Winchester Gazette

Lexington, Ky. March 14.

Arkansas Territory—Robert Crittenden Esq. Secretary, who, in the absence of Governor Miller, administered the affairs of the territory of Arkansas, has just arrived in this country, and from a conversation we had with him on the subject of the strength of that country, not the least danger is to be apprehended from the Indians. The Cherokees and Osages are at open war, but the former will only fight in open prairies on horseback, while the latter prefer the thickest woods: so that they are not likely to meet. The Cherokees surprised an Osage village in the absence of the warriors, in a hunting party, and made prisoners of nearly all the women and children, amounting to about ninety, some of whom were murdered in the most shocking manner. The Osages have taken, in horses and cattle, a much greater amount of property; but the advantage prisoners is still in favor of the Cherokees.—

Governor Miller ordered the latter to be at peace, but it was refused on the ground that the Cherokee nation was an independent, free people, and at liberty to wage war or make peace at pleasure. An American trader, residing in the Indian country, has been murdered by the Cherokees, and the murderers were not given up by that nation. The government of the United States has furnished complete armour for 200 horsemen and about 500 infantry, who have been organized and prepared; besides there are about 400 men of the United States' army stationed in the same country; a force sufficient to drive every Indian from the territory, if it should be necessary. The Cherokee tribes, on the west side of the Mississippi, are a part of the same nation on the Tennessee river, who removed to the Arkansas since the year 1817.

[Gaz.