, 1856-09-12
Fast Of The MOuntainS-LOSS Of Pack AMI
mails and Packs in the Walla-Walla
Valley, etc.

Y mails and PACKS iii INC Hdlld-hdllh
Valley, etc
The express brought to this place on
| Saturday last by Mr.. JoHN DrYN, contain
ed message from friend connected with
the volunteer service, east Of the Cascades,
from which we CLEAN the following particu-
lars relative to the capture of a supply
pack train and packs, by the Indians on
the oath ult., in the Wala-walla valley,
1t appears that on the oath ut., Col.
SHAW received a verbal message from Mr.
JoHS Scorr, head pack-master, informing
him that the Indians had stolen fourteen
animals from his pack train on Butter
creek. On this information, the Col. immc-
diately sent Lieut. Gates, of Co. n, with
twenty-five men, as an escort, taking with
him Mr.. Files, assistant pack-master, with
number of animals to supply the loss, aud
proportion of packers, sufficient to make,
after Joining the train, force of 40 men,
which was judged sufficient escort for
train of SO pack animals.
On the evening of the 2Ith, some Iudi-
ans were seen in the valley, who fired on
small party, and chased them into the
camp of Col. SHAW, upon which, the Col.
Immediately sent out two scouting parties,
but could discover nothing except that
they had set the grass on fire in several
places.
On the morning of the 2Sth ult., the Col
sent Capt. Corr out to scout with small
party, and about 0 or 10 O'Clock in the
morning, dust was seen rising on the
road, which was reported to be the pack
train advancing, being about l2 or IA
miles distant. Knowing that there were
40 men with the train, neither the Col.
nor the men in the camp felt any concern
for its safety, being quite sure that if at
/ tackled by any large party, that an express
could get TO camp in time to send out par
ties therefrom to its rescue. Late in the
evening, some of the men discovered objects
moving on the hill, which led Col. SHAW to
believe that it was a party Of Indians wait
ing for the pack train. Accordingly he
sent out Capts. Corr and WILLIAMS, with
: twenty men, to take position on the hill,
near the road, to find out what the moving
, objects were. The party did not leave
until after dark
About 10 o'clock next morning the
camp was aroused, and Col SHAW was
awakened by assistant pack master Files,
who informed him that the pack train had
been attacked the previous morning by GO
or 10 Indians-that they had taken of
their packs on the hill, and lay behind
them, firing at the Indians, at long shot,
until dark, when, running short of ammu-
milton, the whole party mounted and left
for the main camp, leaving everything be-
hind
Col. SHAW then Immediately ordered
Lieut.. Wilkes, of X company, to get ready
20 men, and Sergeant Dolan Of I company,
I2 men, who were soor in their saddles,
and with Col. s. at their head, started in
the galop towards thcSplaee where the
attack had been made. About q mile
from camp, the Col. met Capts. Gof aud
Williams coming in with their party, who
reported the Indians as being in force at
some distance in the direction from which
they were returning.
d Col. SHAW and party arrived at the
ground Of the attack at sunrise, and found
that the Indians had taken everything and
gone. 1t was soon discovered that they
had taken the trail leading towards the
Grand Ronde. Immediate pursuit was
given, and in about FIVE miles they were
discovered ascending long hill five or six
miles ahead. From the number Of horses
counted, as the Indians wound up narrow
trail, it is estimated that they did not num-
Der more than fifty warriors. They were
hoty pursued for about fourteen miles,
when, finding that there was no hopes Of
overtaking them, Col. SHAW aud command
were reluctantly compelled to turn back.
The foregoing we are assured, are sub
stantially the facts connected with the late
unfortunate capture, by the Indians, Of the
volunteer provision pack-train in the Walla-
walla valley.
Across THE SrRAITs.-A few weeks since,
the British man-of-war Trincomale, in tow
of the II. B. Cos. steamer Otier, having on