New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-12-20
Important News from the Indian Country.

Il :, from the Fort Smith Daily Ne as, i2sh nst.1 81
A BATTLE EXPECTED DAILY. = Reliable news
reached here yesterday from the Indian country,
from which we learn that large number Of Creeks
Cherokees and Seminoles have Joined 0pothiey-
holo. The Cherokee regiment, under Col. Drew
has disbanded, a part have Joined the enemy, and
portion have returned home, and . part remain
with Colonel Cooper. Opothleyholo Is encamped
about the Big Bend Of Arkansas, with a force va.
nously estimated at from two to four thousand
well armed and allnaked to the waist and painted
Col. Cooper is encamped In five miles of the enc
my with small force, consisting of Col. Smms
Texas regiment, Col. Mcfntoshs Creek regiment
and the Choctaw and Chickasaw regiment. The
enemy are determined to fight, and Col. Cooper il
in pretty tight place. but we expect he will con
q ler, or disperse Opothleyholo's forces.
We learn from Choctaw living near Red river,
that thousand Choetaws started a few days ago
to the relief of Col. Cooper sq. 3ssslEs=rs f
Two Creek Indians were in town yesterday, and
they say, that most Of the Seminoles, except John
jumpers company, had. joined the enemy, but
several had left and returned home. They speak
OF battle to take place soon, between Colonel
Cooper's forces and the enemy. -.
We are going to have trouble on this frontier,
unless prompt measures are adopted to put down
cid Opothleyhoio. Col. Cooper needs help, as
part Of his command has left him. 4 company Of
artillery with good battery would do good service
among the Indians. 1t would soon disperse them.
The following is an extract Of q letter from an
officer at Fort Gibson, to an officer in this place,
dated Fort Gibson, C.gN., Dec. 10: o, .,eea ,sf
5 Sis-The reports from the Greek Nation are SO
alarming that think it proper to send you the in
telhgence by express tonight, by which Lieut.
CO.. Ross Of Drew's regiment win write you or
Col. Mcintosh. n 5S@aiSa ySt~a ~A@'..a ss
Col Ross started from here yesterday morning
with small force, partly armed, TO join Colonies
Cooper and Drew, having been ordered by both
| Colonels to push ahead as quick as possible. I
believe he had not more than forty men, and only
small portion armed. Last evening he met the
| Major and Adjutant, and a few other officers and
men Of his regiment, about twenty-five miles from
here on their way to this place. They reported
to him that the Cherokee regiment was completely
| broken up, part of them sup Pposeds to have gone
over to Opothleyholo, and the balance dispersed
| Col. Cooper was encamped within mile of them
! and the enemy four or five miles Colonel Drew
with some of his officers, is supposed to be now
with Col. Cooper. Major Peg states that this oc
Cured the night before last; that on that evening
| he and the chaplain visited 0pothleyhoio's camp
that he had to the best of his knowledge, at leas
4o0O men. They were well armed with rifles, sis
| shooters and knives, stripped to the waist and
| painted. When he returned TO his camp, he found
| bis regiment dispersed and he made his way ii
here. Why he did not join Col. Cooper canno,
| enemy were between them and Col. G. Col. Ross
will give more fully the particulars. He has now
collected what men he could with all the arms he
could get and starts in the morning to endeayol
| ocA' SouPSt5
fcient force to contend against such large force
| as the enemy is represented to have. You car
| judge OF the necessity oflrenforeng Col. Cooper
Please give the intelligence oCol Mcintosh, al
1 he might, under all these circumstances, think i
| proper to reinforce Col. Cooper. -.1
| There appears to be little doubt, but that tht
enemy is in large force, and fully prepared tt
| fight. Major Peg may be mistakehin the number
but he positively asserts that he saw at least 1900
give you the reports as We have them here.
| cannot understand them but evidently this diff
Guilty in the Creek Nation is assuming a very
| threatening aspect. ~~-srN-
Since commenced writing, learn Major Peg
believes the enemy 5000 strong, and fears for Col
| Cooper's safety are entertained. You may have
direct information from Col. Cooper, but write
this, fearing his expresses might be Intercepted
Please lay the matter before Col Mcintosh a
| prompt action is needed. There are a good man,
Government stores here, and at Choaska in th
Creek Nation, which in case of difficulty neet
| protection.
Col Cooper is now about eighty miles from
| here. .l. 7--' l,. ~
Vary tF,l1-