Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-01-05
Protection to Immigrants,

The following extract from letter of
Col. Wright, Commander of the Pa
citic Division. to Gov. Whitcakcr, of
Oregon, indicates the policy to be pur-
sued towards the Indians engaged in
the recent massacre Of immigrants:
Unfortunate a. is tho event of this
massacre, and calculated lis it is to
check immigration, l am confident in
the belief that during the coming sea-
son no similar disaster can befall All
immi grant party, provided the author
tiles ut the East will adopt the meas
ures we have suggested, and furnish
me necessary means to carry tlfem into
execution. transcribe in this connec-
ton the following extract from my re-
port to the Head Quarters of the Army
of the 10th inst.
"Thcy (thc Snakcs) have ever been
source of annoyance from their tlliev-
ing propcnsitics and their habits oflurk-
ing around immigrant parties, and with
other bands of In lians, to steal ami
mails, cutting off small parties or indi-
viduals straying from their companies.
They have rarely attacked troops. =
Every new success in a scheme of plum
der, and murderifn necessary to that end,
of course cmboldens them toa certain
extent, but | do not see that any new
source of danger is to arise from tlrcss
Indians. All that can he done now
certainly. this winter] is to el,astisc
them as we may. y Well oryanized
parties of immi grants who will keep to-
gether, march, camp, and guard their
animals as military expeditions must
necessarily 60, an reach. his country in
safety, but this We cannot expect. If
they start III large bodies, they soon
break into fragments, and hence as they
approach this country they readily fall
a prey to any wandering band Of Indie
ans. From the nature and extent of
the country through which these inn
migrants have to pass, it will be some
years before they can do SO without
military escorts. Stationary posts
alone will not accomplish the end. A
post.has been rccommcndcdand ordered
by the Secretary Of War to be placed
in the Boise region. 1t will bc service
able for various reasons, but will not
dispense with the necessity Of moving
columns. Troops must travel with tho
immigration from the time Of their lcav-
ing the Salt Lake country until they
reach the settlements. Ii it were an
nounccd that military escorts would
leave Utah about the 18th of July and
18th of August and 18th Of September,
it is believed that all who desired it
could easily avail themselves of such OPP
portunities to travel in safety, and thus
the yearly immigration be perfectly pro-
tected. - Suggest, us the country
in the Boise region is almost entirely
without resources, that $150,00O ut
least, be included in the Quartcrmastcr
Department for building post Of five
companies there. The transportation
of rations, supplies, &C., must be like
wise increased should post be cstab-
lishcd. Estimates in form will be sub
m,ttcd in due course"
! may here observe that steps for the
establishment of post at Boise were
deferred by the late commander Of this
department until the result of certain
explorations was ascertained, with the
approval Of the Secretary Of War; No
appropriation for building post there,
however, passed last winter. staaff
Troops will be sent into tho fcl,l
against the Snakes earl y in the Spring,
and will be prepared to carry on tho
war vigorously.
In conclusion, have to assure YOU