The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-10-02

newals, on and after the first Of October, 1874.
The land department of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad have Just made
a sale Of land along the line Of their road 70 a
large party of Russian Menonites, who have
recently come from Europe. This is the largest
land sale ever made in the west to one party.
There are now here about /, 800 Of them, and
they are going on their lands immediately. in
Marion, Harvey, Mcpherson and Reno coun-
ties, in the Arkansas valley. The tract taken
is, in the aggregate, $50, 900 acres.
The commissioners for the improve
ment of the Ohio river have adjourned to
meet in Washington, D. c., on October 16.
Resolutions were adopted, asking congress to
take decided action for the improvement of the
mouth of the Mississippi, so as to meet the
wants Of the agricultural and other industries
of the country, and appointing a committee Of
two from each Of the commissions from love-
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, to obtain from the
states the passage Of suitable laws ceding to
the United States jurisdiction over such small
tracts of land as my be needed for the location
of locks, keepers dwelling, abutments, ETC.
The proposition for the construction of an
other bridge over the Ohio at Cincinnati, a
short distance below the present bridge, was
condemned.
Fuller and later reports received in
dicate that the recent glowing accounts from
the Black Hills country are entirely unreliable
and confirm the opinion of Prof. WInehel that
there are no valuable mines in the country.
Col. Fred Grant, who accompanied the expe-
dition under special instructions to report up
on which it is claimed gold was discovered is
OF metsnorphic character, in which no prec-
ious metals have ever been found. Not over
three dollars worth was brought under his OBJ
servation during the entire expedition, and it
is question whether this was not imported
into that section. The timber is spruce and
yellow pine, and valueless for lumber. The
area of tillable lands is very small, there not
being enough for dozen good sized farms
The Sioux commission sent to negotiate with
Red Clouds and Spotted Tails bands, went in
their explorations to the base of the Black
Hills, on the south side, and gave substantially
the views OF Grant regarding the character OF
the country and the absence of minerals.
The president is emphatic in his determine
ton to carry out the orders of Gen. Sheridan
to prevent all invasion of this country by in
truders, so long as by law and treaty it is Sc
cured to the Indians.
Col. Miles, in a dispatch, dated 9Th
inst, seventy miles south of Red river, ad-
vises Gen. Pope that he should fall back for
supplies. His dispatch received by Gen.
Sheridan to-day is dated from camp on the
Wachita river, Sept. Ii, and came via Fort
Dodge, leaving there on the 18th inst. He
says: I find that after leaving the Canadian
river, Maj LYMAN, commanding the escort to
supply the train, was attacked by from 5000
to Z, 900 Indians. On the morning of the 9th
inst. the Indians charged the train several
times, and made every effort to capture it,
fighting so determinedly as to detain it for
three days. The fight was very close, and the
train completely surrounded. On the third
day the Indians abandoned the attack, re-
tiring southwest. From all the information
can get here since my arrival 1 believe they
formed no part of the body we drove off the
Staked Plains. They were believed to have
been led by Satanta and Big Tree. During
the fight Lieut.. Lewis, of the fifth infantryH
WAS severely wounded in the knee. Sergeant
DearmOnt, Co. I, fifth infantry, was killed,
Sergeant Single, of the sixth cavalry, Private
Buck, of the fifth infantry, and wagon master
Sanford were wounded, the latter morta!ly.
The officers estimate the number of Indians
killed at fifteen, and the wounded as many
more. Private Psttijohn, of the sixth cavalry,
was killed near camp Mcclellan. creek on the
11th. Lieut.. Baldwin will have informed you
| of his successful encounter with the Indians
while coming in as a. bearer Of dispatches.
Part of the force that attacked Major Lyman
attacked party OF six bearing dispatches
| who entrenched themselves in the sand, and
after a desperate fight all day, in which one
/ courier and four men were wounded, they
compelled the Indians to retire, having killed
/ twelve Whenever we have fought they have
been severely punished, with comparatively
small loss on our side. The rivers to the
| south are now so swollen as to be impossible
! for wagons. am building a bridge across
the Wschita- The cavalry were obliged to
swim their horses on returning. The march
! back was even moro exhausting than the ad-
vance, even with Indians in sur front, owing
flooded the streams and made the roads
almost impossible, from which facts, as we'll
as because but half forage was furnished and
the Indians have destroyed much grass, the
animals have come in exhausted and worn
down. This command now occupies the val
leys Of Mcclellan creek, Sweetwater and the
Wachita river. Maj. Prices command is
camped near US, acting independently. Gen.
Pope, in a communication inclOsing Col. Miles
report, says: Miles has force enough to beat
any Indians that can be met.