Indians.
Indians.

INDIANS.

    The Indian news to-day, is of a startling character. Many blows have been struck by the savages within the last few days, but the heaviest of all has fallen on the military force sent for our protection. The fifty men under Col. Forsythe had been detached to scour the Republican, and were doubtless deemed sufficient. The Peace Commissioners and Indian Sympathizers had so long and frequently asserted that the depredations were committed only by a few desperate, ungovernable Indians, that the military authorities doubtless believed them, at least to some extent, true, and hence so small a force was sent. While the fight is not fully reported, enough is known to establish the fact that it was a desperate one, and the chances are that the greater portion of them have been slaughtered. Instead of only a few Indians, their assailants numbered four hundred; really, for Indians, a very large party. The blow has fallen, too, on those who have friends that can and will be heard. Lieutenant Beecher, we are informed, was a son of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. He was a young man of ability and highly esteemed by his fellow officers and all who knew him. His death will have more influence in moulding public opinion on the Indian question than the murder of a dozen people of less celebrated parentage, and while we regret that he, together with Col. Forsythe and the Surgeon of the party, have fallen, we can but be glad that those who have fallen have friends to mourn for them and who can gain the public ear.
    Only a few days ago the REGISTER published a report of the robbing of a train by Red Cloud's band. Everybody will remember how ignominious a peace was made with him and his band of highwaymen by the infamous peace commission a few months ago. Red Cloud then obtained everything he demanded, even to breech-loading guns, but now he wants something more, and he has learned his supremacy and so has gone to work in his noble work of plundering and slaughtering American citizens again. Fortunately this time Gen. Sherman is not to be deceived, and we are assured that in him white men have a sure friend. We are positively informed that another Peace Commission is already on the way to treat with the Indians, but we also have reason to believe that the military propose to head them off. There is to be no more of sacrificing white people to the savages and paying Indians for taking white women and children's scalps as heretofore, if the military authorities can help it. If Wynkoop, Leavenworth and half a dozen members of the Peace Commission, whom everybody can name, had fallen in place of the brave men massacred on the Republican everybody in Colorado and the other mountain territories would have shouted for joy.

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Source:

Unknown, "Indians," Daily Register Call, Central City, Gilpin County, Colorado, Friday, 25 September, 1868, p. 1.

Created December 13, 2005; Revised December 13, 2005
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