Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-12-27
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plete particulars Of that Indian raid and
massacre on the Bntterfeld or Smoky Hill
route, some time last month, November
10th, of which coach attack our dispatches
spoke in brief a few days after. Bands Of
Sioux, Cheyennes and Arapahoes, many
of whom spoke English i~ntelligibly, under
the leadership Of Bob Bent, half breed
son Of Colonel Bent, Of Bent's Fort, Ar
kansas River, Colorado,) attacked the
coach, killed and scalped seven men,
burned the stations each way from the
scene Of the attack, burned all the coaches,
wagons, etc., within their reach, and
finally ran of-with all the stock in that
whole section Of country. To show the
treachery;o of these tribes-with whom the
Peace Commissioners had completed trea-
ties only q few days previously-some OF
those very Indians had been treated kindly,
fed and cared for, at both of these adjoin-
ing stations on the line, up to the day the
reinforcements of more red-devils arrived
to do this depreciation. Even some Of
this party had made such professions OF
friendship to the station keepers, and ex-
pressed such unanimous desire to " live at
peace" for time to come, that the station
men compassionately shook hands with
them, at their solicitation, before starting
oE-only to return the same meridian to
commit massacre and arson. But to show
up this whole thing the more. that all may
understand, that will, whether in the west
or east, we clip from statements published
by the pen Of one fugitive passenger, D.
e. Collier, Esq., editor of the Colorado
Register:
"The Indians insisted on shaking hands
with every on present, and kept crowding
around till they discovered the strength Of
the party. They then requested Mr.. Mer-
win to give them a written statement to
the effect that they had been there, had
treated the party with civility, and had de-
parted in peace-which he did. .
They then informed the messenger that
he might get up his stock and go without
molestation, and volunteered to drive up
the stock for them. While Harvesting the
stock the attack was commenced by the
Indians by shooting arrows and pistols.
No offense had been given by the white
men.
The Indians in revenge cut the tongue
of Ambrose from his mouth while he was
yet alive, and proceeded to torture him by
burning holes into his bowels. holding
him over a fire by his hands and feet. A
few miles west of this they came upon
two carpenters and a stage driver, who
were travelling with a wagon and a span of
horses. They burned the wagon and
killed and mutilated the men, stripping
and scalping them as before. Still further
west, they attacked two soldiers, stripped
and scalped them, and left both for dead.
The raid resulted in burning all the
stations which had been erected, except
one, for one hundred and fifty miles, and
driving off the stock.
Fresh lodge pole trails were to be seen
in several places along the route. The
impression is hat the Indians were work.
ing westward toward Colorado"
Speaking on this subject, the Atchlson
Champion, heretofore a strong stickler for
Indian humanity and the policy Of peace
treaties, thus talks u like a Western man
ought to do:
"On the Arkansas the tribes entered
into a solemn agreement, BY which they
were to abandon the war path and return
to the paths of pe~ace-agrseing even to ab-
stain from trGreling o the military road.
The Arappahoes, Cheyennes, and other
tribes, consented to these treaty stipula-
tons. Their annuities were ordered for
ward, their old traders thought it safe to
return to them-all this not six weeks ago.
We fail to discern the Mobility and good
faith which many see in savage character.
And we protest against a policy, such as
recently demonstrated by the Federal Gov
eminent, Of bending the knee and suing
for peace from this savage foe, especially
until a sufficient force has been put on the
Plains to convince the red-skin that we
have the poscer, il we chose to use it, OF
compelling their obedience to treaty stipu-
~lations.
General McCook has stated, that with
$1,000 cavalry and fifty millions of money,
he will guarantee a perpetual peace upon
the Plains. Why not spend the money in
thus direction instead Of in presents, soon
to be forgotten and forever to be de-
manded:
This is but another instance Of the
pressing demand for troops on the Plains,
and the neglect Of the Government to pro-
vide, by a suitable force, against the dep
relations of hostile bands of Indians. The
vast of the Plains has already
been seriously crippled, and. if something
is not quickly done, will be almost totally
destroyed, by these repeated depredationS.
Ten thousand cavalry should be along the
three great Overland Routes to-day. but
instead of this we have but a scattered,
insignificant force Of soldiers. Hundreds
of valuable lives have been sacrificed and
millions of dollars worth Of property de-
stroyed for the want Of force adequate TO
protect the lives of the greatest commerce
Of the country. The Government is doing
great injustice to the Western States and
Territories if it fails any longer to send a
force adequate to conquer the hostile bands
of Indians who swarm over the Plains,
and force them to be peaceable. $50