The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-30


mile deep they flying around their fleet ponies
thick and lively like the contents Of half dozen ant
hills suddenly invaded The dragons had followed the
Indian advance down the HILL and skirmishing
there and awaiting the arrival Of the foot Az as
Col Wright the ground he ordered the foot to de.
poy in line and move down the hill and attack and
when the proper time came as the enemy started, the
dragons TO charge. II was as pretty view OF
fight almost open ground as expect to have. The
artillery and infantry pushed ahead, except Capt
Ords company, which ordered by Col Wright to re-
main in the train on the hill The Indians were all
mounted feet fresh horses they kept the dagoons
busy whose horses were just from long journey, till
the line of foot composed Sd artillery under the gal
liant Capt Keyes and 9Th infantry, under Dent got
down the hill, and passed the Dragons Then they
let the Indians have their long range MINES.
These sooh told first, few, and then several,
reelcd and fell, and then they began to break
and fly. Now the long -looked-for word TO
the dragoons-Caarge from Major Grier and such a
race Away went the frightened Indians from pines and
gens and open plain streaking ii up long range OF
hills mile two to the northeast On the top of this
they made short stand, for the dmgoon horses were
blown and could only oyertake few The foot formed
line again and alone trudged up the face Of that long
hill, with howizer Now they gave them few shots
and, without waiting for good range, the Indians fed
singly and in deachments. For miles they could be
gallopng for dear lfe At this juncture small
body of the Nez Perces who had joined us at Snake river
were after them. These allies of ours guess, from
what / hear,) brought back some scalps. But apart
from that, when begrimed and sweaty fellows
marched down that long hill to form column and
go into camp, and had chance to compare notes,
we found that about thirty five forty Of the en-
envy had been wounded and seventeen killeda pretty
good four hours work. believe it has destroyed any
prestige these fellows may think they gained by driving
in Stcptoes small party. Col Wright intends to keep
the ball moving His coolncss, skill and bravery In the
management of his command deserving of all praise
He and his gallant officers Grier Ord keyes and Others
deserve brevets. Col Wrghts command is the first one
armed with Sharpes and Minies guns Witness the re-
Il Al,ntf
of the enemy and not of hurt tell you the In
dams astonished when fellows perched them of
at four and five hundred yards They wont let single
approach than half mile. Col. w. and
all the officers deserve credit for the goahead way In
which both the marches and fight were managed. We
came out with determination to punish these people,
and we mean to keep doing It,
OFFICIAL, REPORT OF CAPTAIN f. d. KEYES. "
Captain E. D. Keyes commanding third artillery, ad-
dressed the following official report to the acting adju-
tapt general
.....,. .... ..lr-&a. CAMP AT TIE Four LAKES,
Washington Territory, Sept l, 1858.
SIR In obedience to the orders of Colonel Wright,
have the honor to submit the following report Of the
operations of the battalion of the third artillery under
my command in the battle of this date with the hostile
Spokanes, Occur d Alene and Peluuse Indians
My battalion is composed of five companies, "a, b, q,
X, and NJ armed infantry, and detachment OF
twenty men of company acting artilleriss, with
morning l3 officers and 325 enlisted men.
OF my battalion Capt j. A. Harde, the field Office OF
the day. Lieut. II. b. Lyon, the officer of the guard
Iieuts H. G. Gibson and G. B. Dandy, with Nj company,
and howitzer of the artillery left to guard the
camp and train With the main body left the camp at
% o'clock, m and, after marching in column about
two miles, ordered by Colonel Wright to detach
company to cooperate with the dagoons and drive oil
about forty Indians posted the top of high Hill to
left This done in gallant style by Capt Ord and
Lieut.. M. r. Morgan, in command of company
On reaching the crest of the hl the whole force OF
the enemy, numbering from 400 to 500 mounted war
rios spread the plains below, and on the
slope of the hills .s.aa y ~-.#t -r
by direction of Colonel Wright, Immediately ordered
forward the mountain -howzer detachment under Lieut..
j. L. White supported by company A, deployed skir
mshers under Lieut.. r. o. Tyler. / ordered Lieut. G.
p Ihre assisted by Lieut. James Howard to deploy his
company to the left of Lieut.. White and Lieut. Ran
to deploy company on the left of the line Capt
Ord ordered to assemble his company on the hill,
and hold il in reserve this order the battalion moved
brsy down the long slope passed the dragons under
Major Grier and opened fire steady and well direct
cd that the hitherto untamed audacity of the savages
began shortly to be disturbed Large numbers OF them
took refuge in the woods at the foot of the hill upon
which White Tyler, and the rifles bearing down,
and where the combat soon became very warm. For a
short time appearances in that quarter gave some
anxiety, but the attack spirited that the enemy
shortly began to stream out OF the woods and up the hills
beyond. "a.'r..'
As our line moved down toward the plain considerable
numbers OF the enemy made off to the left but company
q, under Lieut. Ransom, pressed down upon them, and
after after short engagement sent them flying over the
plain Lieut.. Ransom thus necessarily retarded,
end it was not till the close of the engagement
that his company could be brought up to its position i'm
line. ..r.. .... .a.a
After we had driven the Indians distance into the
plains and they making for and up the hills in great
numbers the dragons passed through intervals and
charged among them in style which excited the most
intense admiration. We were of course, obliged to s,is
pend fire for time, but pressed forward the
line with all possible speed and half way up the high
hill passed the dragons again. whose horses were
the had fallen to the from exhaustion that
ordered short halt for the straggers to up. As
the majority had joined, ordered the line to
forward to the top Of the high range of hills from
which we could far the country beyond. Very
few of the enemy visible they having found shelter
in the woods and ravnes beyond reach group of
twelve or fifteen, however, standing about
eight hundred yards beyond Lieut. Whites detachment.
He fired shell in that direction, which, bursting short
distance directly their heads, sent them down the
ayine and out of sight .aE@ @N. E.
After keeping my battalion short time the hill by
order Of Col Wright the recall sounded and
turned to camp, from which were absent only four
hours. sa. K .a saa ..s0s,. EH} Z. fg#
The galIantry of the officers and men admirable,
and among the officers ii uniform that will not
attempt to discriminate The positions of some of the
officers brought their Conduct into special notice. and in
this connection must mention Ieutenans White Tyler,
and Ihrie. Captain Ord ordered first to engage the
enemy but being in the reserve did not communicate
with him afterwards till the recall had been sounded
The activity and intelligence displayed by Lieut.. Law
renee Kip adjutant of the battalion in transmitting my
orders to all parts of the no most commcndable
1t affords the highest pleasure to state that not