The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-29
The Indiaa War In Oregon

The following is an extract from letter
of Colonel SrErroE, dated at Walla Wala,
May 81:
left this fort (Walla Walla) on the | 9th,
with tee command mentioned above (l52
men) TO visit Colvillc, o white settlement
near the British line, ani about two hum
dred miles distant, The object Of my visit
was to talk with the white people and In-
dians, and try 70 effect more harmonious
intercourse between them. Two deep. strong
rivers--the Snake and the Spokane had to
be crossed. succeeded In crossing the first
with great difficulty, and when near the 9th.
er suddenly found myself in the presence of
moe than thousand Indians, oil armed,
painted and highly excited. They demand
swered that we were friends TO oil who were
friendly, and did not wish 10 fight il 1t could
be avoided The expressed themselves sat
isfied, but posted themselves on the summit
Of three hills, around which the base Of our
road wound. Never suspecting treachcry,
] was on the point oi entering the defle,
when mere accident excited my suspicion
and turned aside. There is no doubt in
my mind now that II we had gone on not
Que would have lived TO see the morrow
There halted and encamped, but the baf
fled savagcs glared upon US, hesitating to
attack. and We remained thus in bali hos
tile attitude till near sunset. The mcrest
trifle would have been sufficient TO precipi.
tate either party upon the other.
The mex, morning / resumed the march, but
had only gone two or three miles when the
Indians attacked the rear guard, and imme.
dia,ely the fight became general We Ia.
bored under the disadvantage Of having TO
fight while moving on, and ia the midst Of
a country Of successive bills, favorable
TO the enemy. My force was all monnt.
ed, but composed chiefly Of troops who had
never before been under fire. About twelve
O'Clock. the commander Of one force tell.
and, the Indians charging iercly upon his
men, they gave way and could not be raj
lied. soon after. another company
commander fell, and some Of the brayest
petty officers in the command were severely
wounded. determined therefore, 10 take
q position aud halt The fight continued
without ntermission, until short time be-
fore sunset, when the enemy posted them.
selves oil around us ~ wait for the night and
Tor reinforcements. We knew that tso hun
dred or three hundred more would join them
before morning but our ammunition was
nearly exhausted, 0ur loss in killed aDd
wounded very considerable II was evident
that we could not fght anotbsr day.
Jbese CONSIDERATIONS determined me 10
make forced march and get possession Of
the canoes in which W. had crossed Snake
river betor" The enemy could do 20. PAIN
fol a. the step was, saw there was 10 other
alternative. We could 30, remain where
We we're, aud SLOW march would be fully
a. disastrous for. II the enemy ssized upon
the canoes our situation wogd be w0rse
than ever. For there rssons ! put the
command in motion, about tn O'Clock at
night, and did not ,top until W. reach.d the
river. pesry ninety mIIes IN.
This war has bern maturing tor sOme
time. bot il coad have beaten the emmy
a, the start, all future difficulty might have
BEEN prevented, a. II il. fear that many
lives xill b. Io~t before a satisfactory Sd.
i1simeut can b. arrived al The saysgts
appear TO have been excited by rumors that
the govanmfnt IDDDds 10 take p,~assson