The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-08-22
Letter From Silver City.
OwYHEE Co., IDAHO TERRITORY,
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Jieosrs. Editors:
Instead of my communication com
ing to you bearing tidings of peace
and harmony from this distant land,
the home Of the brave pioneer, as well
as the domain of the savage and war
like Indians, who roam over its
beautiful and varied extent, it viii
bring to you the intelligence of devas-
tation, death and ruin. About the
9Th of last month the war-cry arose to
disturb the peaceful inhabitants; and
echoed its startling sound from noun
tain to hill, from canon to ravine. The
plow of the farmer was left standing
in it's furrow, and the homes Of the peO-
pie forsaken. Fear and desolation
seem to fall like a pail over the whole
country. And well it might for num-
Der of the tribes of Indians have bro
ken out and mean fight or die. Many
of these Indians have been fed and
clothed at the expense of the govern
J ment since the settlement of the coun-
try by the whites. But owing to trea-
ties and stealing of ammunition by per-
fdious, and rascally men who have
been appointed agents by government,
to dispense its gifts according to trea-
ties made with the Indians, they ap-
+ propriated it to their own use, and
thus the cause of this premature, and
uncalled for destruction Of life and
property.
And in view of the calamitous conse-
quence resulting from such corrupt
and diabolical proceeding on the part
of the agents, the citizens of this
place have banded themselves togeth-
er for self defense, land they are a
brave and gallant band" And when
the ominous rumors began to near,
that the hostile foe was approaching
they left their various occupations and
homes and went in defense of their
lives, their rights and their country.
They left this place on asfair and love
ly a June day, as ever smiled down
from the arched heaven above them;
and also some of them never to return
alive. They marched away, Company
H. First Brigade of Idaho, volunteers
under command of CaptainJ. B. Har-
per. They camped that night i'll the
neighborhood of the Indians, who were
securely hidden in a canon of South
mountain which is rather thickly Gov
| cred with a growth of Juniper trees
; Next morning Captain Harper sent
scouts out in various directions, to re
) connoiter and report the strength Of
the enemy's forces, which they partial
; Iy did. But the Indians having beer
there several days it was difficult tc
ascertain their exact situation. Wher
, the command least expected it, they
: came whooping and yelling along. But
most of the men stood firm and cool
t Captain Harper while rallying his
men, received q wound on the temple
which disabled him for few minutes
but regaining his senses, he keIt his
, saddle and still commanded his men.
Two of whom were killed and one
wounded. Some eight or ten Of his
men fought bravely, and deserve
great praise for what they done. Cap
tain Harper's command, turned the In
? dians from this section ofcountry, ano
saved it from falling into the hands Of
the savages. Though it was purchas
ed at a dear cost and bought with q
price. Mr.. o. H. Purdy, one of the
men slain, was brave in battle and
,, heroic in all that pertained to his coun,
+ tay's good, and in the social circle,
was ever the social scholarly gentle
= man. He is missed from among us,
his loss is deeply felt, few among us
would have been more so. He de
serves a better fate than the one meet.
: ed out to him. 1t is sad to think o1
his tragic death, to know that he lay
on the desolate field where he VISA
slain, all night beneath the full moon,
whose soft light was the only lamp
; the hero's death-bed lighted, and the
night-bird's song, his only requiem.
At this writing all is quiet in oul
section, but further away the Indians
still committing depredations, and are
, likely to all summer. General How,
ard, who has been after them for two
months, does not seem to do much
good, rather think if he puts in time
and draws his pay from government
all will be well with him.
Mrs. EDNA E. HARPER,
T wife of Captain J. B. Harper, of Compa
, ny H. Brigade 1st, Idaho Volunteers.
The only medical college for negroe;
is in Nashville. 1t has an ample en-
: dOWment.