American Indian fighting dominates the news of 1860

The Territorial Enterprise articles following Major Ormsby's death in May of 1860 depict a country that was still unsettled, and one that needed more structure and support for its population. In the Territorial Enterprise, Saturday, June 9, 1860 a letter is reprinted in part - It is a letter Mrs. Ormsby received from Dr. Ormsby, Major Ormsby's brother:

Camp Ormsby, June 3, 1860

Dear Sister: I am well, we arrived safe on Truckee on Thursday. In consequence of rain, we lay there two nights and Saturday we marched 8 miles to our present station. The Indians in great numbers attacked us from behind deep gulches, our men, Volunteers and Regulars, met them bravely. I suppose the fight lasted two or three hours. In fact the first alarm was given about 4 o'clock and the skirmish lasted two hours. It was a beautiful and exciting scene, the best I ever saw. No one can remain aloof from such an engagement; we killed and wounded a great many of the red skins, took 9 horses and 5 scalps. The fight was within 3 miles of the old battle ground. Capt. Storey is mortally wounded, shot through the brains ... Another, Mr. Cameron, also shot in the head ...

One of the greatest things for you, my dear sister, is the discovery of the Major's remains ... This day we are burying his remains with military honors. The Carson City Guards, and others together with two companies of regulars, Capt. Stewart conducted the ceremonies to do honor ... Services will be read at the grave. This camp Capt. Stewart calls Camp Ormsby in honor of the major. [signed] W. S. Ormsby

In last week's article, it was reported in the Territorial Enterprise that Dr. Tjader had perished. The Appeal received an e-mail comment from Scott Schranz, who does the on-line www.Carsonpedia.com that says, "In all, 76 Americans were killed in the battle. Dr. Tjader was thought killed, but he stumbled into Virginia City five days later, dehydrated and sunburnt. He had escaped death by hiding in a bush for two days until the Paiutes were done picking over the bodies of the slain. Two years later he married one of Abe Curry's daughters." In fact, ads for his business appear in the Territorial Enterprise June 2, 1860 as he practiced in Carson City.

After the Pyramid Lake War, the citizens of Utah Territory needed protection from the Indians and Fort Churchill was built. The location was chosen by Captain Joseph Stewart and was built on the Carson River, just 25 east of Virginia City. It was close to a Pony Express station house built by Sam Buckland. Fort Churchill was completed in 1861(see a recent photo online at http://parks.nv.gov/photo/hospital01.jpg) and covered about 1,300 acres and included a blacksmith shop, dragoon and stables. Because the buildings were made of adobe, only a few remain today. The Fort was only in existence for nine years. (www.suite101.com/article.cfm/old_west/118267 from an article by Elizabeth Gibson).

- Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote the Past Pages column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006. She is president of the Carson City Historical Society.