Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1858-08-07
The New Indian War In Oregon The D..
feat OF Col. Ste ptos . q ,mmsnd

Nhf anu w deltal OF toi' ol'P'oss N""""""
than we haye seen elsewhere we therefore
cory, 10 follows
The torch Of wsf /. again lighted, Ia burn,
Y fear more dercey and longer Than ever be-
fore on this coast and il will require all the
lorres at the disposal OF the commanding gen
eml To enable us 10 meet Il on anything like
equal terms with the enemy.
Some weeks since BTevei Lieut., Col, Step
ioe. MAJOR 9lh Infantry, aud commanding Fort
Walla Walln. set out with a company al
100 men-ihree dmeoOn companies aud %
infantry men, with two hOwliker--on mn eN'
pcdiion into the country east OF Snake river
occupied BY. the Pilonss, Spokan and Cgnr
dAlene tribes of Indians. Not anticipating
any opposition. he took but forty rounds oil
ammunition apiece and left the dragons sa.
bres, they being armed merely with pistols and
( muskeiodns. Amer crossing Snake river he
was met by messengers from the above men,
toned tribes, bearing ih'ir protest against the
/ command passing through their country, anu
notifying him that, should he persist, they
would attack him. Upon this Col. Siep'o'
despatched an express 10 the lcft Win orders
for Cant. Dent, with 65 men, and provisions
10 march TO the crossing oi Snake river, ior
the purpose Of guarding il against the enemy;
himself continued his march into 'he'fcso'a'
den country.
On the third day he encountered horde Of
about $40 Inlinns, armed, painted, yelling,
and eager for fight. Tie Colonel held II
council with them and attempted 10 conclIlaic
them by explaining that his intentions were
entirely pacific, his only motive for entering
country being desire 10 see il. This did not
satisfy them, and as it appears. nothing but
fight would satisfy them. They had got their
dand up. and fight they must. The Indians
had laid a snare for the troops in nvine,
from which, had they gotten into 1t no, man
would have escaped From the excitement
prevailing among them, and their eagerncSs TO
FIGHT, the Colonel suspected something OF the
kind, and therefore iuraed aside, and marching
a short distance encamped-the whole horde
of savases moving along parallel 10 his COM
mand, apparently unwilling to take the inlia-
tive, but ready to begin the attack even upon
! the accidental discharge Of pistol. During
the mint Col. Siepioe, taking INTO consi l9fi-
ton the overwhelming disparity OF numberS'
and other Disadvantages, concluded to retreat
Early the next morning the retrograde move.
ment began. The troops had not marched
more Than threl hours, ere the Indians began
the action by attacking the fear guard, COM
manded by Lieutenant Gastonio oil the drngoons'
The 6rht soon became general. The savagess
fought with courage and daring unparalleled
in the history Of Indian warfare. Tney were
met by equal bravery IN the p,rt of the. mere
handful of troops opposed to them. In one
lplace, where the dragoons-ied by Ihenis.
! Gregg and CASTOR charged; twelve dtad lndi-
aus were found. The howizers, placed in po-
si,ion, did much execution, but the Indians
managed to keep we'll ont Of their rhnge' the
principle part Of the fighting deSol we'd, conse'
ouentIy, upon de Dragons In nnn'hcr
charge, made BY Lieu'. CASTOR with bis com
pany he was kin H. At his fall, the Indians,
/ in return, charged his men and drove ihen
headluhg down hill, and Col Stepoc and
Leu; Gregg were unable, ty the most s.'enn-
Gus efforts, to rally them to recover Lieut.. Gas.
tons BODY, which @ts borne of by the savages.
i Breve, Cnpt. Taylcf, lst Dragons, was also
killed. Both he and G ,ston fought with the
greatest galan.ry, and fell herocnliy at the
! head of their men. Lieut.. CASTOR is said TO
hay, killed ten men with his own hand before
he fell.
The battle lasted unll night, when the lndl-
! ms drew off, not beaten however. l'appeara
10 be q practice with these Indians not to fight
at night OF the troops, the loss was SIX men
and two Off ers killed, aud fourteen men
wounded. Three friendly Indians were killed.
! Ga examination it was found that three-tonr'hs
of The ammunition OF the command had oeeh
extended, leaving not enough for the remo'est
Ibope of sustaining an action the next day.
After consultation, a nigh retrea! was detiuea
upon as the ouly means Of securing the salriy
of the eomfttand. Abandoning 'everythng bnt
actual instessaties they marched eghty-hse
I miles without haiting, and got possession OF
the canoes at the crossing Of the rlver, BE,
fore the enemy reached there, they managed
TO Mace the r,v.r between themselves and the
Indians. and were safe. Here the command
was met by Capt Dent, with provisions.
This demonstration on the part OF the lnd',
ans IS but the confinement OF 4 long and
: serious war. News Of the aflalf has not We
reasbe,. the Depaftin Headquarters. Wher
{ il does the General will presume, put all bis
available force In motion for Fort DalleS, to be
placed undef command Of Col. Wright with
view to d cuinpaign against the enemy.
This is what Should he dohe; ITO mercy shoult
be shown these Indians. Their attack tpor
Col. Steptoe was wholly unprovoked, AMI the!
should be sevRrely punished for it,. That there
: will be a severe lsar,periiaps cruel dne; Their
is not doubt-oppdrtun enough, too, 70
ardent young soldiers TO win lqurels.. Their
;, are, too, the deaths of two gallant and beloved
: brothers TO be avenged aiid, rest assdted
should the chance ever occur, twill be vel
done.
FIRST BALE OF New CorToS.-The tlrs
! bale of the new crop was received yeslerda,il
from the plantation Of Mr. A. NJ. Campoel,
consigned to Messers. McMahan u Gilbert.
: sample was retained here, and the bale lorwar
ded TO New Orleans, where it will doubtessp
I. the sbanner'' bale. Some OF our cotton factor