, 1855-10-19

companies of volunteers at Fort Vancouver,
and plenty of powder aud lead for all, so
that the volunteer companies called for by
Gov. Curry, must generally furnish their
own guns-and in most counties, we doubt
not, the volunteers will prefer TO furnish their
full equipment.
Capt Travall;ot left Yesterday morning
for the French Prairie, to raise company
of mounted rangers, with authority from the
Governor.
"Dr. r. a. Nicholson, Of this city, and
formerly of the United States Navy has re-
ccivcd the commission of surgeon in the vol
mtccr corps. L..
"Active eXcrtionS are being made to fill
the volunteer companies, and Gov. Curry is
anxious to start one or two companies from
this point by tomorrow. AS to who will
have command of the volunteer expedition,
we know not, but incline to the opinion that
it will be distinct command under efficient
volunteer oiiiccTSEqualifed to lead the cxpe-
ditiOn.
"Since the above was in type, the follow
ing letter has been received from Robert r.
Thompson, Indian Agent at the Dalles, by
the hand Of an Indian, who arrived yeSter-
day afternoon:
mr. EDToR:-An express from Major
Haller's camp arrived here this evening, with
news Of battle between the United States
troops under his command, and the Yakima
Indians. 1t took place about fifteen miles
south Of the Sim-coo river, on or near a
stream called Top-in-ish, on Sunday evening
the 7th inst, the firing commenced about
five o'clock, p. NJ, and continued until dark.
The loss on the part of the Indians is not
known; on the part of the troops, one man
killed, one supposed to be mortalIy, and five
or six slightly wounded.
"T'he Indians are represented TO lie in
great force, and ut the time the express left,
had entirely surrounded the troops. The eX-
presSman had TO run the gauntlet to make
his escape. The Indians kept up constant
and effective fire upon the troops The Ma
jor has called for assistance, and thinks it
indispcnSably necessary that Volunteer
force he sent into the country as soon as pos
sible; stating, also, that in the event of his
command being repulscd, it is difficult to for
see the evil results that will ensuc TO the
country, as the surrounding tribes will there
by be encouraged to join the Indian party
1.-THE Major was falling back towards this
place, with view to dispose of his wound
cd, as also to gain reinforce mcnts.
"Lieut. Day, with forty men, will start
for the scene Of action on tomorrow eve
ming. Lieut.. McFaly and command have
been ordered from the Cascades to this place,
and are expected here by noon of to-mor-
row.
1.-TWO men, (citizcns) Ferguson and Ives,
left this place three days ago, with three
head of CATTLE for Major Haller's camp, and
have not since been heard from; it is great
ly feared they have been cut off by the In
dians.
Respectfully,
"Your obcdicnt servant,
"R. r. THOMPSON"
Report says, that William Mckay, Vic
tor Trevett, and several others, have been
killed by the Indians at the Umatilla."
"LArER-MAJ. HALLER's COMMAND DRIVEN
IN.-5 KILLED AND 6 woUSDED.-Th steam
er Belle arrived yesterday evening at 4
o'clock from the Cascades bringing intel
ligence that Maj. Heller's party had been
driven in to the Dulles, where they arrived
on the morning of the 10Th, with the loss
of five killed and sixteen wounded. Maj
Haller found the Indians in great numbers
estimated by some MS high as 1900. He
found them to be much better fighters than
the whites had given them credit for. The
Indians followed HOller within five miles OF
the Dalles lie was obliged to spike his
howitzer, and leave it.
at is unfortunate that Maj. Haller was
sent out against such great odds, with only
o hundred men, and it is mere luck that
any of the party ever got back. The In
dians will now he naturally emboldened;
and our information is that they are bent
on q war Of determination against the
whites.
'The crisis has come, and now is the time
for united action on the part Of the white
people of Oregon and Washington. The
Indians have forced the war, and we hope
the whites will vigorously prosecute it, with
out any temporising or Miss Nancying-
The whole country is threatened, and it is
not free from danger"
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