P. S.--My friend, Mr. Henry Lee, from Iowa, has just been
elected Capt. of one of the divisions. While writing, news
has been brought in of the discovery of a dead Indian about
one mile from this place, and freshly scalped, and nearly
all the company have gone to see him. He was shot with
arrows and is supposed to be a Pawnee, killed by a party of
the Kansas Indians whom we met the other day, consisting of
200, with fresh scalps and fingers, which they said had been
taken the day before.
* * * * *
_Republican_, Friday, September 6, 1843.
We have been favored with the perusal of a private letter
from Bent's Fort, dated July 26. The writer is one of Mr.
Fitzpatrick's party, and says that thus far their trip has
been a severe one. The party has been delayed since the 14th
inst., waiting for the arrival of Mr. Fremont, who left them
on the 17th of June with 18 men. After progressing ahead
some distance, he despatched an express back, requesting the
rear party with Fitzpatrick not to move until he joined
them, alleging as a reason that there were hostile Mexicans
on their route. On the morning of the date of the letter,
the writer says, they were dividing into two parties again,
with the intention of meeting at Ft. Hall, Oregon, in about
4 days [weeks]. Fitzpatrick's party intended crossing the
Platte that morning, and would take up its line of march
over the mountains. He speaks of a slight difficulty with
the Indians, but furnishes no particulars.
* * * * *
_Republican_, Friday, September 29, 1843.
We have received from Mr. Edward Hutwa a very handsome, and,
as far as we have any means of judging, a correct lithograph
map of the Oregon Territory, as claimed by the U. S., with a
portion of the adjacent territory. The principal rivers,
mountains, routes, trading depots, and the trading depots
and forts of the Hudson's Bay Co., are laid down with
accuracy. To those migrating to the Columbia, or to those
wishing to study the topography of the country, this map
will be of importance.
* * * * *
_Republican_, Wednesday, December 13, 1843.
A postscript to a letter from a gentleman in the Indian
country, dated October 19, received by a gentleman of this
city, says: "Ft. Hall, on the Oregon has been delivered up
to Lt. Fremont, and it is believed that Ft. Vancouver soon
will be." How far the report is reliable, we have no means
of knowing, except that he and his party are in Oregon by
the authority and direction of the United States Government.
* * * * *
_Republican_, Thursday, December 14, 1843.
We yesterday noticed a postscript of a letter from the
Oregon country. We have since seen letters from Lt. Fremont
and other men of his party, written at Ft. Hall, and bearing
date of 20th September, which do not confirm the report
alluded to. The silence of these letters as to the
surrender of Ft. Hall is full assurance to us that the
report is not correct. The letter before us, the statements
of which are corroborated by Lt. Fremont, himself, says:--
"I arrived at this place (Ft. Hall) on the 13th inst., with
my part of the caravan all safe and in tolerable order. * * *
(Unimportant part skipped). Lt. Fremont, whom I parted
with on the South fork of the Platte, and expected to meet
at this place, joined us yesterday after making a survey of
the Salt Lake, which he has done much to his satisfaction.
The exploration and new routes which we have taken have made
our trip tedious and very laborious, but, I hope it will be
satisfactory to the Department. We leave tomorrow for the
lower country, and find it necessary to let some of our men
off on account of the scarcity of provisions, which are not
to be had at this place. The full objects of the expedition,
will, I hope, be completed ere we return. I shall leave the
party in a few days for Walla Walla, or perhaps lower down,
to provide necessary supplies for the completion of the
business in that quarter. I can not say what time we will
return to St. Louis; it is to be hoped before the
adjournment of Congress. The emigrants passed this place
some short time since, pretty well worn down and scarce of
food. The Indians on the Columbia are expected to become
troublesome to these newcomers. It is supposed they are
induced to acts of violence by some persons as yet unknown.
They have already burned Dr. Whitman's mill, and I fear it
is not the last spark which will be kindled in the
settlement and occupation of this country. The Hudson's Bay
Company are improving and pushing their business, perhaps
with greater energy than usual, Dr. McLoughlin is laying off
towns on the Willamette, selling lots, etc. This is the
report, and you can see that the Dr. is in advance of Dr.
Linn's bill."
The foregoing is the latest news from Oregon, and may be
relied upon as correct. Not the least interesting part of it
is that which relates to the disposition of the Indians
towards the emigrants. We have always believed that the
Indians, backed and incited as they will be by agents and
emissaries of the Hudson's Bay Co., and furnished as they
doubtless will be, with arms and means of warfare from some
source, would oppose the emigrants in making their
settlements. That the country must be conquered before it is
attained, we hardly entertain a doubt, and if we did, the
supineness of our Government would only strengthen the
belief. Why is it that our Government is so indifferent to
the claims of the nation upon this territory, its wealth and
possessions?
* * * * *
St. Louis _Reveille_, Oct. 21, 1844.
The Platte _Argus_ contains a letter from "Multnomah City,"
Oregon, from which we make the following extracts. The
killing of the Indian has been briefly mentioned
heretofore.
"When I first came here, 19 months ago, there were but 4 or
5 houses, now there is upwards of 80 good buildings, nearly
all of two stories, and 4 or 5 of three stories high. If
there had been plenty of nails we should have had a number
more up. If a supply of nails reaches us this spring, we
shall have 200 houses before this reaches you, and some of
these of brick, for a company from Baltimore are now
building a brickyard. A tanyard is also being established.
The fact is, we have mechanics of all kinds here, though not
a tenth of the number of each kind required. The winter is
past, but it was no winter. It was rather a blooming spring,
for we had but little rain and no snow, and grass green all
the time. We have had but two days' rain in the last 45. I
saw cattle yesterday which had run all winter, in finer
condition than I ever saw any in your state. Uncle Sam had
better be doing something for this country, for if not,
within three years _it will be too late_. You laugh, but if
you live you will see it. Therefore stir them up, Mac, for
we do not want trouble here, and would all rejoice if the
star-spangled banner embraced us within its ample folds. Our
flag flying by authority would make a vast difference here.
An Indian committed some outrages lately, and our sheriff
endeavored in vain to arrest him; then offered $100 reward
for the Indian, and went to his own house, 30 miles from
this place. On Monday the Indian came into Oregon City,
close to Dr. McLoughlin's mill, where some 25 or 30 men were
at work. Winslow and some white men went to take him, and
got close to him. He saw Winslow, fired his gun, which
missed its mark, the ball lodging in a tree on this side of
the river within 2 feet of me, for I was at work at my
garden at the time. The Indian then fired his pistol, 2
balls from which lodged in the shoulder of G. W. LeBreton,
clerk of the court, tearing his arm dreadfully. Mr. LeB.
seized the Indian with the other hand, and then threw him
down. Winslow then ran up and knocked out his brains. In the
meantime, 5 other Indians fired their guns, and then their
arrows, and wounded two men."
* * * * *
_Reveille_, November 4, 1844.