The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1858-07-30

LINER from oFeSOu Huu WHkhtnEtOn
rerritories.-Details lis Of the late In-
dian Fight.
The steamer Pacific arrived here
on the 9Th instant from the Worth
She left Portland, Oregon Territory
on the evening o! June 2nd, bring.
ing papers dated the 3rj; and pro-
ceedcd to Puget Sound. She touch
ed ut Bellinyham Bay and Port
rowsend, leaving the latter place
on Jnne 5th.
We have yet received little news
relative to the Frazer river mines
by this arrival. The Pacific left, at
B,llingham Bay, the steamer Sea
Bird to sail oa June 9Th for Fort
Hope, Frazer river, with passengers.
From this it would appear that tho
crowds waiting at Bellingham Bay
are scarcely disposed to try the new
Whatcou trail or road now being
made across to Frazer river, bui
think it easier (f not also cheaper,
to gain access to the mining regions
by water than by land. The Pacift
brings .ew passengers fIom Puget
Souni.
Particulars or THE RECENT INpI.
IN BArrIE.-lt appears that the firs,
news oi the Indian fight on May
l7th, near the Pelouse river, wa,
mu,h exaggerated, both in the los,
sustained and the number Of mer
engaged on both sides. Dtspatche,
from Col. Steptoe confirm the ii
dings of his defeat; but the loss o.
his force was only nine men killed
and nineteen wounded. Among the
killel are Capt. o. II. Z. Taylor
AMI Lieut.. William CASTOR.
The Oregonian says
The loss Of the bag gage train
howitzers, and ammunition compel
cd Col. Steptoe to retire t. 1t is re
ported that when Capt. Dtnt's com
pany, who had been ordered forward
arrived on the battle field, the troop
under Col. Steptoe had but tw'
roun ls Of ammunition left; and tina
but Tor Capt. Dents timely arrival
the whole command Of Stepto,
would have been cut off and dc
stroyed. ...
/ "We have not been able to obtair
the official report of the battle, or o
the incidents connected With it, bu
We are led to believe that Col. Step
toe was decoyrd into a position, b,
the cunning treachery OF Kamsikin
and the duplicity oi friendly Indian
in whom the officers of the regula
army place entirely too much conf
dence, where it was impossible +
cxtricate himself. The attack wa
evidently unexpected by Col. Step
toe, and the disastrous consequen
ccs wore the result Of a we'll arr ange
stampede assault, by which the ami
mails attached to the howitzers, am
munition and baggage wagons be
came 'unmansgeable. ,
! There were six different tribe
engaged in this battle. The mo.
formidable were the Flat Heaii
who are both numerous and power
ful and heretofore regarded as irient
ly. 1t would be folly to suppos
that we have not long and d,
stnctive Indian war upon our hand
which will last foryears, and rcqnlr
the strong arm OF the government Z
put it down. Many lives will hav
to be sacrificed AMI a largo amour
Of treasure expended, to conquer
peace, andcompel these Indian tiend
to conform TO their pligllted fait
and faltill,their treaty stipulations.
Two ol tho Oregon papers publis
an interesting letter, written by q
officer who was engaged in the bsi
tie, and which is dated 23I May
The writer says: n' r. f.. 'gI
] On the 7th May, Col. Stepto,
with q, E snllll company lat Dr..
goons, and twenty-five men Of 0,
Infantry, with two mountain how
iizcrs, left fort wxlis Walla for Co
vile. The officers Of the comman
were Col. Steptoe, Gapts. Windt
and raylor, Licuts. Wheeler, Fleu
ing and CASTOR. After marchin
cight days we reached the. r.
louise river, and were about passin
Into the Spokan country when W