Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-01-10
Coffesponcenee Of Tie New York a6f1i6
FoRr WALLA WALLA.

L
WAsHrNGroS TERRITORY, Nov. 8. go.
The command of Captain Dent, United
States Army, has Just reached this point
from the scene of the late Indian massacre
near Fort Boise, bringing with them twelve
men, women, and children, who have been
rescued from this massacre which has been
one of the saddest that has ever occurred
on the emigrant route.
These wretched creatures were found al
most naked, and eating the dead bodies Of
hose who had been D1assacred, and in one
case eating the head Of man that had
been buried for ten days. The party num-
bered sorty-four souls, out of which twen-
ty-nine were massacred and fifteen saved.
They had moved from Wisconsin up to
Fort Hall, where they received an escort
of dragons, who guarded them TO near
Salmon Falls, on Snake river, when the
dragons turning back, they were left alone
fore 800 miles, when they expected to
reach Walla Walla, w. T. Near Fort
Fort Boise they were attacked by from
$50 to 200 Snake Indians. They fought
for two DAYS, when finding their men fall
ing, they abandoned everything and fed
for their lives. The next day they saw
by the smoke that their train bad been
destroyed. They moved on for several
miles on foot, the mothers, many of them,
carrying their infants at their breasts un-
I'll they came to small creek lined with
berries, where they had remained five weeks
until the troops found them. Two men
had made their escape. and gave the infor-
nation, upon which Col. Wright ordered
the troops to their relief.
The troops moved rapidly, and when
they came up with the emigrants it is said
the heart of every soldier was moved at
the saddest spectacle that humanity ever
witnessed. The poor people, men, wo-
men and children bowed thems' Ives on the
sand desert where they were found, and
offered PRAYER 10 God at the most mi
raculous escape, and with one feeling the
soldiers swore vengence against the savages
who have reduced this band of en,igrants
to this condition.
But the most horrible sight was yet 10
be witnessed. They were without food or
clothing, and had made shelters for them
selves out of willows and grass, and the
infants that had been left after their moth
ers had been massacred were eaten most
ravenously, and one lady ate two of her
own children that had died of starvation,
and afterwards dug up her own husband,
and the troops found his head roas ting
upon the fire when they reached them.
They said it was not until starvation drove
them to it that they could allow them
selves 10 be thus reduced to live upon hu-
man flesh, and that too in putrid state.
The women had been ravished by the
hellish sa,ages, and their naked dead bo-
dies bore all The marks of horrible brutal
ity. When will our government take some
action TO guard and protect our emigrant
roads to the Pacific Coast? This last act
calls for vengeance loud and deep. Aru
NOR has also reached here that the Flat
head Indians in the Bitter Root Valley had
risen, and Were giving great trouble at Fort
Owen. Everything had been done by |
Col. Wright, the Commander of this De-
parlmeut, that humane and noble Com
mander could do, and much credit is due |
the officers and troops under Capt. Dent
for their efficient aid and kindness to these
emigrants. Lieut.. Anderson and Reno,
DR.. Taylor, United States Army, the off |
GERS of the command, did everything that
they could relieve these poor people iu their
distress.
A body Of troops had been sent out
from this post as it was supposed, to bring
in and protect any emigrants that might
be left on the road, but the troops returned
here in August, without bringing in any
We can only trust that the
Government may take warning, aDd ini
iiate such steps as to prevent its recurrence.