["Oro," Colonel Lander's Expedition, Sacramento Union, July 14, 1860]

 

COLONEL LANDER'S EXPEDITION.

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[CORRESPONDENCE OF THE UNION.]

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IN CAMP AT MUD SPRINGS, )

July 9, 1860. )

            Editors Union : I have already apprised you of the trip of Colonel Lander in pursuit of the Indian murderers of Adams — his return after a journey of nearly sixty miles that night — his halt of a few hours in the middle of the day, and departure the same evening with a troop numbering about sixty men and pack mules, on a reconnoissance of the country along the emigrant road, and an attempt to penetrate the territory of the Indians north of that road.

            Colonel Lander, it seems, did not consider it politic or prudent to divulge the direction of his reconnoissance prior to his departure from camp. It was made for several days, or more properly, nights, of quick travel in a due northerly line, and thence in an easterly course to the emigrant road in the neighborhood of Granite Creek. This creek is at the verge of the second desert and at the edge of Big Mud Lake. His return to this valley was by way of the emigrant road. While on this reconnoissance, Colonel Lander made several efforts to procure an interview with the hostile Indians, all which proved abortive. On the third day out the hostiles were met in force. In the engagement with them which followed, one of Captain Wetherloe's Company of Rangers, a young man by the name of Alexander Painter (formerly a resident of Marysville, I believe), an esteemed and respected citizen of this valley, was mortally shot, within a few feet of Colonel Lander, at the first discharge of the enemy. The Indians were posted on high, rocky bluffs, on either side of the trail. On the receipt of their fire, the troop was immediately formed into lighting order, both positions forced and the Indians compelled to retire. Wagner, the Chief Engineer of the Wagon Road Expedition, was put in charge of the side next to the mountain, commanding the Indian ambuscade on the west, and directed to maintain it at every hazard. At the same time, Colonel Lander led a party of twenty men, including Captain Wetherloe and a portion of his command, with an equal number of Wagon Road men, against or rather around the ambuscade. The Indians immediately and with precipitation retired, remaining long enough only to give two aimless and ineffectual volleys.

            After the hostiles had been driven from the field, poor Painter was removed to a small spring of water near the scene of conflict, where he received the attention of Doctor Stettinius, the surgeon of the expedition. He had been shot directly through the body, at a distance of one hundred and fifty yards, with a half ounce ball, and died that evening, regretted and mourned by all his companions. It is rather singular that in this short engagement more men were neither killed nor wounded. Colonel Lander himself, as he sat upon his horse, not retiring a foot from where Painter fell, giving his orders in a deep, loud tone, seemed to be the special target of the Indians, for they perceiving him to be the commander of the party, at once directed their guns at him. Young Painter behaved gallantly. When the twenty men were ordered to turn a the flank of the enemy, and were about being led off for that purpose, he said to his brother, "Lay me down — go along ; I am shot ; I can't do anything more ; leave me."

            The party now advanced about four miles from the place of action, and took up a position at the termination of a long, rocky hill, which the Indians had previously occupied, and which they had strengthened by fortifying it. It was near a spring of water, on the border of an extensive valley from which they had been driven. This large meadow, a favorite spot of the Indians, will be designated and known hereafter as Painter's Valley, in memory of the man who was killed.

            It was the general supposition that the large number of Indians seen among the rocks and cliffs during the day, would leave their safe retreat in the mountain, and occupy the strong position left for them by the troop, and thus have enabled the whites to cut them off from secure places of shelter. This, however, they did not do, but continued in the mountain, where they could not be pursued to advantage, even by foot soldiers, as they always instantly retired at the first manifestation of an advance upon them. A desultory fight, by skirmishes, was continued through the day, in which several Indians were killed, but it was found impossible to draw them into a general engagement. In the meantime every pass was watched by mounted men, and to some advantage. At early dawn the next day the horse, saddle and trappings of an Indian scout was captured and brought into camp by two or three of the troop, the Indian having deserted them and escaped among the rocks. Later the same day the Indian that murdered Mr. Adams, of this valley, several days previously, "Indian Jim," known to many of the people of the valley and recognized by some of the troop, was discovered not far from camp, run down and killed by the two Mexican herders — Antonio and Frank — of the expedition ; Jim having, however, in dangerous proximity, first discharged his rifle at Antonio.

            During the night the Indians retired from the mountain, a panic having seemingly taken possession of them. While out, Colonel Lander made several ineffectual efforts to obtain an interview with their chief, Old Winnemucca," having at one time for that purpose actually entered their lines, unarmed, bearing a flag. They always retired saying that they wanted "much fight," etc.

            The party proceeded as far as Granite Creek, whence they returned by the emigrant road. On Mud Lake they found the track of the Indians, from which it was estimated that their numbers must have amounted to about four hundred warriors.

            Colonel Lander has expressed the opinion that the only way by which the Indians can be drawn into any regular engagement is by stratagem. A body of men, some five hundred strong, divided into the several parties, and surrounding the Indians without their knowing it, might do it, so that when they are assailed and driven from their position by one party, they will be met by another on the lookout, and be thus forced to a battle. In the country they now occupy, they can retreat faster than they can be followed by the whites, and it is altogether impracticable for the operations of mounted men.

            Since the return of the party the Honey Lake Rangers have disbanded, and many of them amply armed and equipped have started for the Black Rock mining district. Major Roop, Provisional Governor of Nevada Territory, and Mr. Jernegan, of the Territorial Enterprise, were members of Captain Wetherloe's company. Our Superintendent speaks well of the conduct of the Honey Lakers; and presented the American flag used on the trip to the family of Mr. Painter, the young man who was killed.

            Captain Lance Nightingale and company of Indian fighters were encamped in Honey Lake Valley for eight or ten days previous to Saturday last, the 7th instant, preparing for an expedition against the hostiles. On that day they moved out of the valley and took the road toward Mud Lake. While quartered in the valley, the citizens, with commendable liberality and kindness, contributed to their general wants, as I learned. Captain Nightingale says he will not abandon his expedition as long as there is a hostile Indian in the country, or a man left to follow him. The company numbers about thirty well mounted and effective men.

            On the 3d instant, Company I, 3d Artillery, United States troops, numbering fifty men, armed with Minie rifles, under command of Lieutenant Hamilton, arrived in Honey Lake Valley and encamped at the bridge over Susan river, just below the mouth of Willow Creek, and about five miles above the entrance of the emigrant road into the valley. How long they will remain I know not, but coming, as I presume they did, as a protection to the people, they will not move thence during the existence of the Indian difficulties.

            A report was brought into our camp last Saturday afternoon that several Indians were seen that morning on the mountain overlooking the camp of Lieutenant H. The Indians, no doubt, have their spies and scouts always out, and are well apprised of all movements of the whites that occur, whether military or otherwise.

            Colonel Lander, on his return from his tour of reconnoissance, moved his camp from Honey Lake Valley to this place. Many of his men have been for several days, and are still employed in removing the rocks from the road between the Valley and this point. In a day or two this job will have been completed, and the train moved forward to other points where Colonel Lander has been instructed to make improvements.

            Our express man arrived here yesterday noon from Carson City, which place he left on Thursday last, in company with three of Captain Nightingale's men. He reports that in coming through Long Valley, at a place called Robinson's Gap, they were chased and fired at several times by eight mounted Indians. One of Captain Nightingale's men, named McCurdy, dismounted and fired his rifle at the Indians, killing one. Two Indians jumped from their horses, and placing the dead man on a horse in front of an Indian, struck for the mountain. The pursuit here ceased. There were with this party three Indians on foot, driving a small lot of (six) cattle. They were traveling north.

ORO.