New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-18
BROM THE PLAINS.
The Indian Campaign.


FoRT LAISED INDIAN TERRITORY, March :, leo'.
Leaving Fort Riley, Kansas, We proceed with
abortion Of the Cd Colorado Cavalry BreveBris Gen.
j. II Ford commanding westward. and alter a Jealous
and tiresome march Of DAYS have arrived at TIM
garrison the rain and nOwstorms making the roads
almost impossible as well delaying the march TWO
DAYS on account Of the immense drifts filling up
the roads and caons At Saline Kansas we bid adieu
70 the last of the frontier settlements and proceeding
carefully we arrived ri Fort Ellsworth. al the crossing
OF the Smoky Hill Fork. Remaining there until the
weather moderated we reached Fort Sarah, at the
junction of the Santa T6, For. Riley and Kansas CITY
roads after aborng for day 10 break open tn" roads
10 that point While upon good roads OF sleh ~ were
not covered with snow our progress wac about seven
miles an hour and good time was made NJ tAe latter
end Of the trip while short ride OF I've hours brought
Us 10 Fort Larned the frontier garrison on orS OF the
Arkansas river. This post Is commanded by Capt
Tom Moses OF the Colorado efficient officer, VINO u
engaged in erecting defensive Notifications Tor the In
dian campaign this is to be used base Of supplies
5r the expedition under Gen Ford and must he made
fenable for defense Much to my surprise found the
fortcations Of logs and earth there beng NO stones
used save nr chimneys The troops and officers have
dig out caves in the earth covering them with oes ana
matching with hay making to accustomed to civi
escorted from post 10 post b! cavalry and al trains eff
foens protected by troops against any repetition oil
She Indian fnassacres Of last Summer. Col Leayen'
worth the Agent for the Camanches Kiowas and
Apsches three OF the most powerful and waillke tribes
in the country has lust returned from council held
with them who be reports. DESTROYS Of peace;
knowing their treachery and placing but little reliance
anon their desire determined TO Obtain some PROOF oil
tseir sincerity writing about IT, They have agroed
90 remain south Of the great southern route un ne re-
turned with instructions from Washington whether 10
make peace with them not. The Ioad ron hhe! 10
JArned and the surrounding country was Thoroughly
scented by Lieut. William Wise Of the I'd Colorado
Cavalry who reports Indian signs or trails and the
scouts returned from The Arkansas and Cherokee ma
zion report no trails or signs Thus giving the charae
ter OF sincerity to their professions.
The system as practiced by military authorities
-eyjous TO the outbreak Of the present Rebellion dd
well enough in securing peace; since then numerous
efagees and traitors from the South have made their
WAY among the savage tribes OF the West aud have
been the main nstgators Of lbe present. Indian oiin-
rutes leading them in many cases ana urging 'nen vi
when fearful Of discovery Their mode OF warfare Is
80 totally different from that Of al other nations 81 70
make our system Of warfare with their Own perec"'
worthless and inoperatve 10 act against an ensmy
Il
time CAPTURES large train OF stampedes herd Of eat
,le on the Platte and when next heard from rs coio'
,tt;nc his depredatious upon the Arkansas or upon
The borders Of Mexico lGyng waste carrying deVasta
lion rapine and murder in his steps; who IL every
where without being anywhere, who assemblies on
moment Of combat and vanishcs whenever the tide o.
hattie turns against him. who leaves his women and
,ild,en many hundred miles from bis field Of opera
lions who has no supplies or magazines TO defend and
WIN il not tempered or incumberedl by immense supply
4r,in, who commences an action Whenever il suits ms
,nyposs or without the advantage OF superior NUMBERS
and the choice OF batt..feids who charge upon you
and are gone In an instant-with such al enemy the
strategic science OF civilized warfare and Of c'llHed
nations ID OF little importance and but rarely comes
INTO practice The small force il the frontier country
has been employed principally in small gafrIsons com
prsing not ovor four companies 20 post and these
cavalry have by escort and other active services NJ
broken down their animals ar 10 he OF no nse WINE III
fantry and artillery worthless. unless IL be 10
relieve the cavalry and do garrison duty
The only method in which lasting peace can now be
obtain ed is to fight and hunt them down like wild AM
mails and when severely punished to give them salts
factory proof of the supremacy and superiority OF our
Government and when they are ready aud willing 10
submit and respect it, 10 make treaty which will be
lasting The many treaties already made and violated
should by this time be proof enough Of their perdy and
trescbery without any more OF the brutal massacres
recently enacted upon our fron'ers They mean fight
and should have il until they subugaed; extermi
nation and devastation is their policy why should we
NOT realiate rather than submit SOms may say il is
fnhuuan, it is hatchery Look TO the Minnesota
sacre and to the rspne and codbooded murder Of the
unfortunate women and children they capture. The
people the Fast have no idea Of the brutal and fend
ish murders Of almost daily occurrence in this country
of which none live TO tell the tale. Gen Dodge has
issued order to spare the women and children aud
take them prisoners feed and soihe them As onehaf
f,Is seuthVH refugees W kspt al te military D0sts