Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-06-09
A Fearful Indian Massacre.

Tuesday evening last, arrived here at 2:20
P. NJ. to-day. No explanation is given
as TO the cause Of lis detention. The
dates from San Francisco are TO P. NJ.
on the lSlh ull.
The last Pony Express took the intelli-
pence that several Americans had been
murdered by, the Indians, while asleep al
Miler's Station, on Carson river, some
thirty miles from the settlements of Car
son Valley, and also that various compa-
nies had organized at Virginia City, Gold
Hill, and other settlements in the Washoe
Mines, and gone in pursuit Of the Indians
supposed to have committed the murders.
/ 1t subsequently appeared that these
volunteers united in one body, and under
the command of Major Ormsby, they
were mounted, and numbered lO5 men.
| This force, on the 18th inst, at 4 7. NJ,
came upon Indians al the bend Of the
Quichie River, about 65 miles northward,
towards Pyramid Lake, from Virginia
city. The Indians were in ambush at a
narrow pass through which Major Orms-
by's party were proceeding, and number
ed, il is supposed, not less than 500, all
having firearms, plenty OF ammunition,
and | 500 horses within convenient dis
lance They opened fire upon the
troops from their hiding place; MaJor
| Ormsby ordered charge, but The Indians
continued to skulk, firing occasionally
from behind the rocks and sage bushes,
and doing damage without suffering much
! in return.
This condition OF things continued for
some two hours, when the ammunition Of
! Ormsby's party gave out. The Indians
seeing this, closed upon our men, pouring
in voley after volIey, killing many on
the SPOT, and the balance retreated, scatter
Ing in all directions over the hills and a
mong the sage bushes. They were pur-
sued 25 or 80 miles by the mounted In
dians, and many detached parties cnt off
The survivors came struggling into Nlr-
ginia city during the two subsequent days.
| The exact number Of killed is not yet as
ce,lained, but it probably exceeds fifty.
Among the killed are Major Ormsby.
Henry Meredith, distinguished Califor-
MIA lawyer; Mr.. S. Speer, Richard Lion
den, Mr.. Assington, DR.. Jader, Chas, De-
raus, Jas, Lee, II. Johnson, Charles Nc
Leod, John Flemming. J. Anderson, An
drew Schealld, Mr.. Kuezornitch, John
Garmbo, Nj. E. Elliott, w. Hawkins,
George Jones, Wm. Macintosh, O. Nc
/ Naughtcn. Total known to be killed 81;
wounded, 3; fate unknown. 43; returned
alive, 80. Wagons have been cent out TO
pick up any wounded that may be found,
and also an armed force to project parties
tuIying the dead, but no account is yetTe-
ceived from the battle ground.
Very exaggerated accounts of this bat
tie were telegraphed TO California on the
18th. Ii was first reported that all Orms-
by's men were killed except six, that the
vir,orious Indians numbering 1000, were
marching upon Virginia City, determined
to kill all the American citizens in the
Washoe mines, tha! all The Indians from
Walker River south te Humboldt River
on the north, were in full war paint, and
had sent away their women ard children
and while thus threatened with deslruc
~
had no arms or ammunition for defence. |
These exaggerated reports caused power
full eXertions throughout California 10 send
relief
At Placerville and Sacramento the peo-
pie assembled and raised about $4,000,
aud fired out company of weIlarmed
volunteers, who started from Plscervlle |
on their way over the mountains on the |
l4Ih. On the 5Ih one hundred and fifty |
volunteers started out from Downieville,
and another company from Nevada. All
the principle military companies IN the
State expressed their readiness 10 embark
on the same day. The State authorities
promptly dispatched 1900 stand Of arms,
with a good supply OF ammunition. Gen.
Clark, commanding the Pacific Division
of the United States Army, dispatched
from San Francisco, on the 18th, $50
Unned States troops, which ere all the
available men in Central California, to-
gether with 500 stand of arms and 100
900 rounds Of ammunition,
He also sent orders for lhe 100 United
States soldiers station at Harney Lake,
100 miles north of Carson Valley, 10 pro-
ceed 10 the Pyramid Lake region and aid
in suppressing hosiilites. These move
menls warrant the belief that there are
now not less than 800 well armed volun
teers from California, and $50 u. S. sol
diers ready Tor duty on the eastern slope
oil the mountsn-an ample force 10 pro.
lecl the people as long as unpaid voIun-
teers can afford To remain in tie field. Al
last scrounts al hostile Indians were 10
The north of the Pony expresses and Salt
Lake mail and Emigrant route, and the
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