Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-20
EXCITING NEWS.
Renewal of Indian Troubles.
Gen. Gustav In "a Tight Place.
Troubles With the PaWneeS.
Indian Matters i'm New Mexico,

No late intelligence was received yes
terday at Military Headquarters regarding
Gen. Custar, but gentlemen just arrived
from the plains bring reports of startling
import regarding the situation of our In
dian difficulties. An officer from Fort
Craig, New Mexico, two hundred miles
below Santa Fe, who arrived yesterday
morning, brings some important informa>
ton, which may be regarded as reliable.
While at Fort Hays he learned that
Gen. Gustav had been correlled by the
Indians, having been impeded on his
march from Fort Cobb to Hays, he hav-
ing been ordered to return to LeaVen~
worth. Custar's men, it was reported,
were nearly without horses, and the i'm
preston prevailed among those best in
formed, that the General and his COM
mand were in tight place. No news
had been received from him up to Sunday
night. He is correlled by indians under
Satanic, Little Raven and Lone Wolf,
and some Cheyenne chiefs who were, it
was reported, allowed to leave the Reser>
walton at Fort Cobb, under q solemn
promise that they would use their inhu-
ence in bringing in their bands f.; instead
Of which, it would appear, they have gone
on the war path. Though not altogether
improbable, the report, from the difficult
ty of obtaining authentic particulars,
must be taken for the present with some
degree Of allowance. The people on the
Smoky Hill route are too ready 70 be-
lieye in every flying rumor, moro partic-
ularly the imputation Of treachery, which
they are so ready to attribute to the
Indian character. When Satanic last
appeared at Ellsworth, he would have
been shot by the citizens, were it not for
the interference of some with cooler
heads.
On Friday last, five Pawnees came
into Ellsworth for the purpose of beg
cling. Some Of the roughs attempted to
arrest them under pretence of an order
from Fort Harker, directing the arrest Of
all Indians who came into the place.
These Indians were friendly PaWnees,
and there was no evidence of any inten-
ton to do harm. Two of them sub
mitted, but the other three, refusing to
surrender themselves, Were killed in the
town, and the third one was shot down
on the creek, as he was attempting to
make his escape, by boy aged about
sixteen years. The two arrested were
finally released, and not taken to
the Fort. Those killed, it is re-
ported, were scalped by the roughs.
On Saturday band of twenty-five
Pawnee warriors came into Ellsworth,
armed to the teeth, with their quivers
open, and remained some time. They
were insoent, and threatened to burn
the town in less than month if the
murderers of their brethren were not de-
livered up. They saw one Of the scalps
of a dead Pawnee nailed against the
house of one of the citizens, and pointed
at it with muttering5 of indignation. 1t
was also reported that sn honorable dis
charge from service in the United States
army was found in the pocket of one OF
the Pawnees killed. A large number of
PaWnees were known to be lowering
about the town, and a detachment OF
troops were sent after them from Harker,
but the Indians lodged them, and the
troops returned without getting sight of
the Indians. 1t was generally believed
that should the Pawnees, who have here
tofoTe been considered friendly, unite
with the Sioux, Cheyennes aud kiowas
that one of the most terrible Indian wars
that has yet been Waged on the Plains
will break out this spring. This would
certainly be the result if the rumors in
regard to the attack on Gustav should
prove correct, as it is expected that the
Indians would naturally be gOaded on to
avenge the recent slaughter of their
brethren on the Ouachita.
There was report that fight occurs
red some ten days ago, between some
troops from Harker and the Pawnees, in
which seven of the latter were killed
According to this report, Gen. Sibley sent
out to the Pawnees word, if they were
friendly to come in, and they replied by
returning an insulting answer. They
were camped about thirteen miles south
west Of Harker, and detachment was
sent out after shutdown, when, according
to the report, they were surprised and
seven of them killed.
Our informant states that when he left
New Mexico there were between 5000
aud 1000 Navajoes at Fort Wingate,
sixty miles west of Alquerone. They
leave their women and children, and 90
of into other parts Of the country and
steal stock.
Col. Andrew w. Evans, of the Sd
Cavalry, has gone out to take command,
in place of Col. liant, relieved. The
supplies are short. Difficulties are con-
stantly occurring between the NaVajoes
and the half civilized Pueblas, who are
killing off each other. Gen. G. W. Getty
has taken steps to put a stop to hOstili-
ties between these jealous tribes.
Some time ago two chiefs of the Ca
manches and two chiefs Of the Kiowas,
one of the latter of whom was a brother
Of Satanic, went off to Join the Canaan
ches on the Staked Plains. These chiefs
very lately came into Santa Fe, stating
that they represented some three hun
bred warriors, who were encamped only
twenty suns days east Of Stanton, and
that they desired to make treaty with
Gen. Getty. While they were thus en-
gagged in negotiating and lOungiBg about
town, some Mexicans told them they
were going to hang them, and the chiefs
becoming alarmed for their safety, left in
the night without their animals. Their
prOffers Of peace was thus cut short by
the interference of the stupid Mexicans,
and it was thought they would infuse
spirit of vengeance among the tribes they
represented.-,St Louis Republican,
March Is.
Az intelligent planter from Red liver,
who employs a large number of oper-