Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-07-16
defeat of Col. steptoe Confirmed.

From the Oregon Weekly Times OF May ~, we nave
sad confirmation of the complete defeat OF Col Steptoe
F details are oiyen in the following letter from Off
Ger engaged in the conflict and published III the weekly
Times. It is dated May %, and reads as follows;
On the 9th inst Col. SteptOe, with c. and Ii com
pares of LIST Dragons and 10 men OF y'1 WIN
two mountain h0witzers left Fl. Wala w ALA for Col
Vile The officers of the command were Col Steptoe,
Captains Winder and Taylor, IAeutenants Wheeler,
Fleming Gatson and Gregg. After marching eight
dovs we reached the Peouse river and were about pas
sing into the Spokan country, when were informed by
Indians that the SpOkans would resist entrance into
their country The Spokans have always been regarded
as friendly to the whites and when we left Waa Wala,
thought OF having an encounter with them or any
other Indians on the march.
On Sunday morning, the 10TH on leaving camp, we
were told that the Spokans had assembled, and were
ready to fight u.s. Not believing this our march was
continued until about eleven O'Clock, when we found
ourselves IN the presence OF SIX hundred warriors IN war
costume The command was halted for the purpose Of
having talk, in which the Spokans announced that
they had heard had gone out for the purpose of wpng
them out and if that the CASE they ready to
fight u.s. and that should not the SpOkan river
The Indians were well mounted principally armed with
rifles and extended along flank at the distance
of hundred yards After some talk the Colonel told
us that would have to fight and Immediately put
ourselves in position to to better ground, deter
mined that the SpOkans should fire the first gun After
marching mile we reached a sheet of water-it was
decided to encamp and hold another talk with the Indi
ans. Nothing resulted from this except the most insult
ing demonstrations on their part. We dared not dis
mount and kept in the saddle three hours until the
setting of the sun dispersed the Indians.
On Monday morning we left camp to return to the
Pelouse, marching in the following order II company
in advance, in the centre with the packs, and in
At O'Clock, the Indians appeared in great num-
ber about the of the column and just the advance
was crossing small stream they began firing. In twenty
minutes the firing became continuous. Seeing that we
must fight and that the action must become general
ordered to forward and occupy hill that the
Indians were making for, and upon which they would
have close fire upon the head Of the column After
close race gained the hill in advance on seeing which
the Indians moved around and took possession of
commanding that which [ occupied. Leaving few
men to defend the first hill and deploying my men, |
charged the second and drove them off.
At this time the action was general the three COM
panies, numbering in all about Ito men, were warmly
engaged with 500 Indians The companies were sepa-
rated from each other nearly thousand yards and fought
entirely by making short charges At eleven O'Clock
reinforced by the howizers, and the two companies
began to towards the position held, the Indians
pressing closely upon them. AS r company APP
preaching large body of Indians got between it and
my company, so that having it between two fires they
could wipe it out at once Castor perceivng this moved
quickly towards me- having the Indians in his 'front.' and
when near enough and saw he was about to charge,
charged with II company. The result was that our
companies met, having the Indians in a rightange in
which angle we left twelve dead Indians.
After getting together, kept up the fight for half
anhou and again started reach the water moving half
mile under constant and rakng fire, under which
comrades Taylor and Castor fell We finally reached
hill near the water, and occupied the summit and the
Indians now completely surrounded it, dismounted
and pckeed horses close together the centre Of the
fiat inclined summit and posted our around the crest
making them lie fiat the ground the Indians were
so close and so daring as to attempt to charge up the
hill, but, although outnumbering eight to One they
could not succeed.
Towards evening, our ammunition began to give out
and our men, suffering much from thirst and fatigue
required all our attention to keep them up To move
from point to another we had to crawl on our hands
and knees, amid the bowling of the Indians the groans
of the dying and the whistling of balls and
We were kept In this position until O'Clock, P. M.
when, as night on it became apparent that the
morrow we must go UNDER, and that not of us
would escape. 1t was plain that, nearly destitute OF
ammunition we were completely surrounded by six or
eight hundred Indians and the most Of these points
which must pass to get away. Therefore, it de-
termined to the gauntlet, that ii possible, some
might escape Abandoning everything, we mounted and
left the hill at o'clock and after ride of ninety miles
mostly at galOp, and without rest, reached Snake
river at Red Wolf Crossing the next evening" and
met by friends the Nez Perces. We had two off
GERS, five and three friendly Indians killed. and ter
men wounded Sergeant Hall, of II company, missing
The Sergeant distinguished himself very much during
the action, and we all hope he will yet come in
Capt Taylor was shot through the neck, and Lieut.
CASTOR through the body; they both fell fighting gal
lanty. The companies fought bravey, like true men
We brought our horses back in good condition, eXcep
about thirty which shot during the fight The In
dians made no captures. Before The battle was nea
over, the Indians picked up nine of their dead how
many of them were killed is not known, but can coun
fifteen. They acknowledged having forty wounded.
1t will take thousand men to go into the Spokal
country.