New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-11
FROM THE INDIAN EXPEDITION.

Correspondence Of The ". j. Tribune.
HEADQUARTERs lsDIAN ExPRDiTI0E,(
CAMP ON WOLF CREEK. Cherokee Natl n, July o. 1862.
The present Indian Expedition may be considered
sprout of Senator Lanes exploded Southern Ex
petition" Its professed object then, was TO press
column of troops down the Mississippi Valley, and
sweep Secession from the west side Of that great i'll
terror thoroughfare. Now, the avowed object 10 to
rcnsate the loyal Indians in their homes, and tram
quiize the turbulent elements in the Indian Nation.
la December last, the Creek, Seminole, and frsg-
meuts of other tribes were defeated in engages
nent with the Cherokees and Choctaws. After their
defeat and expulsion they lied northwest into Kan.
sas. Their Chiefs sought and obtained an audience
with Gen. Hunter, who assured them that they
should receive the asked-for aid.
The Chiefs in the Conference affirmed that if they
were assisted by the North much their enemies
were by the South, that they could reinstate and de-
fend themselves. They said that they asked only for
arms ammunition and sufficient supplies to sustain
them until they could reach their homes. But for
wise reasons no doubt, the War Department, in its
wealth and generosity has, and proposes to go far
beyond what they requested. 1t has organized,
clothed and equipped two entire regiments from theiz
number 1t has even found white men TO officer
those regiments! Now they, with about ,0oo troops
(more or less) and 900 Cherokee Indians who have
come within our lines ~i'h white flags, comprise this
expedition. 1t was concentrated ut Humboldt
Kansas and from there it commenced its south ward
march under the command Of Col. Weer tbe ranking
Colonel. When it reached Cowskin Prairie reports
through contrabands in that the enemy several
hundred strong, were encamped about 40 miles south
of us, having with them large herds Of stock.
A detachment was Immediately ordered ont, con-
sitting of cavalry and section of ALIENS Battery
the cavalry under the command of Major Bancroft.
All night this detachment urged forward, and at the
streak Of tic following day, it reached and pounced
on the rnsuspecting and unguarded foe, who, after
stout struggle, surrendered Their loss, in killed,
amounted 10 about 20; ours, one who was shot by
some Rebel Indians while not pursuit Of an enemy,
who was trying to escape after the surrender. After
shooting him, savage like, they rushed from their
covert, with helish yell, aud scaping-knife gleam-
ing, nearly succeeded in hacking bis head from his
body before any Of our troops could come TO the
rescue. The plumber aud stock taken was DO li.tle
item; but how much off will ever 90 for the benefit
of Uncle Sam is not very well defined. Too many land
sharks have TO gobble up everything. Too many
br..ss buttons silently intrusted Too many beef
contractors along! Too many divisions to be made
before the Government gets its share!
After this little episode, the expedition pushed on
10 within 20 miles of Fort Gibson, at which place
the enemy were reported to be in force. But they
will not stand to fight; 800 of our men went down,
and they fed. Here measures were taken to secure
an interview with John Ross, who lives near Tai.
equa the capital of the Territory. The result of
Ii, ,k,slD
dent or Governor Of the nation, had unwillIngly
signed treaties made with tie Southern Confederacy
and that those treaties involved the interests OF
the different tribes, and especially his own inime-
date ,rlbe that he could not those re-
ations without endapgering himsef and belieing bis
word. lie, however, permitted the inference 10 be
drawn that his sympathies were with the Union,
and nat goody portion Of his own people sill adj
hered " their Great Father.
Since them detachment of our men took Ross and
bic body guard prisoners, aud released him Ross)
his parole. TIE truth Of the matter il Just here:
The emmisaries of the C. s. A. had tue first word at
the councils OF these uibes, and by making mon
strous promises succeeded in getting them TO abro-
gate or disregard all their treaties with the United
States and form new ones with them; aud thus they
have been cajoed from their egiance to tie Union
and have been swindsd into an alliance with Slave
Power which their leAdera heartily desire to be
free from.
IL is not quite 20 clear how much OF force they
have below US. Arkansas fearing that We might
penetrate into her very nds, has cent small force
10 cooperate with the Indians. 80 also has Texas.
But just now our expedition is laborng under O
slight arrangement
We have come 100 miles from Fort Scott, the
neares; point at which provisions can be obtained.
Our supplies hand were just sufficient TO las.
about three days. No word could be heard from the
supply train, which had been expected for several
days. Several messengers had been sent; none re-
turned. Reports were ripe and quite we'd sustained
that the enemy were making every effort to get in
our rear and capture our supplies, Of which they
were in great need.
These things induced Col. Weer to call council
Of war; at which it decided that the safest and
most prudent course was 10 fall back until the tram
Was met. But, for some reason not evident TO the
most of the oficer, Col. Weer declared his inten-
ion to remain where he was with the command.
This seemed 80 perilous and reckless that another
council WIZ called by the next officer IN command
Cal Soloman-when il was decided that il was
he dutv of Col. Soloman to arrest Col. Weer and
,s.ume command. This was DONE The transaction
,as. believe, no precedent in our military history.
)f course it will be denominated mutny, and the
,oint will be- did the emergency aud situation war.
ant the act I
The most Of our officers will be called to Fort
.eavenwortb, and the expedition will lie here some
where beneath this sweerng The drouth in
his section has 30 withered and dried the grass that
ur horses lind difficult work 70 get what they sbso
ltely need " live On. L.