New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-03
OREGON.
The Fight with the Coqnille Indians.


In the intelligence brought by the Column
bia, mention vas made Of an engagement between
Col. Caseys command and the Coqullle Ind ans
We have since received from Mr.. Gilbert Brush,
who was the guide OF the expedition, and who, II
will he remembered. was severely wounded In the
fsht Between Col T'Vaults party and the same ln-
dams the following particulars OF the affair
TIE CoQuille is stream emptymg into the Pacific
abort thirty miles north of Port Oxford, and the
tribe who committed the murderous assault on
TVaults parry live sixty miles above ITS mouth, az
place where it forks into two branches The river,
though rapid is deep and broad enough to be nav-
pabe all this distance. Col. Casey soon alter ar
irving at Port Oxford proceeded thence to the mouth
of the CoQuille and camping on the right bank, pro-
ceeied to construct fafts With which to cross.
For two days the Indians kept firing from the LETT
bank but the distance too great for their shots
to take effect Having gained the other side the
Col)nel found 1t impossible TO proceed fast enough
by hnd he therefore sent for three boats 70 foIs
Orford, and had them hauled by land to the mouth
OF the river This was effected IN two days and
having embarked the whole command OF sixty men,
the expedition proceeded up the Coqnllle. Fifteen
miles from the mouth they destroyed the hrst ram
chera, the Indians flying at their approach Arrived
at the forks of the river having burned all the ran
cheras on both banks together with the provisions
and fishing implements, they found the Indians, to
the number OF two hundred encamped, awaiting
their approach.
They had sent their women and children 20 a
place OF safety, and had made preparations for
ant stoaeman, and heading the other himself, Inc
ColOneimade tho attack, at the same time that the
Indians we're firing into The boats. The fight con-
tnued fer about twenty minutes and At the end OF
that time the savages fed. portion OF them were
intercepted by Lieutenant Stoneman, and some SIX
or sevenkllled
In all there were about fifteen killed, and many
who were wounded were dragged of the field by the
savages in iheir flight Several OF the men nae
their clothes cut by bullets and arrows, but hont
were hut. large quantity Of provisions found II
the Tancheria was destroyed, and the hshlDg lmple
ments we're burned. Sixteen canoes were taken
and the ,ancheria RACED TO the ground Returning
the Colonel left Lieutenant StOneman encamped a
the mouth of the river with tOTty.hye men and I
howitZeL
AS all heir winter provisions have been destroyed
and ther canoes taken, the Indians will be com
PEELED TO for peace, and tie severe chastsemen
thew have received will cause them to refrain here
after frtm molesIlng the whites. The measures
adopted were absolutely necessary TO restrain then
from numbering and plunterlng and folio wing 81
quickly after their of T'Vaus party, vii
have the most beneficial effect
The Indian who was captured gave by signs suci
information as confirms the belief that i've o
TVaults men were murdered, and two OF th'
Indians were shot in the conflict The savage
were under the impression that Mr.. Brush haa beef
drowned IN crossing the river. Col Casey Wa
about proceeding 20 Rogue River, tSenty-one mile
below port Oxford, the iRdlans on that stream hav
ing recently haTassed the white settlers, an1 re
curing chastisement almost as much as those Nv
ing on the CoQHllle.