, 1856-04-25

DdHeS Of me Columbia, u. L.
April 18th, 1856.
|. SR-On the evening of the 9th inst, on
my march through the Yakima country, l
camped on Canon creek, a distance of six
miles from the Yakima river. Companies
A, D and L, Of the lst, and B and @, Of
I'd battalions, comprised my command, and
made two hundred and forty-one men for
duty.
Immediately after sunset the officer Of
the guard reported that small column Of
dust or smoke had been observed on the
| hillside q few miles above our camp
With Capt. Hembree and four privates, l
asccnded and proceeded along the crest and
chain of hills separating and overlooking
the Simcoe and Canon vallies. We could
not detect the presence of any body of In-
dians Two were espied at short dis
tance from us, and on the summit of the
hills. They fed at our approach. We re-
turned to camp about ten o'clock that
night. In order 10 determine the best
course for the command to pursue from this
point, a council Of my officers judged it ex
pedient TO ascertain if any portion Of the
Yakima tribe was eucamped in the Simcoe
: valley; and for this purpose Capts. Wilson,
lIembree and Wilbur, and LIS. Stilwell and
and Hult OF Co. c, with four privates, vol
unteercd to scale the hills at an carly hour
the succeeding morning and reconnoitre the
country beyond. Near six o'clock on the
, morning of the 10th they departed from
camp for the purpose | have specified
One and q half miles from camp and before
they had reached the top Of the hills, they
were suddenly surrounded and fiercely at
tackled by force Of seventy or eighty In
! dams headed by the notorious ehieftain
Kamiakin, who had previously concealed
his warriors amongst the canons and rocks
on the hill-sides. 1t is with deep regret
have to report that Capt A. j. Hembree
Of Co. L, fell mortally wounded on the first
t or second fire, and that he died where he
fell while returning the murderous volloy ol
the assailsnts The remainder Of the party
endeavored to protect and rescue the fallen
body Of the brave and gallant captain, but
{ the overwhelming superiority in number Of
, the enemy, and the headlOng precipitancy
, Of their charges rendered the effort fruit
less. The escape Of any one was remark
: able, and was only accomplished by the
cool, prompt and effective return Of the fire
Of the attacking party. At the time Of
Capt. Hembree's DEATH the Indians were
within ten PAGES Of the foremost Of our lit
lie band. Some Of them were killed in
this close encounter. This unexpected on
r saught was signal for the instant appear
ance of Indians on every prominence over
looking our camp. The most accessible en-
: trance to camp was from the hills opposite
!, those where Capt. Hembree was slain, and
! thither Kamiakin and the proportion ol
|. his warriors were rapidly fastening, for the
!, unmistakable purpose Of throwing them
u selves into our midst Fortunately the
! movements Of our men were more rapid and
: decisive than were his.
The furious onset upon the party with
: Captain Hembree had been in part witnes
: sed from camp. 1t. Hibler, with part o.
" Co. E, and It. Caldwell with part of Co
d, rushed to the rescue Of their captains
!, aud dashed up the points taken by the In
: dians near where Capt Hembree fell, driY
!, : ing the enemy therefrom. Capt. Wilbei
y here reioined the detachment Of his compa
: nv, and led it in its further operations
= Cant. Ankeny, with detachment Of Co
C. attacked and drove the Indians FROM al
J, eminence on the extreme right. MajoI
y Cornoyer had command Of these forces, anC
! succeeded in wrestling the body OF Capt
u Hembree from the hands Of the enemy
He drove and hotly pursued those on th'
n north side Of the creek for several miles il
y the direction of the great canon, killing
IL and wounding several. 1t. Powell, will
a detachment of Z, cleared, drove and helt
10 the bottom to the west, while Lit Hayte
\. with portion of B, held the bottom L
" the east, and prevented the occupancy o
q the brush that skirted the stream.
Ie On the SOUTH and before the return o
IF Capt. Wilson, 1t. Pillow with Go. A
,e charged and carried a steep and elevatet
position occupied by large body of tn
d enemy. Capt. Wilson there rejoined hi
h. company, and was ordered to retain tn
d butte as it afforded complete protection T.
3 our camp and animals Lit. Myers wit
nd the greater part of Co. d, assailed fore
~ which had collected on the East OF Co. A
70 dispersed and pursued them until they ha
le Joined q party with It, Hutchinson wit
st which company B was warmly engaged
m Its. Stilwell and Hult swept the hills t
3. the left of the butte held by company A
10 and drove the Indians up the creek. CaI
lv tain Burch ascended over the hills on th
i south and led detaehments of companies
rs and G, in eager chase of the routed aud d
in ing enemy for several miles. Capt. Reva
lc CALAMITY participated in the attack an
ut pursuit; his company X was then st'
er toned at Walla-walla. During the exee'
ton Of the different movements to which