Virginia Argus

INDIAN MURDERS!

On Thursday night, the 3d inst. a party of about 20 Indians broke into the Pigeon Roost settlement in the Indiana territory 15 or 20 miles from Jeffersonville, (in Clark county) and murdered a number of families—21 persons were buried; and 7 or 8 human scull bones were found in the ashes of a house which was burnt down—It is supposed more have been killed, as several are missing. The murderers are supposed to be Delawares. One Indian was killed and another wounded—they were of that tribe. All the persons massacred, with one or two exceptions were women and children.

Fired with indignation at this dreadful massacre, the citizens of Shelby, Henrys, Jefferson and Gallatin, to the number we are informed of 70 or 800, repaired to the spot where the mischief was done, and marched in pursuit of the savages.

As soon as the above account reached this, a number of individuals from this county and some from this town went on to the place where the murders were committed. Capt. Edmund Bacon of this place raised a company of about 50; who could not get horses to march before Monday last While they were on parade and on eve of starting, an express arrived with a letter from Governor Harrison to his Excellency Gov. Shelby, requesting among other things, as many mounted volunteers as could be raised immediately, to rendezvous at Dayton in Ohio by the 15th inst. This changed the determination of captain Bacon and his company, who instantly marched for Dayton. The company carried provision with them for twenty or thirty days.

Since the articles under the Argus head were written and put in type, we have collected the following information from gentlemen who returned to this place on Thursday evening from the Pigeon Roost fork of White river.

About 900 persons collected from this state and the Indiana territory on the ground in the course of three or four days. After continuing there for some time a council was held: at which it was agreed that 600 men should go on to the Delaware towns; but owing to the want of preparation and necessary provisions the expedition was found impracticable, and they broke up and returned (except a few) for the purpose of preparing themselves better for an expedition.

The above gentlemen state, that on the return of the Savages, they were met by a party of men from the Drift wood fork of White river—A skirmish ensued in which two Indians were badly wounded, and one white man; it is said three of the pack horses loaded with the plunder taken from the whites killed, were retaken by the party.

The following is a list of the names of the families killed, viz:

Morris' family, 5 persons

Collins' ditto. 7 do.

Payne and family. 8 do.

Young Collins was wounded and his wife killed—another woman was found killed and scalped in a field—making in all 22 persons!

All the above were buried on the succeeding day by Col. Robinson and his party.

From the best information we have been able to collect, the following is about the force Gen. Harrison has with him from Kentucky.

Col. Allen's Regiment, 650

Scott's do. 600

Lewis' do. 650

Poague's do. 64

Barbee's do. 640

Jennings do. 600

Mounted volunteer, for a short period, 500

Regulars under Col. Wells, 400

Col Simrall's regiment of Horse, 300

Capt. Garrard's Troop of Horse, 80

Total, 5060

These troops will probably march on immediately to Detroit, and thus force the Indians to rally about Malden to defend his Majesty's dominions,—while Gen. Hopkins will employ the following force for the destruction of the Wabash Indians and perhaps ultimately co-operate with Harrison!

Col. Wilcox's regiment (now at Vincennes.) 586

Miller's regiment on their march to Vincennes, 700

Mounted volunteers, say 600

1888

In the above estimate it will be observed Col. Barbour's regiment, which has marched to the aid of Edwards, is not included.— We have no idea of the force Ohio and Indiana will add to the above.