The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-10-13
INDIAN TROUBLES.

ration-eating, pay-drawing, Indian-fe
volunteers, oficered mostly by greater COW
ards and far more worthless fellows tina
themselves, were sent into and posted throug
the country. They were simply so niue
bait for the Indian sharks to grab at. ]
they ever tried to fight the savages it wa
because the latter made it question of lif
and death with them but nothing woul
induce or impel them to fight which the,
could possibly avoid. And during these few
years the miners, teamsters, packers, farmer
and others, who had right to expect Gov
eminent aid or protection against Indian in
curslons, were compelled to do their owr
fighting, often to fee before great odds, anG
to defend and protect themselves as best they
could The sacrifice of life and property
was very great.
Since the war closed it has been only reas-
enable to suppose that with so many troops
who could be readily spared to go against
these hostile Indians, there would be some
steps taken to put an efectual stop to the
robberies and murders by the savages. In
stead of any such steps being taken, it is
notorious that for the last year, and especial
ly within the last few months, there have
been more and worse Indian outrages and
massacres than during any equal period
while the war lasted. Hostile Snakes, Black
feet, and other murderous tribes, infest the
whole country, drive off immense quantities
of live stock, devastate farms and clearngs,
and murder settlers, prospectors and travel
ers, with impunity, so far as the military
power is concerned.
A short time ago Major General Halleck,
the redoubtable hero Of the failure of Shiloh
the murder of Mrs. Surrat, and the manacling
of Jefferson Davis, made so-called tour of
observation through the country from Chico
to Portland, via Idaho Territory. He was
by his aids, his black servants,
and his wine and liquor cases. He rode in
covered wagon, SO cleverly arranged that
neither could he see any of the country
through which he passed, nor could anybody
see him. The few (who had large interests
along the route) that tried to see and converse
with him about important matters, received
such rebuff at first as to warn them from
having the presumption to address that tyee
military hero again. After journeying over
,he whole route without seeing any Indians
who, knowing of his coming, purposely kept
out of the way or anything else which an
ordinary or sensible traveller might have seen,
he great chieftain returned TO California,
Ind gave it as his conviction that, instead of
my troops being wanted in Idaho or frontier
Oregon, there were too many in the country
liIready, and, accordingly, he ordered the
breaking up of Fort Boise and nearly every
'ther military post in this Territory and
Eastern Oregon. Fortunately for the people,
he. advent of Gen. ingalls, soon after the re |
urn of "Old Brains" gave them an oppor-
unity of having the matter referred to head
quarters at Washington, and the result was
n order pretty fully countermanding the
weeping order of HalIeck.
But much remains to be done. There
'nght to be military force in Idaho sufi-
:lent to suhjugate or drive away all the hos
lie Indians in the Territory. There are
niles and miles of undoubtedly rich mining
ands yet to 0e prospeeted and settled upon,
rom which men are kept by fear of large
lands of hostile Indians. There are known
ich placers where Indians Turk and prevent
whites from working. The Government ought
o guard and protect, our citizens in going to
nd delving in these mines. We hope our
elegate in Congress will urge upon the Gov
the great and vital need there is of
everely ehastislng the hostile red devils in
his Territory, and presenting the fact that
be mode SO far adopted of prosecuting an
indian campaign will not avail. Treaties
re but SO many sugar plums small Whip
ings only tickers, to the Indians. suffi
lent force to whip them badly is needed.
hey should be followed up in the Winter,
leir stock taken and killed, their supplies
nd whole store of provisions destroyed, and
made to feel that life was con-
ngent upon their own future good behavior. !
o fight Indians in this way will do to fight
lem by treaties and presents, and in short, I
Summer campaigns, will never
D.
PRlzE FIGHr.-The great fight between (,
avis and NcCoo1n for 81 00o and tha cbom