, 1855-12-07
RETURN OF THE TROOPS FROM YAKMA-PRos
pECnra or A rIcIIr At II. Al " Ill

bringing down several OF the volunteers,
and dispatches from Gov. Curry. BY this
arrival we have full news from the Yakima
expedition, the account of the fight at the
1.-TWO Buttes," and the position of Major
Chinn's command.
From our correspondents and from par,
ties who were in the command sent to the
Yakima, we condense the following &C.
count OF the expedition
In the engagement at the Yakima river,
mentioned in Maj. Rains dispatch in an
other column, Capt Benefits company
and part of the Clackamas company took
part and were the first to cross the river
and charge the enemy, who fed with great
apidity, so much so that the disabled
state of the horses of the volunteers, rem
dered pursuit unsuccessful.
Capt. Cornelius company, having be-
come separated from the main body of the
volunteers on the day of the engagement
at the river, encountered superior force
Of Indians and fought them nearly half
day. He kept them at bay and succeeded
in taking from them some cattle and dri-
wing them into camp that night. Two of
bis men were severely wounded. The dam
age he inflicted upon the Indians was. not
known.
In the attack the next day at the noun
tain gorge spoken of by Rains, otherwise
called the two Buttes, our correspondent
as well as our informant estimate the num-
ber Of Indians to be not much less than
500. About $50 were counted upon the
top Of the hill, and the remainder were in
the brush. BY some misunderstanding of
the orders given to surround them, q gap
was left open and these made their escape
Two only were killed. Pursuit was Of no
avail. ' t.
The regulars apd volunteers encamped
near the Mission, which being abandoned
It was co1jectured that the main force of
the Indians had either gone to the Nachess
Pass to attack Capt. Maloney, or had gone
up the Columbia to Priests Rapids Col.
Nesmith with command of about $50
men proceeded towards the pass, and after
an absence Of three days returned without
having seen the enemy. He found the
snow SO deep as to prevent the forage Of
his animals, and was compelled to return.
BE found some caches of Indian provisions
which he destroyed, and some Indian mares
and colts which were also killed, as they
were of no use to the volunteers. Some
wild Indian cattle were also found and
killed, which furnished some subsistence for
the troops 4 In and about the mission were
found vegetables and variety Of other
useful articles.
On Col. Nesmith's return a council Of
officers was holden, at which it was deem
ed inexpedient to proceed to Walla-walla
y first contemplated, owing to the difiienl-
ty Of procuring forage for animals, their
weak condition, the difficulty Of crossing
the Columbia with the sick and wounded,
but decided to return to the Dalles and
recruit. Accordingly, after burning the
mission and house owned by KamiaKin,
the whole force of regulars and volunteers
took up theit line Of march for return to
the Dalles. On their way they met Capt.
Wilson's command with the pack train Of
supplies, which train had suffered much
loss Of animals and supplies by reason Of
the SHOWS in the mountains. The snow in
some places was four or five feet in depth.
The whole command reached the Klikitat
river, about 25 miles distant from the
Dalles, on the 18th, and then encamped
where forage for animals could be obtained.
Col. Nesmith reached the Dalles on the
18th, and there found an express from Maj.
Chinn to Lieut.. Col. Kelly, asking for re-
inforcements Maj. Chinn with his com
mand had reached Wells Spring, and there
learned by oil express from N. Raymond
that the Indians under Pee-Peu Mox-mox
had burned all the property and the sta
ton Of Book & Bumford, and had taken
possession Of Fort Walla7walla, aud to the
humber Of about one thousand strong had
fortified themselves determined to give bat
tie. Maj. Chinn was to proceed as far as
the Umatilla and there fortify and await
his reinforcements. He asks for $50 men
and one or two field pieces to so strengthen
his command that be will venture an at
tack upon the Indians stronghold at
Wallarwalla. ,t..ri ..-...
Col. Nesmith has sent forward to his
aid Company A, Capt. Wilson, company l,
Capt. Munson, and company X, Capt.
Cornoyer, in all about 40 men.
II the Indians attempt to hold their
ground, we may expect soon to hear Of
come sharp fighting.
1t is not apprehended that the Yakimas
are with Pee-pue Mox-mox, but it is gen
erally supposed that the main body Of the
Yakimas and Cliekitats have gone up the
Columbia to somewhere near the Priests
Rapids, with all their stock, and it is also
generally supposed that the little battles
At the Yakima river and the Two Buttes
were only given by q small force Of the
indians to engage the attention OF the
troops while the main body of the Indians
could make their escape with their stock,