Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-24
FROM OREGON.

FROM OREGON.
gEhe Defeot Of Colonel Stqotoe Confirmed
The San francisco papers contain ex-
tracts from Oregon papers to the 9Th Of
june. The defeat of Col Steptoe by tic
Indians, is confirmed. The number Of
killed and wounded is not as great as at
first reported, yet there has been a melan-
choly loss Of life. Ten were killed and
ten wounded. Among The killed were two
otfcers, Capt. II. p. Taylor and Lieut..
Castor. Capt. Taylor was graduate Of
West Point in class Of 1910, was brevetted
for gallant conduct in New Mexico. One
letter says that, "Fathcr Joseph, the Occur
d'Alone priest, rode up to Col. Stcptcc just
previous to the onslaught, and told him that
the Indians were exaspcratcd, and resolved
upon fighting, because they had heard that
read was to be laid out through their
country from Walla Walla to Fort Benton,
end that they would massacre every white
man who attempted to pass through their
country on such mission" This, then,
is the acknowledged, asccrtaincd cause of
the assault, and it is indisputably the fixed
purpose Of the indians to prevent. if posi-
bic, any transit whatever, across that coun-
try.
EXTRACT FROM col. sTErToE's LETTER.
II left this fort (Walla- Walla) on the
18th, with the command mentioned above,
Q52 men) to visit Colvillc, white settle
amcnt near the British line, and about two
hundred miles distant. The object of my
visit was to talk with the white people and
Indians, and try to effect more harnroni-
GUS intercourse between then. Two deep,
strong rivcrs-the Snake and the Spokane
had 10 be crossed. succeeded ia cross
ing the first With great difficulty, and when
near the other found myself suddenly in the
presence of more than thousand Indians,
all armed, painted and highly excited
They demanded whether we came to attack
them. answered that we were friends to
all who were friendly, and did not wish to
fight if it could be avoided. They express
ed themselves satisfied, but posted them
selves Oh the SUBMITS Of three hills, around
the basis Of which our road wound.
S'Neyer suspccting trcachcry, I was on
the point of entering the dcile when a mere
accident excited my suspicion, and turned
aside There is no doubt on my mind now
that, it we had gone on, not one would have
lived to see the morrow. / halted and en-
camped, but the baffled sayages glarcd upon
us, hesltatlng to attack, and we remained
thus IN half hostile attitude till near sun
set The merest trife would have been
sufficient to precipitatc either party upon
the other.
= X x
ssThe nextmorning resumed the march,
but had only gone two or three miles when
the Indians attacked the rear guard, and
Immediately the fight became general. We
iabored tader the disadvantage Of having to
hight while moving on, and in the midst Of
a country Of successive hills peculiarly IA
vorable to the enemy. Ny force was all |
but composed chiefly of troops
who had never before been under fire. A. /
bout II o'clock The commander Of one
company fell, and, the Indians charging |
fercely upon his men, they gave way and
could not be rallied Soon after, another
commander fell, and some of the bravest
petty officers in the command were severely
wounded. | determined, therefore, to take
a position and halt, The fight continued
without intermission, Until short time be-
fore sunset, whom tho enemy posted them
selves all around us to wait for The night
and for reinforccments. We knew that 200
or 500 moro would join them before morn
ing our ammunition was nearly exhausted,
our loss in killed and wounded very consid-
cradle It was evident that We could not
fight another day.
''Ihcse considerations determined me to
make forced march and get possession Of
5hc canoes in which we had crossed the
Snake river before the enemy could do so.
Painful as the step was saw there was no
other alternative We could not remain
where we were, and slow march would be
'ully as disastrous; for, if the enemy seized
Upon the canoes, cur situation would be
worse than ever. For these reasons | put
he command in motion about 10 o'clock at
hight, and did not stop until We reached
he river nearly 30 miles off.
-sThis war has been maturing for some
ime, but if I could have beaten the enemy
1t the start, all future difficulty might have
been prevented as it is, fear that many
ives will be lost before satisfactory ad-
ustment can be arrived at The savages
appear to have been excited by rumors that
he Government intends to take possession
# their lands, and the act Of the last Con-
5rcss, to lay out a military road from this
,lace to the waters Of the upper Missouri,
ully satisfied them of the truth of the ru-
nor. The party to survey the road was
ust assembling here, and the fight with me
las no doubt saved it from massacre
AN INSIDIOUS ATTACK UPON MR..
LETCHER. f.
Afraid to encounter Mr.. Letcher in fair
rial Of strength before the people, the op-
of bic popipo tsop on ro @bo Uo,YI !