The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-31

at the Spokane council had several talks with the
Indian chiefs through an Interpreter and they said
that great many of the Spokanes and Occur Alenes
had been to this fight and took no part in the
attack upon Colonel Steptoe but they argued in this
way Here are our brothers and our friends who
were in the fight against Colonel Steptoe and are
now opposed to the United States troops We cannot
hold back but must go too" The old chiefs told us
they going fight till they died; they had plenty
of arms ammunition provisions and everything they
wanted, and when their ammunition gave out they
would poison their arrows and fight with them. The
chief of the Spokane Indians, Spokane Garry is q
welleducated Indian; he read and write well
having been educated in the Red river country
by the priests He says his heart is unde-
cided, he does not know which way 10 60 !;
his friends fighting the whites, and he does not
like TO join them, but, ii he does not they will kill
him. But his influence with his tribe has complete
ly gone. During the whole time that were in their
council. Garry never said word but merely looked
on. While we were at the Spokane camp, they had
scalp dance all night long, and some two or three
of the Indians shot ina fight among themselves
The expression of every Indian that saw in my
trip from the Snake river up to that time seemed to
be in favor of war to the knife. To show the state
of the country, and the importance of having Col
vile Valley occupied by American troops, | will
state that Mr.. Mcdonald the old Hudson's Bay chief
at Fort Colvlle who had been there eighteen years.
considered it so unsafe 10 remain there that he
sent his family and his stock out into the Flat
head country with Major Owen and he him
self is to follow and remain there this winter,
as he thought the life ofno white man would be safe
in Colville Valley. AS near as we could see and
could find out from the settlers the heart and centre
of this whole rebellion is in that valley There the
Indians raise their wheat to subsist upon there
their stock is driven and kept out of the way of the
troops, and there majority of them remain Even
the Jesuit Fathers who have been in the valley for
great many years, and whom the Indians like very
much have been forced to abandon their posts both
at Occur d'Alene and Colyille--showing very for
chilly the dangerous state of the country. aa.a.s
On the 10th of July we raised camp on the chutes
of the Spokane and attempted to go out through the
Spokane prairie, but We're turned back the Indians
would not allow us to pass that way and we had to
so out by the Pend d0reille, Clarks fork Of the
Columbia. After hard march of abont fifty miles,
we struck the Pend dOreie river at the old Jesuit
mission There the Colville chief, who had been
with Major Owen getting his stock and cattle, to
whom he had given five hundred dollars worth
OF stuff for that purpose, rode into our band of
horses IN the afternoon, picked out seven of the
finest horses we had, and very quietly rode them off
towards Fort Colville--he having camped us five
miles from the Pend dOreille river for the express
purpose of doing that thing under the pretence that
there was no grass at the river. We reached the
river on the Goth of July and crossed. We then
considered ourselves safe, were under the pro-
lection of Alexander, the head chief of the Pend
dOreile Indians, who makes his boast that the
blood OF the white man never stained the hands of
his tribe, and never shall as long as he lives. The
relief to our minds the reader can imagine, but he
can never realize it, After travelling distance of
about six hundred miles through that country,
with the daily and nightly expectation of having
the hair taken off the top of our heads to reach
place OF safety was exceedingly agreeable. We ire
manned at the crossing of the Pend dOreie river
two days, to persuade Alexander to go up with US
for the purpose of putting goods women, and
children around the Pend dOree lake, which at
that time was very high, and the distance forty
miles. We went up the river, but the first night
Gil L.. ~ e N r
purpose of stealing our horses. Alexander how
ever kept such bright lookout that they did not
have chance to get any of them. From the time of
crossing the Pend dOrele eleven days were con-
sumed In making the head of the lake. We had to
swim seven different rivers and three-fonrths of the
time our horses were up to their bodies in water and
mud. At the upper Pend dOreille crossing we
supposed we should meet party of Occur d'Alene
Indians, gathered there to take all our animals We
passed that crossing at about daylight in the morn
ing, and fortunately no Indians. On arriving at
the east end of the lake. having paid Alexander for
his canoes and horse guards for their services,
took an inventory OF the provisions on hand, which
were to supply our party OF eighteen persons on
journey OF three hundred miles We had fifty pounds
of -four, Twenty-Five pounds of meat, and box Of
tobacco. We happened to have plenty of sugar
and coffee, and with that small amount of provisions
we started out. All hands were put on short allow
ance, and we soon commenced trying to supply the
deficiency by picking berries and catching fish and
i'll that manner made our small store of provis-
ions last until met Michel Ogden one of the Hud
sons Bay men, and perfect gentleman, who kindly
gave lot of dried buffalo meat, and told us that
at Horse Plains we would find plenty more. On ar
irving at Horse Plains we found q camp of Pend
dOreille Indians, who kindly furnished with all
the meat we wanted, and would take no pay for it.
In fact from the time we struck the Pend dOreille
Indians received the greatest kindness from
them. These Indians have decided, with regard to
this war, that they will have nothing to do with it,
and will receive none of the stolen property. They
are determined to try to keep out of it, and seem
very friendly to the whites. From Horse Plains we
went on until we made the new mission of the Jes-
uts at the Flathead country crossing the Flatbead
Lansdale's old station On arrival at the mis-
sion the Fathers received us very kindly sent us
any quantity of vegetables and provisions of all
kinds and loaned fresh horses to carry to Fort
Owen. We arrived at Fort Owen safely, having
about one-thrd the number of stock we started
with, and thankful that lives had been pre-
served
In reference to the Indian war; allow me to say
few words as to the manner in which the people of
Washington Territory think it ought to be conduct
ed. 1t is their opinion that the government has
made great mistake, and that the Flathead valley
ought to be occupied by troops The is this
Troops going i'll through the west side of the coun-
try will drive the hostile indians out on the east
side across the Rocky mountains. We know the
Crows, Sioux, and Backfeet Indians have been hos
tile to the whites, and if these Indians now in the
level on the west side are not kept from crossing
over TO the east side, all imagine what the
consequences will be. The only way to prevent this
movement is to guard the Hes Gate pass which is
Ia The Bitter Root or Flathead valley. Major Owen
urges this measure upon the government very