, 1855-11-09
GILMORE HAYS,
Captain p. S. Volunteer
Letter from Mr.. Lodge.
In CAMP AT CoNNELL's, !
{ 7Hree miles IOest Of White Rieer, 7
Saturday, Nov. 3, 1855. J

Il 3
Saturday, Nov g.. 1855.
DEAR SIR-The last letter wrote you
was rather gloomy one, as was then in
anticipation Of forward march. There
is every reason now, much more than then,
to think that almost every one of us would
have perished by starvation, thirst, fatigue
or murder.
The snow on the summit was six inches
deep, and the weather cold 1t rained dn
ring the several days VIC were coming
down the mountains, and have no doubt
that the snow there now is impossible fol
our train. There was no feed for three
days, and we were obliged to give our
horses flour. Since the news Of ConnelPs
house and barn being burnt, We hnve Geen
actively on the lookout.
Yesterday morning we reached the burn
ing ruins, and entered into thorough
search of the premises, expecting to find
the bones Of our comrades and the express
men, or their bodies concealed in the woods.
An undershirt, with two bullet holes and
two stabs through it, quite bloody, was
found, and is supposed to be Joseph Miles
A bottle belonging to him, and book,
identified as Rabbeson's, was also found,
In the evening the body of LIST Lieutenant
McAllister, Of the Rangers, was found,
brought into camp, and to-day was nrrang-
ed for transmission to his friends. The
ExpresSman, VIM. 1idd, and Capt Wal
lace's command arrived this afternoon.
They discovered on the way the body Of A.
Benton Moses, who died like a man.
Yesterday morning the scouts discover
ed, on the edge Of the prairie, Indian spies.
Pursuit was Immediately given by about
forty Of us, under Lieut.. Hurd Coming
to White river, some Of the men saw about
fifteen Indians on horseback ahd on foot,
and after travelling q short time. saw more
of them dodging about through the brush,
The country was suitable for on ambush,
and as our force was not sufficient, we
turned back. This morning fifty volun-
teers and fifty regulars started out for q
fight. Soon after their departure, those
Of us who were left to guard our camp
heard tremendous firing. Capt. Malony
started to their relief with about forty
men, but soon came back, us it was appre-
hended that the Indians would cross White
river and attack our camp. For some
time we were drawn up in position, by the
howitzer, awaiting the attack. Tonight,
since have been writing. there were four
shots fred, the alarm given, and in less
than three minutes the men were drawn
up in line, the Gres put out and everything
made ready. The four shots were fred by
Capt. Maloney's picket guard at what
they supposed was an Indian on horseback
We may be attacked in this camp, but il
is not probable.
Capt. Hays and Lieut.. Slaughter have
returned from White river. Their ight
lasted six hours. Our men were on this
side of the river, and the Indians on the
other. Shots were exchanged across the
river, but no crossing was attempted by
either party. The volunteers fought brave.
ly, and several of our men distinguished
themselves. Henry W. Harsel (known
about Olympia as Lengthy,") killed four
the orderly Sergeant, Jos Gibson, killed
three, and others did nearly as well. The
total loss Of the Indians is estimated, at
the least, at thirty they carried away
their dead and wounded. Onep poor fellow,
regular, Of the advance guard, who were
sent forward early this morning to fall a
tree for a crossing Of the river, was killed
and another one wounded slightly. OF our
company, W. S. Northcraft had part Of
his boot shot away, and James Wilson and
J. T. Bush were shot through the hats.
The action has put the men in the best
Of humor, as they know now that they arc
not attempting impossibilites. The Indi
ans had their women, children and horses
with them
Probably there will be another fight to.
morrow. 1t is extremely fortunate that
we turned back, as these Indians, Judging
from the way they have been acting here
would have attempted attacks on the
Sound.
Yours truly,
JAMES |. LODGE.