New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-02
OREGON.
The Fighs with the Coquillc fudiauc.


In the intelligence brought by the Column
bia, mention was made of an engagement between
Col. Cssey's commsad and the Coquie indians.
We have since received from Mr.. Gilbert Brush,
who the guide Of the expedition, and who, II
viii Re remembered, was severely wounded In the
fight between Col. 1'Vaulrs party and the same ln-
dams. the following particulars Of the affair
The Coquiile is a stream emptyins into the Pacific
about thirty miles north of Port Oxford, and the
trlbe who committed the murderous assault! on
TVauts party live sixty miles above as mouth. AZ
place where II forks into tao branches. The river,
though rapid, 10 deep and broad enough TO be navl
gable all this distance. Coz. Casey soon after ar
rv,ng at Port 0tord proceeded thence TO the mouth
of the Coqdllle. md camping on tie rgh, oans, pro-
ceeded TO construct rats Wish which 10 cross.
For two days the Indians kept flrng from tae lefs
bank. but the distance too great for their Shots
to take effect Having gained the other side, the
Colonel found ii impossible to proceed fast enough
by land he therefore sent for three boats - Port
Oxford. ana had them hauled by land To the IN )uth
OF the river. This was effected in two days: aud
having embarked the whole command of sixty men,
Me expedition proceeded up the Coqullle. Fifteen
miles from the mouth they destroyed the FIRST rsn-
cheria the Indians flying at their approach Arrived
at the forks Of the riyeT. having burned all their an
cherias on both banks together with she provisions
ana fishing implements, they found the Indians 10
the number of TWO hundred, epcamped, awaiting
their approach
They had sent their women and children 30 q
place OF safety, and had made preparations for \
fight Giving the command of one party 70 Lleuten.
ant Stonomsn, and heading the other himself. the
tOOlcl maze Inc dtlack, az the tune bnS
Indians we're firing into the boats. The hght coa-
tinued for about twenty minutes and az the end OF
that time the savages fled. portion of shem were
intercepted by Lieutenant Steneman, and some six
or seven killed.
In all there were about fifteen killed. aud many
who were wounded we're dragged off the field by the
savages In ther flight. Several of the men had
their clothes cut by bullets and arrows, but Rone
were hurt. large quantity of provisions found IN
the rancheria was destroyed, and the fishing impe-
ments were burned. Sixteen canoes were taken,
and the rancherla razed 10 the ground Returning,
the Colonel eft Lieutenant Stoneman encamped az
the mouth of the river with forty. five men and
howitZer
As all their winter provisions have been DESTROYED,
and their canoes taken, the Indians will be com
PEELED to for peace and the severe chastscment
they have received will cause them TO refrain here
after from moles,ing the whites The measures
adopted were absolutely necessary 10 restrain them
from numbering and plundering ard folio wing so
quickly aer their massacre of I'VautS party. will
have the most beneficial effect.
The Indian who was captured gave by signs such
information confirms the belief that five of
TVaurs men murdered, and two OF the
Indians were shot In the conflict. The sayages
were under the impression that Mr.. Brush had been
dreamed IN crossing the river Col Casey was
about proceeding to Rogue River, tyenty-oae miles
below Port Oxford, the iRdians on that stream hay
ing recently haTrassed the white settlers, and
curing chastisement almost much those liv-
ing on the CoQuile.