The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-16
LATER FROM OREGON.
CONFIRMATION OFCOL STEPTOBS DEFEAT
THE INDIAN WAR.

/ II
killed, and one missing; and had nineteen wounded.
Among the killed are Capt o. II. P. Taylor and
Lieut.. VIM. CASTOR. The Oregonian says:-We
are led to believe that Col. Steptoe decoyed
into position by the cunning treachery of kamai-
KIN, and the duplcity of friendly indians, IN whom
the officers of the regular army placed entirely too
much confidence, where it was impossible to eXtri-
| cate himself The attack was evidently unexpected
! by Col. Steptoe, and the disastrous consequences,
the result of well arranged stampede assault, by
| which the animals attached to the howitzers, am
! able.
On the 9th inst Col Steptoc. with c, and H.
companies LIST Dragons, and twenty-five men of
9th Infantry, with two mountain howitzers left
lort aIla-W ALA for Colve. Inc o W OF the
command We're Col. Steptoc, Capts. Winder and
! Taylor, Leuts. Wheeler, Fleming, Castor, and
Gregg. After marching eight days we reached the
Pioneer river, and were about passing into the Spo-
kan country, when we were informed by Indians
! that the Spokans would resist our entrance into
their country. The Spokans have always been
regarded as friendly to the whites, and when We
| lett Nalia-Walla, no one 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. believing this, our march
was continued until about IL 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 a talk in which the Spokans
announced that they had heard we had gone out
was the case, they were ready to light US, and that
we should not cross the Spokan river. The In
dams were we'll mounted, principally armed
with rifles, and were extended along our flank at
the distance of hundred yards After some
| talk the Colonel told should have to fight,
and we Immediately put ourselves into position to
move to better ground determined that the Spo-
kans should fire the first gun. After marching
mile we reached sheet of water-it was decided
to encamp and hold another talk with the Indians
Nothing resulted from this except the most nso-
lent demonstrations on their part. We dared not
dlSmount, and were kept in the saddle three hours,
until the setting of the sun dispersed the Indians.
On Monday morning we left our camp to return
! to the Palouse, marching in the following order
II company in advance, G in the centre, with the
packs and in rear. At O'Clock the Indians ap-
pcared in great numbers about the rear of the col
| umn, and just as the advance crossing small
| stream they began firing. In twenty minutes the
fire became continuous. Seeing that we must fight
and that the action must become general was or
dered to move forward and occupy hill that the
| Indians were making for, and from which they
| would have close fire upon the head of the col
| umn After close race gained the hill in adj
vance, on seeing which the Indians moved around
and took possession of one commanding that which
! occupied Leaving few to defend the first
and drove them off.
At this time the action was general: the three
! companies, numbering in all about 10 men, were
warmly engaged with five hundred Indians The
| companies were separated, from each other nearly
|
| short charges. AT II O'Clock was reinforced by
| the howitzers, and the two companies began to
move towards the position held the Indians press
! ING close upon them. As company was an
| preaching, large body of Indians cot between il
and my company, so that having it between two
hres, they could wipe it out at once. CASTOR see
! ing this, moved quickly toward 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 right angle in which
angle we left twelve dead Indians. After retsinp
together, we kept up the fight for half hour and
again started to reach the water, moving half a
mile under constant and raking fire. under which
our comrades, Taylor and CASTOR, fell. We finally
reached hill near the water, and occupied the
summit. and the Indians having now complelv sur
rounded it, we dismounted and picketcd our horses
close together on the centre of the fat inclined sum
mt, and posted our men around the crest, making
them lie Hat to the ground as the Indians were so
close, and so daring to attempt to charge the HILL
but, although outnumberng eight to one, they
could not succeed.
Towards evening ammunition began to give
OUT, and the men suffering so much from thirst and
fatigue required all our attention to keep them up
TO move from one 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 whist
ling of the balls and arrows
We were kept in this position until s p. NJ, when
as night set n it became apparent that on the NOR
row we must 90 under, and that not one of us would
escape. 1t was plain that, nearly destitute of am
munIton, we were completely surrounded by six or
elght hundred Indians, and the most of these on
points which we must pass to get away. Therefore
1t was determined to the gauntlet. so that if
possible, some might escape. Abandoning every
thing we mounted and left the hill at o o'clock and
after ride of nearly ninety miles, mostly a
gallon and without rest, reached Snake River at
Red W off crossing the next evening, and were met
by our friends, the Nez Perccs.
We had two officers. five men aud three fl icndIv
Indians Killed; ten men acknowledgements Ball, of
IL Company, missing. The sergeant had distin-
suished himself very much during the action, and
we all hope he will yet come in.
Capt. Taylorwas shot through the neck, 1t. Gas !
ton through the body; they both fell fighting gal
lantly. The companies fought bravey, like true |
men. We brought our horses back in good condi |
ton, except about thirty, which shot through
the fight.
The Indians made no captures. Before the battle |
was near over, the Indians picked up nine of their
dead; and how many of them were killed is not |
known, but counted fifteen They acknowledge
having forty wounded.
twill take Il thousand men to go into the Spokan
country.
We also append extracts from an interesting
private letter, received in this city from of Col
SrEProEs command, who participated in the exct-
ing battle Il Eds. Ecchongc.)
Fort WALLA-WALLA, W.T.,
JUNE I'd, 1858.
A command left this post on May 9th, consisting
OF portions OF three dragon companies and twenty
1--WE of the infantry making in all eight officers and
one hundred and ffty-two men. We moved in
northery direction towards Colville, passing
through the NeZ Perez, Pelouse. and Spokane coun-
fles- For ten days the march without incident
OF note, and scarce Indian had we seen, except
lew friendly ones had marched about one hun
dred and fifty miles, and to within twenty rifles of
the Spokane river, in the country of the same
name, when suddenly, the 10th, we found
selves opposed by a body of Indians, painted and
dressed for war, bows strung and guns loaded. At
ilrst sight with my glass could count but seventy;
IN lew seconds as if by magic, the moment
one or two rode up to talk, they appeared all
around us, some 500 and in half an hour from 1000
TO l2OO; the Indians here say 1900, which may be
true. talk was had, and they were determined ;
on iighting. Evidently large combination had
oeeh formed and our movements watched, await
ing our arrival at this place where they had the
pest position. They were painted and dressed in ,
e most fantastic and savage style, and their horses
were painted and dressed likewise. We formed for
defence and marched two miles or more to water
lhe Indians charging around us, yelling whooping
ana shaking scalps and such things over their heads
lo1klhg ike so many tends. Our little band
oehaVed nobly and kept cool; waiting for them to
take the initiative, though they dashed up, to :
our lines, without doing anything. however, except
Yelling This began at about u NJ, and continued
l.tii ABOUT /. NJ, when dusk coming on, they
Withdrew This was Sunday, and Monday
morning we were up at O'Clock, and started to a
'euace our steps, as it would have been madness t
% go on. At first, not Indian to be seen, q
'ut shortly after we started, they were seen in
masses, following, and getting our fianks.- p
They began the performances of the previous Q
Jay, keeping at greater distance, and some
INES frn% into the air. | was soon convinced
lad to hight. In short time they fired into our l
ear guard, and in few minutes more the fight be-
anne general; the scene beggars description-One !
thousand of these Infatuated devils, painted and F
rGssed as have said, charging in all directions,
cling and whooping, and firing They
ought WELL but we moved on and got good posi-
ION on NIL. For six hours the firing was hot and
eavy; 1t then abated but continued until dark; it
egan at A. NJ, and lasted near twelve hours I
'ur loss was great for numbers, though consid
the force opposed to us, and the length of the
mar, we were fortunate. Olive company officers, 81
We lost two Poor Capt TAYLOR and Lieut. CASTOR q
ell dong their duty nobly the former received two Il
lOral wounds and was hnrind ON the teld the lat M