Smithfield, Cache County, Utah Territory
February 8th, 1863
Sunday Evening
Presidents E.T. Benson and Peter Mughan
Dear Brethren: The Indian Matigah, the cripple that was here last summer, has come in today and is staying at Brother S. Collets tonight. Says that he went to the battle ground with the soldiers, and was on the battle ground immediately after the fight. Said the way the soldiers used the squaws after the battle was shameful, and reports about sixty warriors killed, thirty wounded some of which will die. Sagwitch got away with twenty warriors. Says that there were from twenty to thirty squaws killed and many children. Since the fight he has been to Snake River and he said that Sagwitch and his band are camped at the head of Marsh Creek, this side of the Caliofornia Road.
Said that the Indians on Snake River were peaceable and friendly; ten came in to Franklin with him to buy flour, etc. and calculated to return immediately. Said that when Sagwitch, Pocatello and Sanpitch got together and get the devil in them; they would be apt to steal and kill every white man they could find, because they are so angry with the soldiers. Said the Indians will be apt to steal all the horses they get a chance to. Said the Snake River Indians calculate to come in the spring to trade. Said the way Sagwitch escaped he ran down the ravine and tumbled into the river and floated down under some brush and lay there till night, and after dark he and some more warriors came back to the battle ground and took off two of the soldiers horses and some of their own ponies and went north.1
Your obedient servant in Christ,
Also See: Samuel Roskelley.