The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-12

10 THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD.
The reported defeat of the United States troops
under Col Hteptoe, at the crossing of Snake river
has given rise to 80 many incorrect statements high
~ injurious to the reputation of the army and of
distinguished and gallant gentleman, that few
facts may serve to correct these false impressions
In the first place. the Snake river is wide, deep
stream, with rapid current difficult to ferry, and
the ferry has always been in the hands Of the In
dams. The approach to the crossing on both sides
is through canon which opens out just at the RI
ver's bank The Indians Of this section of the
country have been for long series of years accus
toned to the use of arms supplied by the Hudson
Bay Company, and since the earliest white emigra-
ton to Oregon in 1s46-47 have been acquiring
from the whites the best species of arms-the long
rife They fully accustomed to its use and it is
amuch more effective weapon than the carbines Of
the dragons or the short rife Of the foot troops
The Indians are abundantly supplied with ammu-
milton by the Mormons. ] know this fact from per.
sonal experience among them, and from the state
ments of officers of the army serving in the country
The chiefs have had constant intercourse with the
whites for years past. They are rich in horses and
cattle, and from several campaigns have become
accustomed to face troops coolly, and to fully
calculate the chances of fight. have no hesitation
III sdymS lucI On tnelr own ground the Ore8On III
dams OF tie Spokane and Walla Walla country are
almost II rot quite an equal match, man for man,
with the usual class of regular troops sent against
them. Col. Steptoe had three or four companies at
mos.-less than three hundred men.
Tie Indians said 70 have numbered fifteen
hundred. writer in the Times says this is not pos
sible. He is either ignorant-or chooses to appear
so-of the fact that the Yakimos, 30 called three
years since, were really Pelouse Indians who ousted
the true Yakimos years ago, and retained pos
session of their lands until the war of 1855,
when they were driven back across the Snake river
to their old haunts ia the PelOuse and the Spokane
plains Geary, chief of the Spokanes, brought up by
the Hudson Bay Company, speaking English as well
as you or l, has always been a scoundrel and more
less concerned in all our Oregon and Washington
Indian troubles II would be no exerton, under his
direction, combined with that OF Kan mai-s kaw +,
Skoo, and Owha all leading chiefs to bring into the
field fifteen hundred warriors, armed better than our
own troops, thoroughly understanding the country,
and Injured to fighting us by several sharp battles 1t
seems especially unjust to pass upon Col Steptoe so
complete censure, in view Of the fact that in 1866,
with only two companies, he dislodged and COM
petely routed a much superior force OF these same
Indians at the Cascades leading the charge in per-
son.
1t is the especial privilege of the army to be con-
stanty engaged in fighting Indians ut great odds to
get credit if successful; in fact generally to be
abused for cruelty and when, az is probably Colonel
Steptoe's case defeat which nothing short of d.
rect interference Of superhuman power could pre-
vent, occurs, everybody in the country cries out
against the officer who Is 80 unfortunate as to be in
command.
Col. Steptoe is an officer of twenty years expert
ence. No mans reputation for soldieIly qualities is
higher. On no occasion has he failed to do his de-
voir; and as one who knows him well, venture the
assertion that the truth will show he has done all
that could have been done by officer and man.
NBw YORK HOTEL, July 8, 1858. L. M.