, 1856-12-19


Al;cr forming the party on the beach,
+. Lieut.. SHINES advanced alone TO where
the interpreter was hayirga talk with sey.
eral chiefs, aud delivered my message to
them throagh the interpreter. They made
some trivial objections about acceding to
it, showing great deal Of defiance III their
manner, and those who were unarmcd arm
cd themselves Immediately, commenced
carrying their goods to the woods, dancing
a war dance, and making every prcpura-
ton for fight ! had directed Lieut.
SHINES to cndeayor, if possible, to bring
them TO terms without having a reacOuHter,
aud it was the impression Of every body
here that they would hold out no longer,
when they saw the formidable preparations
we had made.
1t was not until after every argument
had failed to convince them of the folly Of
any further resistance, and they had taken
positions behind logs and trees, with their
guns pointed towards our party on the
beach in a hostile manner, that the order
was given to fire the Geld piece from the
Traveller, and it appeared that this fire
and that from the Indians were simulta-
neous, many Of our party thinking the In
dans fired first As soon as the firing
commenced gave orders TO direct the bat
terry Of this ship towards the cncampmcnt
Of the Indians aud that part of the woods
where they appeared to be concealed, and
to fire upon them with round shot and
grape, which appeared to do great execu-
| ton. Under the cover Of our guns, the
/ field piece on board Of the Traveller, in
command Of acting masters mate Cum
mings, and the boat howi'zer on the beach
in charge of Mr. Fendall, Lieuts SHINES
and Forrest, with party of twenty-nine
sailors and marines, made a very gallant
charge upon the Indians, driving them
from their encampment into the woods aud
were ably supported by the howitzcr
All who were engaged in the charge, be-
haycd with the cooness Of veterans The
eucampment was situated at the base Of
high and very steep hill, upon which the
trees aud under-bruSh were so very thick
and there was so much fallen timber on the
ground, as to render it almost mpassablc
except for savages.
After setting fire to their huts, destroy
ing their property, amounting to several
thousands OF dollars and disabling all but
one Of their canoes, (Which were hanled
up near TO there encampment, Lieutenant
SHINES, agreeably to my orders, returned
with all his party in the Traveller and boats
alongside this ship, having held possession
of the cncampment from about twenty
minutes past seven until l0AM
The Indians fought with desperate cour.
age and determination, worthy Of better
cause.
During the whole day FIRE was kept up
from this vessel upon the Indians, whenev-
er they were seen in the woods, and with
! great execution.
regret 10 state that early in the Gu
gag ement one Of my best men was killed,
and another wounded in his left hand
These were the only casualties on our side,
although several Of the officers aud men at
tached to the shore party, were struck by
slugs, which glanced off from their pistols
and bowie knives with little or no injury to
their persons.
Lieut. Young, am sorry 10 say, was
disabled the night previous 10 the fight
from fall in the Launch. Lieut.. Fair
fax, although on the sick list, being aware
OF the small number Of officers on duty,
very promptly offered his services, which
found invaluable, from the very able man
ner in which he conducted operations on
board of this ship, especially as was ab-
sent part Of the time in boat supervising
the detachments ashore and on board the
Traveller.
The weather having moderated aud the
sea becoming smoother in the afternoon,
despatched Lieut.. SHINES, 81 assistant
engineer Rind, Mr. Fendall, and acting
masters mate Moore, with party ofthirty-
seven sailors and marines on shore, to de-
stroy the good canoe which they left in
the morning, and see that the others were
rendered unseaworthy, in order to prevent
the Indians from leaving here during the
1mg ht. This dutywas performed in very
gallant manner, and am happy to say
without the loss of a single man, although,
dosing the whole time, they were subjected
to a heavy fire from the enemy.
During both these shore attacks, con-
slant and very effective fire was kept up
from the battery Of this ship and the field
piece on board Of the Traveller. On the
afternoon of the fight, l sent a squaw who
had been taken prisoner to the Indians, Of.
fering to forgive them if they would sur
render, go with Inc to Victoria, and from
, thence proceed to their homes, and never
return again to. the Sound. Inreply, they
sent me message of defiance, saying they
would FIGHT as long rs there was a man Of