, 1862-10-18
Overland immigration.


COuoluCId dolc cN P0ISS anu IuSll uled ppOluIGu
Overland Immigration.
WALLA WALLA, Oct Is, 1862
EDS. STATEsMAN-As Fer your request, l shall
attempt to furnish you with few items in relation
to the immigration to the Pacific coast during the
present year; and do so with the more pleasure
l will thus be enabled to contradict the SEEM
ingly universal impression that the trip was at
tended with immense hazard to life and property
and that the plains presented vast field of blood
and carnage.
From my observations | estimate the number
of immigrants by land to Oregon and Washing
ton at about 10000; of those to California, about
5000 In addition to which there were about
5000 Mormons for Salt Lake. We met 400
wagons, sent by Brigham Young to meet the pill
grms to the promised land, and assist them thith-
er. Whatever motive induced it, l could but
commend his liberality, and suggest that it would
be wise in our Government to do as much for the
protection of emigrants.
The Government Escort with which was con-
nected started from Omaha, on the Missouri riv-
er, on the 10th June, 1862 The large majority
of the emigration had started far in advance of
us--it being deemed most polite for the Escort
to travel with those in the rear, they being more
poorly supplied and travelling by necessity in
smaller companies. We travelled on the north
side of the Platte river, thus avoiding the cross
ings. The south side is undoubtedly the best,
being better supplied with wood, water and grass.
We could not have done otherwise, however, as
the ferry had been removed and we had no means
of crossing From thence we took the Lander
cutoff, and the south side of Snake river. The
first evidence of Indian depredations we saw was
a grave at the crossing of New Fork of Green
river. from the inscription on which we learned
that Patrick Moran of Missouri, was killed by
Indians on the 18th July, and two other men
were wounded. We passed this place Aug. 11th,
about three weeks after the murder was commit
ted-at which time no Indians were to be seen.
The next was grave near Labarge Creek, in
the Bear Mountains, partially in the road. The
head-board bore the following inscription:
"Opened by Kavanaugh's train, On the 9th
July, 1862 the body of man found too badly
decayed for removal. One shot in his temple,
and an arrow shot-suprosed to have been killed
by Indians"
Again on the 25th day of August we passed
the graves of the following persons, killed by In
dians: One unknown man, found by Capt. Glenn'S
party Aug. 13, 1862. He had been shot in the
back of the head with buck-shot
Three miles farther there were five graves, side
by side, of persons killed by Indians. Rufus C.
Mitchell, aged 21 years; N. Howie, from
Lake Gulch, Colorado Territory; James Steel, of
Colorado Territory David Whitmer, Frank Ses-
sions. This was in the vicinity of Fort Hall, and
happened on the 9th Augustine passing on the
25th.
We learned of the ferrymen that while these
five men were slain by the Indians, twenty cow
ardly white men of the same train, armed with
rifles stood upon the hill near by and made no
attempt to rescue their comrades Had they
showed any disposition to fight, the lives of these
men would have been saved. 1t is believed that
white men had hand in this massacre.
A man by the name of Charles Brown, one Of
the ferrymen at Fort Hall, was shot and badly
wounded on the oath August. He made his es-
cape by feigniug to be dead. They stripped him
naked, and left him to his fate.
Between ort Hall and Raft river, we passed
four graves of persons killed by Indians, as fol
lows:
A. J. Hunter, of Iowa, Aug 9, 1862; Massin
o. Lippi, Aug. 9, 1862; Charles Bullwinkle, of
New York, Aug. 8, 1862; G. Leiper, Iowa, Aug.
10, 1862.
After crossing Raft river, we passed the grave
of Miss E. ]. Adams, aged 26 years, who was
shot by Indians Aug. OH, and died Aug. 18th,
1862. We passed here Aug. 3lst-22 days after
the attack.
We saw a notice near Goose Creek on Snake
river, stating that Capt. Kennedy's train had
skirmish with the Indians on the 7th August, in
which one Indian was killed and one white man
wounded.
A Mr.. Phillips, from Illinois, was taken prison
er near Goose Creek, on Snake river. l do not
Al. i
before our arrival at that point. He left camp
alone and unarmed, to join party who were fish
ing on the river, and came unawares into an In
dian camp. We afterwards learned from Col.
Maury's guide that he was killed in a most bar
barous manner.
1t will be seen that the number of killed of
which we have positive information, is about ff-
teen. No emigrants were at any time troubled
by Indians while in the vicinity of the Govern
ment Escort nor did we see a single Indian from
the time we left Fort Laramie until we met the
Oregon soldiers at Salmon Falls, with the excep-
ton of one or two friendly Indians living with the
ferrymen at Fort Hail. We were all anxious to
meet some of them that we might test the accu-
racy of the Wesson rife.
Inc neaIlu Vi IilO ehiiS anus was SAO0ii0i'' "nN
the deaths very few. We did not lose man of
our company.
should like to make few suggestions in re-
gard to routes, and the duty of the Government
in affording protection, and how it may best be
done; but this communication is already too
lengthy. JAMES NJ. PYLE,
Assistant Emigrant Escort
EMIGRANT AID ASSOCIATION We are
requested to state that a meeting will be