The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-29


kin opportunities OF cutting on slual parties Of
miners travelling through his country. When Halter
went up with his small command 70 look after the
interests Of the miners kamiakln me- him with all
his force, ana drove him back This affair, exag-
geIated into a graa, victory by .he Indians, sweed
fneir ranks from adjoining tribes. rho Cayuse and
Rogue river war warrants had prepared the people 10
hail with deluded pleasure tha. vas likely to
lire the pockets oi al parties from The public trea-
sury. Without considering the pfoprety of carrying
m an aggressive war into another Territory, the
Governor of Oregon called out large force OF vo-
luntters the Iequisition Of Major Rclns, u s. A.,
whose authority 70 make such reqnistion may we'll
be questioned.
The idea does nc. seem to have been considered
whether the Governor had authority 20 comply with
such requsition, and the Governor himself
does not seem 10 have reflected upon what would
be the proper colIse 10 pursue; consequently
a large volunteer force was called out, mount
cd and equipped on the credit OF the gene
raj government. Horses were furnished at the
most extravagapt prices that is, they were turned
over by the people to the Governor who had them
appraised usually at three times their value, in order
to pay for the delay that would necessarily follow
before the scrip would be taken up by the general
government Generally each volunteer furnished his
wn horse, for which he expected TO get four dollars
per day. and the value Of the horse according 70 his
appiament in case he should be hurt or die in SER
,icel Provisions were supplied az the same extra
VACANT price. Major Reins, thus, in November last
marched into the Yakamah country with all the
regular troops he could command. and about three
hundred volunteers under Col. Nesmth. Major
Relns was supplied with the commission OF Briga-
der General by the acting Governor Of Washington
Territory, in order that he might rank COL Mes
NTH, who was iliing to cooperate, but no. 70 be
commanded. Nesmirh was in turn supplied with
commission of General by the Governor Of Oregon,
in order that he might no. be ranked by Reins.
With these dissensions among the troops the cam
paign was made into the hear. Of the enemys cOun-
try As was afterwards ascertained the Indians were
prepared to meet them on the road tn u would natu
rally have been taken BY the troops but their COM
mander chose to take them by o long and crcuitous
road, in order to surprise them. Meeting Indians
to oppose their course, the troops returned without
accomplishing anything except 10 burn q few caches
OF provisions and completely dem0shing the Catholic
Mission at the Asturios, the padre OF which had,
by his influence held Kamiakin in check thus long
by keeping the commander of Fort DaIes informed
OF his designs. This unjustifiabe act was not COM
mitted desigDedly, but il was consequence OF
bringing undsciplned troops into the neighborhood
individnalsof which capable Of attributing to
the padre many things that he could not possibly
prevent and which he may have labored TO counter
act No. meeting the enemy, it was assumed that
returned TO Fort Dalles. Here was then large
volunteer force IN the field and no enemy TO contend
with.
It was absolutely necessary 70 send these troops
somewhere but no depreciation had been committed
in any other quarter except the YakaMah country
Yet the belief that Kamiakin mad gone to Walla
Walla, and the hypothesis that many warriors from
the tribes on the south side Of the Columbia
were engaged with Kamiakin against the
whites. determined the Governor 70 send his forces
to Walla Walla. By this time Nesmith had become
Disguised with the want Of discipline among his
men, and resigned, and Col. Kelly was placed in
charge of the expedition. Arrived at Walla Walla
they were met by Peu pew.mox mox with demonstra-
tons OF friendship, and as guarantee OF his sim
cerity placed himself under the charge of the voun
teers. But, perhaps, by mutual want Of confidence
on both sides, they became embroiled, no one knows
why or how. Peu-pew-moxmox, whilst a prisoner,
was killed. with several others who had surrendered
themselves a. the same time, and an extensive
skirmish commenced, which lasted for four days.
A number OF whites were killed and wounded, and
about seventy Indians kied-so says the report
Of the hght The affair has gone upon the records of
the Territory as great victory. The people thus
found themselves on the verge OF war with all the
tribes south Of the Columbia, out Of difficulties that
occurred in the Yakima country. This expedition
was protested agains. by the Superintendent of
Indian Affairs and by General Wool, as likely
TO involve us in war with all the tribes south
Of the Columbia But /, was maintained that such
would be the case nevertheless, and that they had
already been concerned with Kamiakin in his depre-
dAtions. With the exception Of few traders on the
Columbia, there interests 20 protect in that
quarter, and If they were concerned their punish
ment could De postponed indefinitely 10 suit the
convenience OF the proper authority to do 80. An
other excuse 70 protect the return OF Governor
Stevens from the Blackfeet country. IL was thought
that such protection was necessary by those who
knew best, but even the necessity Of protecting him
did not require war against tribes who had com
ended friendship.
About The time Of the return of Maj. Reins, Gen.
Wool arrived in the Territory. An inspection Of the
means on hand determined the General 10 give mp
winter campaign, and he was Influenced as much by
the nclemency OF the season as any thing else for
in December the Columbia closed, communication
was cut II with the upper country for many weeks
and The volunteers had all they could do to sustain
themselves on beef alone, without pursuing
the enemy. Then winter passed, and they were
unable 70 effect anything. Spring came and
the great battle that was 70 decide everything did
not take place-the enemy could not be found. The
Volunteers returned through the Yakima country
without doing them any harm. They stin had sc
vera hundred horses LETT that had not been starved
or frozen % death during the winter or been run
away with by the Indians. These they permitted
the Indians TO run on with when within few miles
Of the Daes otherwise they would have had TO take
them, broken down az they were, and would not he
entitled to the appraisment. They were then ready
TO be discharged, which was done.
commence the spring campaign, the reason for
which is not fully understood The blame, however,
rained down by the people u Oregon and Washing
ton falls heavy upon Gen. Wool. Another delay was
caused Just a. the expedition started; they were
going to wala walla, too, though nobody can zoe
why. The line OF communication was left unpro-
tectd az the Cascades and the day that the regular
troops set out from the Dales for Walla Walla the
IndiaDs made descent on the Cascades. which en-
tirely changed its direction. The Indians we're
driven back WITH loss but the whites Suffered also
before reuforcements could arrive. The Cfkatals
thus proved themselves the most formidable enemy.
and Col. Wright changed his course from Wala
Walla 10 the Yakima country where he now Is and
the public mind l. waiting TO hear what he viii do
A feud has arisen between General Wool and the
Governor during this time. The Governor has gone
TO work without consulting the General. and carried
an aggressive warfare into an adjoining Terri
tory, an assumption u authority that would be ques
toned Immediately were any people except Indians
concerned. Ii suited the people, however, for we
1ayo haUU how tn no MT ow
soon is military chieftain hauled the Goals If
he NEEDLES in civil matters General Wool may,
therefore, be readily pardoned when he disagrecs
and finds fault with Territorial Governor for as
mming and carrying on a war, the execution OF
which properly belonged 70 him.
The war on the Sound has its origin in the Yaka.
ma country. The hasty treaties made with the In
dams here last year by Governor Stevens rendered
them dissatisfied. They have had great confidence
in the power and numbers Of the Klkatals and they
were quite ready TO join Kamiakin, partict.
larry that portion lying between the Sound
and the Cascade mountains, for they are
hat IA. tH.cx oxI