["Oro," F. W. Lander's Expedition, Sacramento Union, June 20, 1860]

 

 

F. W. LANDER'S EXPEDITION.

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[CORRESPONDENCE OF THE UNION.]

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LANDER'S CAMP, HONEY LAKE VALLEY )

June 13, 1860. )

            In my former letter, dated near the Cold Spring House and summit of the Sierras, I informed you that our men were engaged in clearing the snow from the trail. After removing the snow for about five miles we commenced our march again. We had a very severe trip over the mountains, having to cut down trees, remove fallen timber, and in some cases to build a new road. We dug out the snow in the heavy drifts to pass the wagons, which were heavily loaded, packed some of the loads across, and at last resorted to the use of sleds to accomplish the passage of the summit. From the length of time we were in the snow, and the necessity of saving a portion of our forage for the desert country, we were compelled to send the mules and horses every alternate night from five to twenty miles to grass. It may be said that the men fairly carried the wagons over the worst part of the road. Five of the wagons were badly broken, which caused us a day's detention for temporary repairs. Everything is up now, however, and we are encamped near Susanville, making substantial repairs to wagons and recruiting our hard worked and nearly exhausted stock. Indian fires have been kindled on the hill-tops near by, which induces our zealous and watchful Superintendent to use the precaution to corral the mules and horses nightly, letting them graze in charge of a mounted guard during the day.

            I ought to say here, that great credit is due to Mr. C. C. Wrenshall, our excellent and indefatigable master of transportation, and his untiring and energetic assistant, William H. West, for the great care and expedition with which they conducted the train to this point. Often, in the course of march, they have waded swollen creeks and rivers waist deep, to assist and conduct the teams safely from bank to bank. Colonel Lander is highly gratified at the manner in which they discharged their several duties. Many conflicting and contradictory reports in regard to the Indians have reached us — among them, that a large body of Indians, estimated at some three hundred warriors, were at Granite Creek, directly on the line of our route. From these unvouched for reports our Superintendent has doubtless formed his opinion, which he has not disclosed to us ; but his previous opinions having been so strictly verified in reference to the Indians going north and coming down on the unprotected settlements, fully justifies us in supposing that we shall have a fight.

            Colonel Lander has not developed his plan of operations to any one. He however very quietly remarked, at the camp fire last night, on intelligence from the last party coming in having been driven in by a large body of the hostiles a day's march in advance of us : "Gentlemen, you know that we are under orders from the Department of the Interior to execute this work. I have always entertained the belief that we should meet the Indians in force on our march, after their having been driven north by the troops. They are now before us. I might feel justified in turning back, as Mr. Noble turned back year before last in Minnesota, and as Captain Mullen, an old explorer and one of the finest officers in the army in Washington Territory, both of whom were Superintendents of overland roads ; but I know that our Secretary felt sore at Noble's being turned back by the Sioux. We shall simply obey orders and go on. I rely on you who have been with me before, and the twenty men armed with Sharp's rifles, to do the fighting. I have every confidence that you will stay with me to the last. If we are not strong enough to win, we are at least enough to do as every American gentlemen should do — stay upon the ground."

            The citizens here have manifested a strong desire to join Colonel Lander's party, or have him take charge of an expedition against the Indians. I believe he does not object to leading them, if they will place themselves strictly within his regulations and directions. I have repeatedly heard him say that he would rather take his chance with twenty-five old hands whom he could trust out of sight, when scattered about among the sage bushes and willows, than with a hundred untrained individuals who might take a stampede or start without orders. He believes, however, that there are some excellent fighting men in this country. This is evinced by their ready offer to join him.

            If a panic ever existed in any community it surely now exists in this valley. There is no doubt much reason on the part of the settlers for great alarm. They are few in number and much scattered, and from the accounts of the last party driven in this morning, it would seem to corroborate the fact that the large force of Indians recently at Pyramid Lake are now in their vicinity.

            Colonel Lander had made an arrangement with a Mr. Layton to visit Winnemucca, and ascertain the exact causes which led to this Indian war. Since hearing of the arrival at Sacramento of Major Dodge, the Indian Agent for the several tribes in Western Utah, he has abandoned that determination, Major Dodge being more recently from the Department of the Interior, and having undoubtedly special instructions from the Secretary, of which our own Superintendent would know nothing.

            These Indian disturbances will prove a great misfortune to our overland emigration. They will retard the growth and improvement of this portion of the country, Eastern California and Western Utah. They have caused many of the hardy and enterprising settlers to abandon their improvements and seek homes in a less perilous and exposed locality. But the especial harm is that the overland emigration on arriving here, after encountering the hostile savages, will not find the supplies which have usually greeted them, from the fact of this agricultural community having suspended their planting operations for the season and organized into forces, to repel Indian attacks, or left for less dangerous localities. The citizens of this valley were much rejoiced and highly elated upon our arrival, and would have made a general manifestation of their joy upon the occasion had it met with the approval or been agreeable to the feelings of Colonel Lander. But he unqualifiedly declined the compliment.

            Since writing the foregoing, we have seen several of a party, composed of ten or a dozen individuals — one a Mr. Jackson, two Graham brothers, and some eight others, who had started on a prospecting tour to the Black Rock country — who informed us that they were surprised by a large body of Indians, supposed to amount to three hundred, near Deep Hole Springs, on the desert between this valley and the Humboldt river, and directly on the line of our operations. The party seized their horses, and started off on the desert, leaving their wagons in the possession of the Indians. They reached here this morning, having passed two days entirely without food of any sort, and in the greatest apprehension of being cut off. Upon the receipt of the news, Colonel Lander called on his party for volunteers to go with him against the hostiles — about two-thirds of his men promptly responded to his call. While this was going on, several of the most prominent persons of this settlement called on Colonel Lander, and offered to join him in any undertaking he might choose to make in the matter. They proposed to raise two companies of twenty-five men each, one from either end of the valley, under Captains Wetherloe [Weatherlow] and Bird, and unite them to Colonel Lander's. From the exposed and isolated condition of the people of this valley, this force will afford efficient and certain protection to them.

            The Colonel's plan of operations is to take to the mountains on the north and west of the Indians, and endeavor to cut them off from their supplies at Goose Lake (so called), about seventy miles north of this point. From that position to the point where they now are there extends a well beaten trail through a series of finely grassed valleys. The Indians are fortified on a promontory which juts out to the Mud Lakes. There is a fine spring of water on this promontory, and a stream of water well supplied with trout. Young Winnemucca commands the hostiles, and was recognized by one of the men of the party attacked, while endeavoring to decoy them into an ambush. They can only be approached from the north and west ; and the work on the wagon road cannot go on until they are dislodged.

            Our train will be divided — one-half will be left in the charge of the Government property and the undefended settlers here, under the command of the Chief Engineer and the Disbursing Agent of the expedition. Superintendent Lander, Commissary Snyder, the remainder of the engineer corps, and some fifteen or twenty of the old employes, making in all a party of twenty-five, will go with the citizens on the expedition against the hostiles. The whole party will not exceed in number seventy men.

            The Indians undoubtedly are taking this position on account of its strength and practicability, after having been driven from the south. From the small party sent against them, and their ability to concentrate a larger number from the roving bands in the vicinity, some hard fighting may be expected.

            Our party enjoys excellent health.

ORO.