The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-01-10
EDO TANA COUNTY, IOWA, THURSDAY, JAN 10, 1861.
FROM washington Territory.

| FfONn W NSNIUStOu sCAsAsVsS
toRI WALLA WALLA, Nov. 8, 1860
The command of Capt Dent, Z. s.
Army, has just reached this point from
the scene Of the late Indian Massacre
near IT. Boise, bringing with him y
men, women and children, who have
been rescued from this massacre. which
has been one Of the saddest that has
ever occurred on the cmigrant route.
These wrctched creatures were found
almost naked, and eating the dead bod
les Of those that had been massacred,
and in one case eating the head Of a
man that had been buried for ten days.
The party numbered forty four souls,
out of which twenty-ninc were massa-
cred and fifteeti saved. They had
moved from Wisconsin up to Fort Hull
where they received an escort of drag
oons, who guarded them to near Salm-
on Falls, on Snake River, when the
dragons turning back, they were left
alone for 800 miles, when they expected
to reach Walla Walla, w. T. Near
Fort Boise they were attacked by from
$50 to 200 Snake Indians. They fought
for two days, when finding their men
falling, they abandoned everything and
fled for their lives. The next day they
saw by the smoke that their train had
been destroyed. They moved on for
several miles on foot, the mothers many
of them, carrying their infants at their
breasts, until the troops found them
Two men had made their escape and
gave the information, upon which Col.
Wright ordered out troops to their re-
lief.
The troops moved rapidly, and when
they came up with the emigrants it is
said that the heart of every soldier was
moved at the sadlest spectacle that hui
manity ever witnessed. The poor peo-
pie, men, women and children, bowed
themselves on tho sandy desert where
they were found, and offered up a sol
emn and fervent prayer to God at their
most miraculous escape, and with one
feeling tie soldiers swore vengeance
against the savages who have reduced
this band Of cmigrants to this condi-
ton.
But the most horrible sight was yet
to be witnessed They were without
food or clothing, ana had made shelters
for themselves out of willows and grass
ard the infants that had been left after
their mothers 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 roasting upon the fire
when they reached them. They said it
was not until starvation drove them to
it that that they could allow themselves
to be thus seduced. The women had
been ravishcd by the hellish savages-
and their naked dead bodies bore al,
the marks of horrible brutality. When
will our government take some action
to guard and protect our emigran'
roads to the Pacific coast This last
act calls for vengeance loud and deep.
A rumor has also reached here that the
Flathcap Indians in the Bitter Root
Valley had risen, were giving grca'
trouble at 1T. Owen. Everything has
been done by Colonel Wright, the com
mander Of this department., that hu
name and noble commander could do
and much credit is due the officers anf
troops under Captain Dent for their ef
ficicnt aid and kindness to these emf
grants. Licuts. Anderson and Reno
and DR.. Taylor, United States Army
the officers with the command, did eve
rything that could relieve these poo
people in their distress.
A body of troops had been sent ou
from this post, as it was supposed, t
bring in and protect any emigrant
that might be left on the road, but tn
troops returned here in August, with
out bringing in any emigrants. W.
can only trust that the government ma.
take warning from this, and Initial
such such steps as to prevent its recu'
renee.
Jones has hunted up scripture AZ
thority for the scccssionits. 1t is foun
in that passage of Holy Writ whic