, 1856-04-25
Col. Cornelius OrncIal Dispatch.
HEAD Quarters LIST REGr. o. NJ. v,
CAMP YAKIMA, April Sd, 1856.

CAMP YAKIMA, APRIL Sd, 1856.
Sr:-0n the morning Of the 9th ult., ]
despatched Lieut. Chas. B. Pillow, Co. A.
Of the LIST Battalion, in charge Of a de-
tachment Of fifty men, to form an encamp-
ment at or near Fort Walla Walla. |
gave him orders to hold that post, TO scout
the adjacent country, and preserve open
the line Of communication from the mouth
Of Snake river to our military post on the
Umatilla. Having completed my prepa-
rations, on the same date, l took up the
line Of march for Snake river with compa-
MES A. ID. f. H. and K. Of the LIST Battal.
ion, and A. b. O. and d. OF the Battal-
ion Of Recruits-the command numbering
about FIVE hundred persons. We were snp-
Piled with full rations OF sugar and Que bali
rations Of -four and beef for the period Of
nine days Beyond this we were destitute
Of supplies Of any kind, the commissary
department being wholly barren. The first
night we camped on the Touchet. In the
evening Lieut.. Wright, Of Co. E., whom
had previously dispatched to reconnoiter the
mouth Of Snake river, returned aud re-
ported he had discovered stock in the forks
Of the rivers, bearded by Indians. The
command did not move on the 10th, as l
judged ii advisable to await for one day
the return Of an Express detachment had
been forced to send to the Dalles to obtain
q heedful supply Of ammunition. Lieut.
Miller Of Co. II. with detachment Of that
company sent beyond Mil Creek tc
obtain cattle. He returned on the evening
Of the llth with twenty-one head Of bee
which, unfortunately, effected their escape
from Us at Snake river. On the llth We
proceeded down the valley Of the Touchet
The afternoon Of the 18th, after q marcel
of forty-two miles from Camp Cornelius, We
arriTed on Snake river, twent-hve mileI
above lis mounth, and before night
fall the command had accomplished th'
passage Of the river, with the exception
Of Co. A., Capt. Harding, Of the Recruit
ing Battalion. The transit over the rive
was made without loss or accident beyonC
the loss Of two or three animals. On ap
preaching the river very feeble encamp
ment Of Indians was perceptible on tbl
opposite shore. Immediately after por
ton Of our advance guard had crossed thl
river, Invent in pursuit Of the enemy, who
had fed in the direction Of the COlumbiI
on observing our boats. A quantity o
their packs, provisions, a small amount o
ammunition, and some horses were capture,
and brought into camp. Capts. Hembrec
Wilber, Revais, Burch and Ankcny, AM
Lieut. Miller, with portions Of their re
spective companies, were engaged in thi
movement. We succeeded in killing fou
Of our enemy, and captured one India
boy Of come four or Eve years This la
have entrusted for the present to Capts
Hembree and Ankeny. In the pursuit tw
Indian women were overlaken-tbey ver
suffered TO pass on unmolesied. The sur
ceeding day, Capt Revhis, with detach
ment Of his men, Co. K, and 1t. Taggar
of1Co. A. of I'd Battalion, with n detacl
ment undercommand Of Major Connoyel
struck across the country to the mouth o
the Yakima, while Capts WILDER, Hembret
1t Harding, and 1t. Haley of the Isl
and Capts Burch, Ankeny, and Settle {
the I'd Battalion with their companies
under my immediate command, proceede
down the river to its mouth, and thence u
the Columbia for ten miles to opposite lh
mouth Of the Yackima, where we were mt
by the detachment in charge Of Major Coz
noyer. We failed to find any considerabl
force Of Indians. A small number wer
discovered. pursued, and three or four wer
killed. The remainder, with small ban
Of stock, had succeeded in crossing til
river before they could be overtaken.-
These fed with great recipitancy toward
the north. We returned to. camp b
different routes, having Travelled this da
same seVenty-fve miles, over countr
presenting no indications of having bee
occupied by force of the war party
our enemy. While 1t Small Of Co. X
aud one other man were together maxim
their course to camp they were fired upo
81 by eight or ten Indians. The Lieut.. r
turned their FIRE, succeeded in killing one
the Indians, and himself and conpaniC
escaped untouched. The same eveninI
private Harvey Robbins Of Co. D., Wi
slightly wounded in the thigh with an a
row. -.
The wagon train l had employed for Il
transportation of our boats, on the t4th
ordered to proceed to Walla Walla vii
i've Of the boats One boat was eached
on Snake river. On the afternoon Of tn
day l took up the line Of march direct