New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-07-15


This il liberal estimate of the numbers, and lt
is not or, babe that two-thirds OF the warriors Of
all these tribes were collected, AZ time when it
va. unknown that there would be war, and when
thew could not have had more than WEEKS notice
that their coup,r, would be invaded. The SaAmas,
who live northwest of Walls Walla, and have never
been very friendly TO the Americans, took no part
in the fight, and the Nez Perces, who live scath Of
the junction Of the Columbia and the Snake River,
are decidedly friendly
As to what the future course OF the war Will be,
We only conjecture. Gen. Clark DE- ,lsres that
he will prosecute the war vigorously, and he he's
himstf gone TO the scene Of action, having left
here On the 10th inst. lie cent up 800 men from
this State, and will order others TO follow in caso
there be prospect for stubborn struggle. Tho
seat of the war will BE- in Washington Territory,
east of the Columbia, where there are very Few
whites So that little injury will be done 10 the SETTLE
ments. uness other tribes join in the hoetihtses.
StePtoes defeat took place III Washington Terrific
~ about l20 miles northeast Of the junction Of tho
Columbia and Snake Rivers.
Az to the cause of the hostility the part Of the
Indians, there is some doubt, but probably il WAS
dett rminaton to resist the passage OF any whites
through their territory. They have heard that there
ia TO BE- m emigrant road land perbaps railroad,
Though they do not comprehend precisely what
railroad is) from Fort Benton 10 WallA Wans,
where the white men are to be going to and mo
road as equivalent to robbery of all their hunting
grounds and subiugatiOn Of Themselves aud their
children 10 slavery or rather as the forerunner Of
total destruction Of their tribes. In this no doubt
| they are right; and while l say the road mast DO
made cannot but admire the spirit of the red neo,
who will die rather than permit it to be made.
About the time Of Steptoes defeat in the eastern
part of Washington Territory the Chetco Indians
in South. Western Oregon were making themselves
| troublesome. The Chetcoes lately killed couple
| of whites not far from Port Oxford, and Lseat.
Ihre went out with sixty soldiers to arrest the o.
tenders. He did not succeed IN hndng tho req
men, however, and finally, suPposing the Cheteoee
had abandoned the vicinity where he was, and not
suspecting any danger. ordered three men to taAe
| sixteen pe6h mules back t. Port Oxford Soon
after leaving his camp, they were attacked oy the
| Indians who hamstrung eleven Of the mules, snd
| killed one of the men, Mr.. j. H. Baker, formerly
of Texas A few days after this occurrence, Capt.
Tichenor, Indian Agent in that district, went out
with six men and collected the whole Chetco trlee
together-about sixty persons in al-and started
| with them for the Umpqua Reservation. They
| however determined, while on the road, to return
| to their former home, and accordingly, when near
| Elizabethtown, made break" to start bach;
| but fifteen Of the "bucks" were killed, and tho
| remainder we're taken and compelled ~ go forward
Ia the Reservation. We have no detailed account
If the circumstances Of this break, but % far -
can learn the Indians were unarmed, and did
nothing cave try to get back to the hunting grounds
of their fathers One account says the killing was
done by Tichenor and party another attribstes it
10 party Of settlers in Rogue River Valley who
were determined to get rid Of the Indians ono wsy
or another.
cannot close this letter without urging the i'm
portance of having more troops sent to Oregon and
| Washington. Here is tract Of country 800 miles
| square, containing about 10000 Indians, most OF
them more or less hostile, and TO oppose them aro
| only about 800 United States troops, scattered
about at dozen different posts. In Washington
Territory alone there are 1000 Indians west Of tho
| Carcsde Mountains and as many more to the east,
and nearly all are now, or have been within the last
| two years, atwar with the whites Il 10 true 10
settlers are q hardy, brave race, we'll able 10 de-
fend themselves when they have little tune 70 pre-
pare for hostlties but it il mOst unjust TO them 70
compel them to keep themselves on war footing
constantly at their own expense, and extremely pro.
judicial to the interests Of the Territory to ffghten
away inning ANTS by leaving the settlements e1pcesd
10 the attacks Of the savsges If there had been
proper force of United States troops In Washing.
ton Territory three years ago, 90 that the Indian
war might have been prevented, the pernaespe
population on Puget Sound would now b st least
twice a. great a. it 10.