The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-05-25

the women and children had not been Civ.
en- up then, they would ull have been mur-
dered.
We moke the following extracts from
Mr.. Mcck's memorabilia
have just arrived from tho territory OF
Oregon. lei, Oregon City on the 4th OF
january, passed up the Wala Walln, End
thence, by tho South Pass, 10 81. Joseph,
Missouri.
When left Walla Wa!la, on the 10Th
day Of january, the people ofthc territory
OF Oregon we're ut open war with four
tribes Of Indians--tle Cayusc, Walla Wal.
Ia, Shasier mud Day Indians. Four battle.
had taken place between them before left
the country: tho first engagement TOOK
place at the foot of the Dillcs of the Co
lumbin, on the 9Th 81 January, between q
small party of troops under tho command
Of Capt. Lcc--ihe next took place sometime
after, between the advanced guard Of thu
Oregon regiment under tho command o
Mai. Lee. lie wns forced to retreat, will
very little loss, and fall back upon tho reg
ment.
Next day, the regiment marched up tho
Sinister river, under the command OF Col
c. Gillian. About II o'clock, they were
attacked by large body Of Indians, bn,
they were soon routed by the troops--theiI
villages taken and burned. Large q,.an,i
ties If salmon fish. preserved fur food, am
other property, wcrc also destroyed.
The Oregon regimen. having been rein
forced, 81 as 10 number five hundred men
they took up the line of march Tor tho Wal
la Walla. On the 18th Of February, the
enemy appeared on the plains in great
numbers, aud line OF battle was formed
Tho engagement commenced about ten
o'clock, md lasted until night parted the
combatants. Each party campcd on tho
ground, but the next morning the enemy
had left the field. A largo number Of In
dians, Of other tribes, were present, n.
lookers-on in the strife. II was not known
how many Of the Indians were killed. Thu
troops had n nine-pounder with ,hcm,monnt
cd on an cmigran,'s wagon, drawn by 81,
yoke of oxen: the balls gave out during
the battle, and they were compelled 4
shoot away the lock chains belonging 4
the baggage wagons.
Next day, they marched 10 the U,ll;
river, and thence 10 DIR. WEi,man's mis-
sion, the scene of the massacre. All thc
property about the place had been destroy
cd by tho Indians, aud the houses burnt
Here, too, were the heads Of the Doctor anu
Of his amiablc wife lying in the yard, nnt
the bones of tho other sufferers scattcre,
abou. on the ground. At this point lcf
the troops, and took tho Blue Moun,ai,
route, the snow from three 10 five feet dceI
for about thirty miles. until we fell in will
the third division Of Oregon.
We arrived at Fort Hall on the 25lh q
March, where We encountered a trench
dous snow storm. Al this place, we cross
ed the mountain TO Dear rIvcr--;he snow
very dccp--our provisions NIL gonc-ant
VIC were forced To eat our mules and horses
My thanks nre due To Mr.. Smith, on Bcn
river, who killed his only COW for our use
We met 2l5 wagons, containing cmi
grants bound for Orcgon--ihe first cornpa
ny about l50 miles from st. Joseph-al
well. We were 66 days in making Tho
trip from Fort Walla Walla To ST. Joseph
where we arrived on tho ll,h of May, worl
out with fatigue.
/