Boise news. (Bannock City, I.T. [Idaho City, Idaho]) 1863-1864, 1864-07-16
MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE
Cart. CURRY's EXPEDITION, CAMP &c,
Malheur Valley, July Is, 1864.

y Y
Malheur Valley, July Is, 1864.
ED. NEws-Situated as the people Of Boz
sc Basin are with regard to the surrounding
Indian tribes, and to the agricultural snd
mining districts &djace.:t that are more or fesl
at the mercy of the savages, they must O
course feel an interest in the progress of thi,
command whose ostensibl- business it is to
wage war upon that clan or tribe that to the
early settlers Of Boise, were such scourge
and annoyance. For years past the general
government has been fooling with the Snake
indians, annually sending out upon the pHins
large expeditions composed Of three and four
companies of cavalry, for the purpose of pro-
tectihg the emigration bound down the banks
Of the Snake river; and since this regiment
VOregon Cavalry came into existence, our
duty has been confined, during the Summer
months. TO making long and monotonous
marches up and down said river. But nov,
Sn the closing months of our service we are
sent to do that which should have been done
munths and even years ago-i e., 20 chastise
those maraudfng and predatory bands that
have so often proven source of trouble to
The emigration; as well as the frontier coun.
lies of Oregon. Our Command is composed
Of two companies, A and E, under Cantain
Curry Of Co. L. Lately, in compliance with
orders, Capt. Drake, with companies D and G
AL of the Oregon Cavalry-foGtned Juno
tion with our battalion, the whole being I'M
der command of Curry, and numbering 200
men well mounted and armed with good RI
Hes, revolvers and sabers. The command
will at once proceed into the John Day Ms. j
going in two parties $50 hear)-Capt. Curry
taking the two first named companies, and
Drake taking the other two. of course we
can only conjecture as to whether we win sue
reed in finding any Indians or not, but we do /
know that Capt. brakes men found Indiaps
not far from John Days river, and lett them
there, and from the manner in which this
command is divided, it is reasonable to sup
pose that we will be successful in finding In. |
dans in greater OF lesser nun hers. Expert
ence has fully demonstrated that it is out oil
the question FOR a large body Of men to find /
them in their hiding places, especially when
their horses have travelled as much and as
far as ours have. This command will not
travel together, yet our relative positions to
each other will always be such that in an ex-
IRENE case ne can all actin. concert.s How-{
ever your correspondent is not going to an
lcipate any great amount Of glory to result |
from this campaign until the time comes to
claim it, and for the time willpass on to 9TH
er matters, Did time permit, 1 would give
You passing notice of the character of this
country, but as it is, viii make but brief
mention of few points. But little is known
generally of this region. Geographers who
have published maps Of it. have1bee singu-
larly and grossly mistaken. There are but
Jew valleys Of any fertility TbevMaIheur h
valley i. about 100 miles in length and ffom1h
10 to % miles in width, but entirely worth
less 1t contains seven hkes having no out
let's, the waters ofwhich are all impure, zen -lt
orally containing salt ard alkah 9Tbete are
no Indications Of che existence of valuable
minerals, no quartz or other gold or silver L
hearing rock ;-in short the country lying be-
tween this and the Owyhee, an exuanse OIL.
40 miles,is a burnt district through. which,
some day or other volcanic fresfhave .sweptIs
III all their burning fury. A few prospeetGrs1 !,
are accompanying us, who will likely be r
able to do something in the way Of prospect
ing when We reach the John Day mountains. y
So mote it be. And now laying Indians 4
mines, and all things aside, we drop our ouilfEI
to answer TO tie summons" fall out to rollI
call" i. .TsMEs.