, 1856-08-22


} audwhiSkers from his face. After which
we skirmishcd with the Indians until dark.
! On the 10th, at early morn, they were
to he seen on the hills, and at eight o'clock
there was quite force of them we en-
gagged thcm-charging them from point to
} point, until about ~ NJ, when Il body of
them drew of towards the mountains on
the trail which we came in at at. Soon
after, about fifty broke off in the same di-
rection, which led me to believe that the
battalion was advancing, although | did
not look for it quite so soon by close Oh
scrvatiOn, | discovered the dust of the COM
mand advancing. | was then fearful they
would get into IL canyon that the command
had to pass through and cut them off from
camp, or injure them very much. then
ordered forward Capt. Wilbur, with de-
tachment of men for their relief, but before
they could reach them, the command had
passed through without any one being hurt,
although the first party of eighteen attack
ed few men that were in the rear, and
captured pack horse with his pack, and
firing three balls into the horse that Ser
geant ReXford of Co. c, was riding. AZ
ter Capt. Wilbur reached the command
with his men, they all moved forward to-
gether towards camp, skirmishing and eX-
changing shots with each other all of the
way - the only damage done was the
woundng of two of our horses, which lived
until they got into camp-and one of them
a fine fat one, made us very good supper
we being at that time entirely out of
meat. should have stated that previous
to this, a private in Co. X, by the name of
Cherry, from Linn county, received a severe
flesh wound-the ball angling in such
way as to pass through the flesh fourteen
inches.
There was considerable sLirmishing
through the rest Of the day, but the Indi-
ans were on high hills, and behind rocks,
having every advantage-but as soon as q
charge was made on them they fed. In
the morning, they informed me that could
stay there that day, but the next day they
were to be joined by large number Of In-
dians from Grand Ronde, among whom
hin Walla-wallas with skOoknm tum-tums,
and then they would whip us out
On the morning of the nth, there was
seen but one solitary lndian--he acting the
part Of faithful sentinel until his heart
failed him seeing Capt. COTS command
coming down the mountain he not being
able to move at the time my command did,
but moved on the next day, aud came
through as the rest of us did, without see
ing any Indians until he reached Burnt
river. At noon the bodies of Estes and
/ hnr cd hof
witnessed the sad scene, and the place ded-
icated to their untimely end by being called
Camp Estes and Smith Canyon Oh Burnt
river )" after which camp was moved down
the river three miles.
On the 18th, we moved down Burnt
river twelve miles, and camped on account
of the wounded men, the day being excess
lively warm.
On the 10Th, moved down the river three
miles, and then took over the hills and
down deep canyon to Burnt river again,
and camped.
On the goth, moved forward on emigrant
road, and camped on Powder river slough.
On the 2lst, moved forward and camped
ut spring on the Grand Ronde.
On the 22d moved forward. Captain
Haley, Lieut.. Maxwell, aud eight men,
started with an express to our pack train,
to forward it in about one hour, Capt.
Haley returned, and informed me that he
had seen aud chased two Indians, and that
there were some horses in the bend of the
river | ordered forward fifty men aud
went in pursuit When | arrived ut the
spot, | found few wild horses and the
relics Of large camp which had been
burned recently, which convinced me that
Col. Shaw had been there and routed them.
The horses were wild and could not be
caught | then returned to the command
and moved forward and camped on Grand
Ronde river, at which place we met u de-
tachment of men from Shaw's command,
ordered back with fresh horses and proviS-
ions for GolI's command of them we learn
ed the particulars of their attack on the
Indiahs-routing, killing and woundng a
number-capturing powder lead, beads,
sugar, coffee, &C., with one hundred and
fifty head Of horses-some Of them Amerl-
can horses and mules.
On the 23d moved forward and nooned
at Lees encampmcnt Just as we were
ready to move forward again, Maj. MaXon,
of w. T. volunteers, came up from the
West side of the mountains, with a provis-
ion train for the relief of us all, from
Shaw's command procured a sufficient
supply of flour, sugar, coffee, and bacon,
for my command, and moved forward aud
camped at the foot -of+hc mountain.
On the oath, moved to WIN. McKay's
place, aud laid by two days to recruit our
horses, they having Travelled nearly six
hundred miles, aud were very much jaded.
On the 26th, moved forward and camped
on the Umatilla, at spring five miles
above Fort Henrietta, and remained until
the morning of the 2Sth.
On the 2Sth, moved forward to Butter
Greek and canped.
As it regards the number OF Indians
/ Killed on tho 18th and 10th | cannot make