Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-05-29
THE INDIAN WAR.

"I found the TrTune Of the lst inst,
today, aud was not little annoyed at the
startling dispatches from St. Louis about
the so.calied Indian war. | see that the
Herald has had dispatches from LeaVen-
worth, stating that General Augur was
about to move west from Fort Phil. kear-
ucy with 5000 troops, and that l,O00
hostile Indians were encamped on the
line of his march between Forts Phil.
Kearney and G. +. Smith. l had just
returned from protracted interview with
General Augur when saw dispatch in
the GrNme correcting the Nera}Fs sem
sation dispatch. The truth is that there
are not 5000 troops in all, and there are
not half Of II 900 Indian warriors who
are hostile or doubtful in the whole Of
General Augurs department aud SO far
from being about to march from Fort
Phil. Kearney west, he viii not get his
troops to Font Laramie before the first Of
June will not start from there on his eX-
pcdition before the 10th or 18th Of the
same month, and cannot reach Fort Phil
Kcarncy before the middle Of Jul "
When he Qoes start from Fort Laramie,
his force Will consist, as am officially In
formed, of the "a Cavalry, the 3Ojh iu'
fantrv, battalion Of the 18th Infantry,
battalion of pawnec Scouts numbering
about 200-giving him an effective force
Of about 1900 men, nearly onc-half Of
them mounted. 1t seems to be Il small
force TO move against the Indians, accord
ing to the general conceptions OF Eastern
people about the Indian war. The ini-
preston prevails generally that the cam
paigns of General Hancock south Of the
Platte, Of General Augur north Of the
Platte to .he Yellowstone, aud Of Gen.
Terry up the Missouri, are intended as a
war Of cxtermination against the Indians,
Such is not Tie expectation oe the con-
manders If this we're their purpose, the
general criticism Of the Eastern press on
the folly Of hunting Indians with infan.
try ard artillery would be just. An army
of 100 600 men could not extcrmanatc
the Indians in ten years, aud l.nd mil
tary men have more rational ideas than to
attempt it, and humanity Ihan TO consider
it necessary. If the Indians were now
engaged in general war, as is persistent
| y represented by spectators and other
interested parties, they could drive all the
troops east Of the Missouri in sixty days,
or scalp two-thirds Of them if they pre-
terred. Not coach or tran could pass
across the mountains, and yet the over
land coach runs daily, and trains pass
over all but Powder River route with
comparative safety. Occasionally weak
train is captured on the Smoky Hiil route
through Kansas, and mu:h Of Fort
Laramie travel is not allowed, while the
massacre Of Fcrt Phil kearney indicate:
savage, implaca5le hostility in the Pow.
der River region but as yet the Indians
have made no hostile demonstrations, look.
ing like genera! war, such US is antici
pated in the East. That srch 4 war may
come, is barely possible ; but if it doe
!, come, it will be more the fault of tn,
Government Agents than Of the Indians
! "But for the white tents which dot tn,
bluffs near this place, the crowd of off
GERS who throng the streets aud the hurri
ed moving Of military stores, with an oc
caslcDal hearty curse you hear hurled a
: the Indian, no one here would suppose
= that there were any troubles on the plain!
The trains and coaches are regular. Pas
, sengers come through the CORY West
: aud laugh when Intercepted as 10 tn,
; danger of Indians. They had 10, hear,
5 OF though! Of them, is the usual reply
: Crowds 60 westward daily, and all thing
were to be considered but the danger O
assault OF capture by the Indians. al
5 are well armed, and the men going west
ward, especially those who have beer
there, all consider themselves able to viii
any number of Indians siDsle-handed i
f they should cross their path. Fami.ie
embracing mothers and daughters, star
r out by every train, and the far Wcster
c ladies make the trip unattended wi:hou
any fear as to their safety. Gen. Potte
e will leave his headquarters at Fort sede
:, wick (Julesberg,) with ten companies c
troops, to protect the stage route and tn
= construction Of the railroads, aud no al
3 prehensions are felt about the interru.
IS ton of travel on the Plains. True.
:, rowing band of Indians may attack