, 1864-08-22


The steamer Benton arrived at this port on
Sunday, from the Upper Missouri. She l.
the emily one Of the Mountafu fleet that push
ed up as high as Fort Benton. She is in the
employ Of the American Fur Company, and
lett st. 1ouIs On the 2Gth Of March last, aad
has COW been ont near i've moths. After
taking through lcr cargo direct to Fort Ben
ton, she returned to Fort Gilpiu, and there
receiving another lead, made second trip
to Fort Benton. She would have made i
th1Ed. but Il. the Tntex Ecc9mf too low
low she met the Ef6e Deans, which s.camer
had concluded to go no higher. The two
Eoa.s kept company as fac down as the Lit
tie Marie river, where the Benton laid up,
awaiting tho arriyal OF barge, while the
~Eftie Deans cane Oh down. Finding that
eourI, the officers Of the Benton decided that
navigation Tor the season was ended, nnd on
the 25th Of June gstarted for home. Some
sixty miles below che stopped to wood,
and while TIC bands were chopping,
o party Of twenty Sioux Indians came
nd at the sans time with thsir usuI
"How, how" When they had got within
tWeut, steps of'the Woodchoppcrs, the cav
ages drew their guns and fired, woundinS
enc man In the orm. The Hoodchopper5
threw away their axes aud fled to the boat,
channel. In the meantime the engineer
seized his gun and fired upon the advancing
redekins, evidently Wounoing one Of them,
rs he wns seen to throw away his gun, DO n
and arrows. and buffalo robes. Tue crew,
getting their carb1nes, poured In yolley
which scattered the foe. The boat then re-
turncd to the lanoing ind was not disturbed
thereafter.
Below the mouth OF the Yellowstone the
Island City was found sunk in two and d
half feet Of natter. Half Of her cargo vas
damaged. but the other hAlf would be
saved. The boat Is supposed to be total
loss.
At Fort Gilpin it was learned that a train
Of emigrants had been gone several days,
and scouts had just come in who reported
that the Indians had attacked the train but
were repu1sed, with loss to the emigrants
Of four men and number Of horses.
When the Benton arrived at Fort Union,
freight brought Il tom Fort sully, the follow
Ing mined boats; U, 3. Grant, Alone, Chip
pewa Fall and Bell Peoria. After remaining
there few hours, the Benton came OIL down
to Fort Rice. At this point couziers had just
arrived from General snllg's army, VINO
be was within eighty 9les Of about
1900 Sioux Indians. It seems that Gen.
Pope had ordered Suily to take his
.coD1lard md escort an emtgrunt t1aia, coz
6istipE Of 200 wagons, from Wisconsin to the
mouth Of the Elk Horn river, In Idaho terri
tory, and that te is not now in. pursuit Of
the hostile Indiana. Gen. Sully and his COM
mand, 1t Is reported, are greatly dissatisfied
because tley nre not at liberty to clean out
the Indians; but as coon as the cm;grauts
ret to their destination, Gen. Sul1Y intended
to give his attention to the redskins.
Tile first evening after leaving Fort Rice
the Calypso was met, getting along well.
The steamers Tempest. Sam. Gaty md l1ar-
cena were loading at Fort Sally At Sioux
City the Benton caught up with the lsabella,
after leaving Sioux City she broke two Of her
rn5ders and had to lay by twenty-four hours.
Thirty miles teloW Sioux City the steamer
J. G. Irwin vas met, bound tor Fort Randull
with Government freight.
The Benton brought down 100 bales Of
buffalo robts, ard quita number Of Idaho
passengers. Also, the venerable Mr: Daw-
son, member Of the American Fur Compa.
and is now on his Way to his boyhoo1 home
in Scotland, to spend the reminder OF his
days. We were sorry to notice that be was
afflicted with paralysis In his lower limbs,
and that he hnd been In that condition tor
two Ieors. BE has been among the Ind1ans
nearly thirty years as trader, 1nd RON re-
turns with large fortune.
The steamer Isabella, ons Of the mountaiu
boats in the employ OF the Government. er-
YES released, owing to her disabled condi
tiop, hayiDg met With ac accident below Fort
Sully. by picking up snag, making hole IN
her hull See had Z large number OF Idaho
cnigra1f is on board. She reports the steam
boafers are greatly dissatisfied with their
long etay on the Upper Missouri. she re-
maIned at the wharf and left for st. Louis.