The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-17
From the New York sun.

Intelligence from oregon city To The Sd OF April has
been received by the Commercial, from which we obtain
the following summary.
The Indian had taken favorable turn by the sub
mission of the Nez Perces and Walla Walla Indians
leaving the Cayuse tribe alone in hostility to the whites
The missionary families in good health Messrs,
Roberts and Leslie had gone to the quarterly meeting.
Governor Mason, of California had sent to Oregon for
regiment of eight hundred men, but in the existing
diton of the Territory none could be spared Money
and ammunition much wanted to carry on the war
against the Cayuses.
The regiment OF Dragons recently despatched to Ore
gon will arrive in render valuable services
Hostilities, it hoped, would be confined to the
upper country
The Spectator demonstrates against acts of retaliation
upon neghboring Indian tribes, for outrages committed
by them The dwelling house and goods of the chief of
the Molalas had been burned by some of the whites in
revenge for small theft committed upon settler and
several of the Capooas had been severely whipped for
stealing cattle. The Spectator urges the duty of caution
and forbearance in the present alarming state of the re
tons with the natives.
Ehe Spectator notices tobaccobox of pure copper,
from Virgin ore discovered in the Territory. Lead mines
of the richest quality have been discovered in the Cowz
neghborhood by Mr. Moses H. Kellogg, who had worked
in the lead mines OF Illinois, and is now opening bed of
stone coal the Cowlitz river. Several barrels of
this coal have already been shipped to California
From the Oregon Spectator March %.
Mourn OF THE COLUMBIA RIvER.-From accidents that
have happened to United States vessels at the mouth of
the Columbia river it is supposed by many abroad to be
unsafe and dangerous of entrance. That this river, like
many Others has sand bars in its wide mouth, true
but that such a river does, and always will afford
channel sufficiently broad and deep for the safe entrance
of the largest vessels, under charge of pilot who is
Year and hall past Mr. s C. Reeve, under the authority
the duties of bar pilot for the mouth OF the river during
which time not the slightest accident has occurred Mr.
Reeve expresses his willingness to take out and bring
ntn1I hall th,t;t
do SO.
Advces received on the 23d February from the
commissioner sent to treat with the Indians, by the
turn OF Messrs Newell and Palmer. Having succeeded
in procuring the neutrality of the Nez Perces, WaIa
Wallas, small part of the Cayuses and the Backamons
and of friendship from the Flaheads, Spo-
kans and upper country Indians, they returned to the
Dales and after long talk with the De Chutes Indians
the latter declared that from that time they the friends
of the americans. The Indians in the field then con-
sisted of two hundred warriors of Cayuses and vicious
and reckless persons from neighboring tribes These
pursued by Col. Gillian and party, until the 18th
of March, when the little army in sight OF the hos
tile Indians The following is account of the succeed
ing battle with the Indians
WAsKopAM, March 2s, 1s4s
When within 400 yards of their camp we were met by
an old man, unarmed, with hand on his head, the
other his heart-assurng us they friends, the
people of the Yellow Serpent, and would not fight
that the murderers were gone and our only resource
were covered.
We went into their camp found them all painted and
armed but from their repeated of friendship
ordered not TO fire, but proceed to the hills and collect
in their stock. When reached the highlands.
Snake river just below, full of their stock, swimming
over, and thousands ascending the opposite bank We
succeeded however, securing about 500 head of horses
and cattle, and proceeded about mile 10
the fort, when attacked in the by large
10 the number of about 400 We continued very warm
marching fight till about dark when we encamped on
small stream without food or fire They were shooting
that turned out the stock. AT daylight we renewed
march, and with it the fight, vigorously the day
preceding, until within about two miles of the Toosha
river where the enemy charged full speed to the river
to get possession of the brush at the ford in which, owing
to the swness OF their horses, they partially succeeded
of greater Indian prowess and daring than the scene
which followed The struggle for the ford was obst-
nate for time, the fire of the combatants mngng
together evlnced the Obstnacy OF the combat. And
here must say had it not been for the bold and decided
stand of few at the most vulnerable point, the
army must have sustained heavy loss in crossing the
stream, perhaps been thrown into confusion and cut to
pieces In hour the sound of rifles had hushed
The long battle ended. We all the river
not with enemy. The deafening of their
musketry which had been sounding in for thr
ty hours had died away-their shrll war-whoop was
changed to the me ancholy death song-whie a num-
Der OF their feess brothers, who lay the field heard
not their mournful eegy.
They called off their warrors-more anxious to leave
the ford of the Toosha than they had been to gain it. We
moved on to the fort, at which place arrived the
evening of the 10th, worn down with fatigue and hun
ger, having eaten nothing but small colt for three days
Two days after council of officers convened, in
which it resolved that we had accomplished all we
could without more and ammunition, and that it
best for $50 of to proceed forthwith to this place.
and remove up sufhcency of ammunition, and confer
with you on the further movements of the army Col.
Gillian accompanying in pursuance of this
luton when the fatal accident of his death occurred at
the spring this side of the Umatilla river We brought
with MS all the wagons but two and find here about fifty
men, ammunition, and little provisions.
The intelligence of this battle and of the death of the
colonel produced great excitement in the settlements.
Gov Aberuethy Immediately issued the following proc
lamaon, in extra of the Spectator" dated April Sd
PROCLAMATION.
BY George Abo msthy, Governor of Oregon Territory.
Recent accounts from the seat of war show that the
Indians pretty strong force, and determined to
tight Many of the tribes have expressed desire to
main peaceful but there be question that the
slightest defeat part will encourage portions OF
them to unite against us; and if they should nnfortu-
would be the signal for general union among them
lear is the only thing that will restrain them 1t IS ne
cessary at the present moment to keep strong force IN
the field, to keep those friendly that have manifested
desire for peace and to keep the hostile Indians pusy III
their country; for the must either be car
ried on there, in valley. -
The question not matter OF dollars ana cents
only, but whether exeons Will De maze on the part Oh
the citizens of this territory to reinforce and sustain the
army in the upper country and keep down the Indians
(Which our men are able and willing to do II suppored)
or dsband the army and fight them IN the valley. One
of the two must be done If the army is disbanded be-
fore two months roll round we will hear of depredations