Richmond Enquirer

CHEROKEES AND OSAGES.

In addition to what we have already published, respecting the late battle between these two nations of Indians, we are enabled, by some particulars received from Maj. Graham, the agent for the Osages, to present a more succinct account of that transaction. It appears that the Osages had left their villages (on the waters of the Verdigris) for their hunting grounds on the upper branches of the Arkansas, a migration which they generally make in the fall, as the season is most propitious for game. The Cherokees aware of this intention, and of the inducements which offered to plunder the camps and steal the horses of the Osages, in consequence of their being detached in hunting parties, immediately followed in pursuit. Efforts were made to arrest their progress at Fort Smith, but without effect—it was a good opportunity to gratify their long cherished animosity, and they were resolved to proceed. Having fallen upon the trail of the Osages, who by this time had arrived at the first Red Fort of the Arkansas, they dispatched parties in various lines, and fell upon their hunting camps, in the absence of the warriors. killed 29 women and children, and took 90 odd prisoners. chiefly old men, women and children, 8 of whom (a woman and her child. and a young girl) they subsequently murdered.

After committing these depredations, the main body of the Cherokees was discovered by a party of Osage Warriors, who immediately made a vigorous attack upon them, which Maj. Bradford states, checked the further progress of the invaders.

A remarkable instance of Indian courage was exhibited on this occasion, which should justly. rank the hero with the Horatii of antiquity. A gallant young warrior of the Osage nation, feeling indignant at the outrages committed on his aged parents, went boldly before the Cherokees and challenged the party, one of whom advanced to give him battle. At the same instant two other Indians (a Cherokee and Delaware) started off in different directions for the purpose of flanking him, or getting in his rear. By an instinctive kind of stratagem, peculiar to the Indians, he contrived to draw them to the head of a swamp which separated the main parties ; then suddenly wheeling upon his foremost pursuer, (who from some impulse or other instantly squatted down) he shot him dead upon the spot. The Osage then dismounted, and in his turn gave chase to the second Indian, whom he was in the act of shooting, when he himself was killed by the Delaware, who lay during this time secreted in the bushes.

We cannot but admire the virtue and heroism of this gallant warrior, and believe that those noble qualities are possessed by many of our aborigines, to a degree that would have added lustre to the character of the most renowned knight of the heroic age.

[St. L. Enquirer.

INDIAN WAR.

We learn from the indian country, that the Cherokees and Osages have lately had some fighting, in which the former have been completely successful.-The Cherokees were divided into parties, one of which, amounting to 50 or 60, fell in with a party of Osages (principally composed of old men, women and children)and killed and took nearly the whole,and have brought in about 65 scalps and prisoners. One Osage woman, refusing to follow the Cherokees, was set on a horse and shot, and her body afterwards thrown on a fire, and consumed. Another party of the Cherokees consisting of about 300 men, had not returned at our last accounts, but we learn, that they had fell in with the Osages and killed and took a much greater number. These successes had occasioned great rejoicings in the Cherokee nation, and the lives of a great number of the defenceless prisoners had been sacrificed, in a most barbarous manner, by their savage conquerors.

The Cherokees took a large quantity of skins, furs and other property from the Osages,a considerable portion of which was burnt, they being unable to bring it in with them.— Among the articles brought in, were the hats, clothes, &c. known to have belonged to one or two white men who are supposed to have been murdered.

The Cherokees were so elated with these successes, that it was thought another war party would soon be sent out. Arkansas Gaz.