, 1856-09-12
Correspondence of the Pioneer and Democrat.)
From the Walla WaIla Valley, &c.
DALLEs. O. IN, Sept. 9. l85I

"TRIP from tne DalleS OF tne COlumDa 10
Walla-wala valley.
l left the Dalles, August 81, at 10
o'clock, a. NJ At Three Mile Creek, !
passed Messrs. Canthe and Hald, with one
wagon and supplies, en- route for settlement
in the Walla-walla valley. On Ten Mile
Creek passed Capts. Higgins and Robie,
in charge of a supply train, (for the Indian
Department., consisting of thirty-three
wagons, en- route for the Walla-wala coun-
ell. On the morning of the 2Sth, l brought
up with Col Steptoe's command, on Rock
Greek, consisting of one company lst ORA
goons, one company Sd Artillery, and 46
wagons-the Col. and party all well-trav-
eled with the command to Willow Greek,
where the Col very kindly furnished me
with a fresh horse. At Q O'Clock, p. NJ,
left the Coils camp, and on the evening of
the Goth, came in sight Of the Walla-walla
valley. At dark entered the valley, and
found blankets, camp cquipage, and dead
horses strewn promisquousy around, which
led me to think that some of Gen. Wool's
friendly Indians had been paying the vol
unteers q visit. 1t being very dark, l
feared that would be unable to find Gov.
Stevens camp that night, so 1 turned my
horse off the road, and Travelled about two
miles, where, lying down, tried to sleep,
with one eye open.
On the morning Of the 30th, it took me
but short time to hunt up the camp of
Gov. Stevens, where l learned all the cir
cumstances connected with the loss of the
pack-train, taken by the Indians, and de-
signed to supply the command of Col. Shaw.
1t appears that supply pack train left
the Dalles for Col. Shaw's camp, Walla-
walla valley, in charge Of Messrs Scott
and Files, Pack-masters. On the 25th Of
August, on Butter creek, the Indians,
under cover Of the night, succeeded in run
ming off thirteen Of their pack animals,
whereupon, in the morning, Mr.. Scott sent
on express to Col. Shaw's camp for addi-
tional animals before he could move. The
animals were promptly sent him, with re-
enforcement Of some twenty men, under
command of Lieut.. Gates. On the 2sth,
on entering the valley, the party were at
tackled by Indians who had concealed
themselves in the hills, between the train
and the water The volunteers, seeing the
advantage in numbers, of the enemy, as
also in choice of ground and position, they
collected their animals togethervunpacked
them-made breast-works Of the packs,
and commenced burning bacon to raise o
smoke as q signal, that they might be rein
forced from Col. Shaw's camp, not far dis
tant. The Indians then set FIRE to the
grass, and continued firing on the volun-
toers. The smoke was discovered at the
camp of Col. Shaw, towards evening, and
the Col. sent out small party in charge
of Capt. Gof, to ascertain the cause.
Capt. Goff arrived at the place at night,
and seeing and hearing q great many Indi-
ans, as he reports-considering that they
were too strong for his party, and not
knowing that the pack-train was held in
check by these Indians, he returned back
to camp for reinforcements. He was not
long there, when he was reinforced by the
escort Of the pack-train and the packers,
when they succeeded in taking with them
their riding animals, leaving the entire
packs and pack animals with the Indians.
The escort and packers numbered some
forty, and had suffered very much for want
Of water. On the morning they were
attacked, they had Travelled form Wild
Horse creek, a distance of some sixteen
miles-no water on this part of the road.
They remained with the train until about
IL O'Clock at night, when their thirst and
critical position forced them to abandon
the train and make good their way to the
main camp. sNE .
No lives lost on the part Of the vOlun-
teers-three wounded, Loss Of the Indi-
ans-killed and wounded-not ascertained
A number of animals were killed. The
number captured from the volunteers was
forty-one. Number of packs captured
thirty.three-principally provisions. l-
Next day the Indians were pursued BY
Col. Shaw, and command, towards the
Blue mountains. He came in sight Of
them, but they being mounted on fresh and
feet horses-(several Of the volunteers
horses at this time having given out, ana
were left far behind )-and not enough
men left to continue the pursuit, the Col.
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