the en-.
campment of forty Kiowa braves, and on
last Saturday Lieut.. Armstrong, with forty
dragons, left in pursuit of them. By next
mail we will get the result of their attack
on the Indians.
Another company had left Fort Union in
pursuit of Indians that were providing on the
road beyond the Arkansas river. No doubt
the Indians will now get their just deserts,
and will be willing to obtain peace on any
terms.
Business in Santa Fe was very dull.
ST. JOSEPH, June l.
The Central Overland Pixies Peak Elk.
press arrived this evening with advices to
the Oath, and Denver city to the 26th.
A meeting of citizens was held last even
ing for the purpose of taking precautionary
measures for defence in case they were at
tackled by Indians. The city was divided
into four wards, and places of rendezvous
appointed in each in case of surprise. 1t
was reported by French traders that an at
tack on whites was threatened. There are
now large numbers of Kiowas, Arraphoes,
Camanches, Sioux, Cheyennes and Ano-
pohos encamped within a few miles of the
city, and some depredations have been com.
mitted on the ranches in the vicinity, but
nothing serious. No fears are entertained
of serious trouble by old settlers. The
meeting passed resolutions to infict fifty
lashes in public, and compel to leave the
country, any person found guilty of selling
or giving intoxicating liquor, arms or am
munition to Indians.
Reports from mines favorable. Weather
warm.
The pony express with the dispatches and
mail missing from the pony which arrived
on Tuesday evening last arrived here
OF 2:20 P. NJ. to-day. No explanation
is given as to the cause OF its detention. Mail
all safe.
The last pony express took intelligence
that several Americans had been murdered
by the Indians while asleep at Millers Sta
ton, on Carson river, some thirty miles
from settlements of Carson valley and also
that various companies had organized at
Virginia City, Gold Hill and other settle.
ments in Washoe mines, and gone in pursuit
of Indians supposed to have committed the
murder. 1t subsequently appeared that los
volunteers, under command of Maj. Ormsby,
on the 18th inst, came upon the Indians
about IS miles northward from Virginia
City. The Indians were in ambush at mar.
row pass, through which the Ormsby party
were proceeding and murdered. 1t is sup
posed that not less than 500, and all having
firearms and plenty of ammunition, and $50
horses within convenient distance. They
opened fire upon our troops from their safe
hiding places. Maj. Ormsby ordered q
charge, but the Indians continued to skulk,
firing occasionally from behind rocks and
sage bushes and doing damage, without suf-
fering much in return. This condition of
things continued two hours, when the ann
munition of Ormsby's party gave out. The
Indians seeing this closed upon our men,
pouring in volley after volley, killing many
on the spot. The balance retreated, SCAT
tering in all directions. The survivors came
struggling into Virginia City during two
subsequent days.
The exact number of killed is not yet as
certained, but probably exceeds so. Among
the slain are Maj. Ormsby, Henry Meredith,
distinguished California lawyer; VIM. S.
Spear, Richard Snowden, VIM. Arlington,
DR.. Jader, Chas. Devanes, Jas. Lee, F..
Johns, Charles Mcleod John Flending, S.
Anderson, Andrew Schealed, M. Kresor
witch, Jno. Gormbo, A. K. Elliott, w.
Hawkins, Geo. Jones, VIM. Macintosh, O.
McNaughton. Total known to be killed,
81; wounded, 3; fate unknown, 43; re-
turned alive, 38.
Wagons have been sent out to pick up
any wounded that may be found, and also
an armed force to protect parties burying
the dead but no account had yet been re-
ceived from the battle ground. Exaggerat-
ed reports of the battle caused powerful ex.
ertions to be made throughout California to
send relief At Placerville and Sacramen-
to the people assembled raised about S., 900
and fitted out a company of we'll armed VOL
unteers who started from Placerville on their
way over the mountains. On the 18th and
18th inst, $50 volunteers started out from
Downerville, and another company from
Nevada. All the principal military COM
panies in the State expressed their readiness
to embark on the same duty.
The State authorities promptly dispatch
ed 200 stands of arms, with good supply
of ammunition. Gen. Clark commanding
the pacific division of the United States ar
my, dispatched from San Francisco, on the
l4th, $50 U. S. troops, all the available
men in central California, together with
500 stand of arms, and 100000 rounds of
ammunition. He also sent orders that the
100 U. s. Soldiers stationed at Honey Lake,
100 miles north of Carson Valley, to proceed
to the Pyramid Lake Region and aid in sup
pressing hcstilities. These movements war.
rants the belief that there are not less than
300 we'll disciplined volunteers from Cali
fornia, and 200 U. s. soldiers, ready for du-
ty on Eastern Slope mountains, an ample
force to protect the people az long as unpaid
volunteers can afford to remain in the field.
At last accounts, hostile Indians were all to
the north Of the Pony express and Salt
Lake mail and emegrant route, and the
troops will be so posted as to keep that
route open. .sial 5a - aSp19
r n. II ~,