, 1856-08-08
NO. 40.
Letter from Major Blanksnship.
CMp Mil Creek, july "a, lSE

FRIEND WILEY-Last evening we return
ed from scout Of ten days TO the Grand
Ronde valley. Lieut.. Col Shaw, with
: portion Of six companies, numbering about
one hundred and seventy men, started from
camp on the evening Of the l4th inst, and
Travelled all night and the two succeeding
days, and camped in the lower part of the
valley on the night of the 10th. We were
on the move again early on the morning of
the next day. After marching up the west
side Of the valley some seven or eight miles,
a large quantity Of dust was seen rising
along the Grand Ronde river in the upper
part of the valley, extending to the left,
completely across to the east side.
The command moved steadily, but hastily
forward till within a short distance Of the
enemy, when halt was ordered. The In
dians were seen in considerable numbers in
front, to the right and left, as far as we
could see. The halt was but for moment,
to arrange the command for operations.
A number Of Indians rode towards us,
and among them were several chicfs--one
of them bearing in his hand long staff, TO
the end Of which was attached, by a string,
scalp, supposed to be that of some white
man. 1t was evident that they intended
to give us battle but the Colonel had no
intention Of fooling away three or four days
in fighting them after their own form and
notions, but Immediately ordered o charge
with four companies, viz: company O,
Capt. Henness, company ], Capt. Miller,
company L, Lieut. Powell, Mounted Rifles,
Lieut.. Darlington companies K and N
with the guard, were left to follow with
the pack train The order was promptly
and willingly obeyed-our course being to
the left, towards the east side Of the valley,
where we were satisfied the stock and train
were leaving. Early in the morning the
Indian spies had discovered our stock and
the smoke of our fires, and had commenced
moving off, and were fairly nnder way when
We discovered them. Here was q, sight
worth looking at. The chase commenced
steadily and in order. Not gun was
fred for some distance. This uncercmoni-
Gus, and rather ungentlemanly, advance
upon our part, completely unnerved the
,, poor wretches. They were expecting us to
fight ut distance Of quarter Of mile,
or thereabouts, which we had no notion of
doing. As we took our course and moved
forward, large portion Of the enemy who
were in sight, commenced moving in the
same direction, as if to cut us off, For the
first three miles they kept out Of ourreach,
when we commenced gaining on them, and
were in sight of large portion Of their
stock and pack train. As we drew near,
+, they began cutting their packs from the
horses. After the 6rst four miles. the trail
was literally strewn with packs and saddles
: Not minding these, we increased our speed,
and some of the Indians themselves were
compelled to stop along the road. At this
time the chase became exciting in the ex-
treme. The Indians were determined to
fight to the last. One Of them, for exam
pie, after shooting all his arrows at one Of
the boys who was following him, threw his
bow in the face of bis assailani. Abont
ten or twelve miles from the starting point,
the trail crossed the river, Here a large
, body of the enemy barely escaped being
cut of. At the crossing, Shirley Ensign,
a member Of company G, received slight
wound, the ball passing about one half Of
its size through the lower end Of his nose
The enemy were soon driven from this
position, and again pursued some eight or
nine miles across the valley, and through
deep ravine towards Powder river, when
the number of our men became SO few in
the advance, on account Of their horses
giving out, that it was deemed imprudent
10 continue the chase farther. On our re-
turn, the effects Of the chase were plainly
visible. On either side Of the trail, the
ground was covered with packs, pack-sad.
dies, mats, blankets, Indian provisions Of
all kinds, kettles, pans, and cooking uten-
sils Of almostNevery description-eyen earth
en- ware was found war dresses, fancy
equippege for horses, any amount of beads,
: and considerable powder and ball, with
about 200 hundred head Of horses. were tho
fruits of this victory, or rather stampede.
! As we understand from couple Of prison
!. ers, the Indians numbered about three hun
= dred warriors, composed of Cayuses. Walla-
wallas, Umatillas, John Day and Des
Dhute's river Indians with their prineipal