Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-24
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

ing the military affairs Of the Pacific side we
place great confidence indeed. His sugges-
items deserve to be duly needed by the Govern
ment:
FORT VANCOUVER, w t June 5, 1859.
Editor Of the WGShTHgtOu Star:
Enclosed send you copy of letter from an
omcer whose bravery and GOODNESS no doubt eX-
lists therefore his statements entitled to full
confidence
Reports of painful character have reached us
here from sources which seem to place them be-
yond doubt, viz, that the command went out
from Walla Walla with only forty rounds Of am
mnniton and the Dragons disarmed OF their
sabres, being armed as mounted rifemen.
rms meagTe supply NAV account for the eN-
hauStiOn of ammunition and the absence of sabTes
and bayonets, for the impotence and daring OF
the Indians and defeat Of our troops Great blame
rests on some one if this is true.
Col. stePtOe is cOnfessedly brave, ch,valric
and meTitOrious officer, and doubtless did ali
that could be done under the circumstances. IL
was l-fouI int battle, and 4 well conducted
retreat. The only matter OF surp-iSe is that he
was not pursued and entirely cut off
The loss Of the indians must have been so
great that their victory was to tLem a defeat.
Friendly Indians bring in the report that Spal-
lat kan, the head war chief OF the SpOkans, was
killed early in the action. Hence his people
fought desperately To avenge his death.
This may be the opening of the ball. ard anO-
e. Ind an war may be upon our hands, perhaps
Il II Gums. Ia confederation.
The Pelause, Sp0kdns, FlatheadS and some
other tribes are understood to he much opposed
10 the opening of the road from Fort Hall to olt
Benton (Which would pass through their Coun-
tTy) ana intend resisting it A party under
Lieut. Mullen were on the eve ~ setting out on
that service when we heard of the fight Very
probably Col. SteptOes expedition saved il from
destruction.
might say something about our Indian policy
(or imPoicy) on this coast; the failure to ratify
and carry out promptly treaties negotiated with
them; the holding of Z" pow vows" and the
from hostile DIS n ia
ties found with arms in their hands, and ready
to give battle, by taking them into favor, feeding
fattenin@, and panPering, instead OF thrashing
them into quiet and uGjrctICn While those who
have remained all the time al peace are permit:r,.
to roam ~ large over the country, unnoticeC,
unprotected, and unCared for, to live IA they can
or perish as they must Perhaps that syupaihV
which extends to the policy OF civilizin9 the In
dams by giving them plenty Of disc; d.
- WHISKY is speedily and tifectually doin9 its
mission on this doonled rnrs But Won have at
hand the ADLER delegates from those two Ter
ritorie., who are familiar with all the details OF
our Indian relations on this coast-hear We them,
NAvAL.-The l. s. sloop-of-war Arctic ar
rived here this morning from Key West. whence
she had pleasant run. She left the Wabash
Colorado. Constellation, Macedonian and Sara
tOga at Key West. In the fleet the health is
generally good The Arctic brings homo Sur
geon Lockwood who was transferred from the
Constellation, Passed Assistant Surgeon IIud-
son being transferred from the Arctic to the
Constellation. The following is list of the
officers returned in the Arctic.
Commander, Ii J HartStenc Licutcnants.
J. II. McMullaney, II. NJ Garland f. 7
McCrca Surgeon, J. 4. Lockwood; 1st As
+istaut Engineer, A C. Sinners ID do, }. S.
Albert ID. do, F T. Brown
Lieut. }. Il. Hamilton, late of the Saratoga,
came on as passenger
The United States storeshir Supply, whose
arrival at New York we mentioned yesterday
sailed from Rio lie Janeiro on the llth of June
She had fine run up to the equator, (Which
she crossed on the 9th and as far North as %
degrees, after which time she experienced light
winds and Gains. The following is a list of her
officers
Andrew T. V. Gray, Lieut.. Commanding;
Lieutenants, Aaron h Hughes, John KelI, JOS
ID. Blake, James H. ellis Passed Assistant
Surgeon. Phneas j. HOrmitz Captains Clerk,
VIM. j Bennett Passengers-Purser Samuel
Forrest Andrew J Mccartney.
TRc0Ps FOR OREGON.-The Government at
this point is evidently bending every nerve 20
prevent general Indian war in Oregon by
Fastening the proper reinforcement to the troops
at present there.
The following extract from the New York
J0"TRdl Of COntmsrcr of the day before yes
terday explains the circumstances of their de
parture
Troops FOR OREGON The largest detach-
nPnt of army recruits which have left the Al
ianic seah"tId for the PaCi ic for sevP al year,
departed Inm New bO,k Oh " rdue>day an
board tue steamship st Lonis, for ASpInWall,
under thu command Of Captain A Smith of
: Ia" 1T DRAGONS They are dispatched 70 rplirv-
Foft Walia Walla with special reference to the
assistance of Col SteptOe. There were
From CARLISLE Barrack. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $50
r rom Governor Island ....................l Il
From Newport BIrrhrk, ky............ -
From Fort Monroe, Na........ ............. II
rom Albany. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Total. Observation-Disclosures. Az
pt these there are of the mounted seTvict..-. III
Leaving for g"neral-Service meu............. pa
The names of the officers in charge of this de-
taCLment a. follows:
Captain AIdirw J Smith, LIST Dragons Coal
handing.
Assistant surgeon Thomas \ McPaslin; rs
si-tant surgeon J. fl. BrInan Surgeon C. Nc
C"Fmick. Medical Department
Brevet Major James h. Carleton, captain Ist
dragons.
Capt Henry d Waller, 4lh infantry.
Capt. Edmund Underwood. 4th infantry
Capt Thomas c. English, 9th infantry
LIST Lat. John G.. Bonnyca>te. 4th Infantry
list 1T. Lyma" BIucil 9th infantry
LIST IL. Robert Johnston, LIST Dragons
lst 1t. \ Il SweitZer, LIST dra sOons
LIST 1t. r. b Rogers, 3D. dragons
lSt 1t. CEaS K. Woods. oh dragons
lat IL. RoineSn Ayrcs, Sd artillery
I'd 1t Robert ii Anderson. 9th artillery
ri Lit Paul }. ttudttiebaum, OH artillery
ID Lit Edward ii. Conner, 18th infantry
ID 1t. Marcus A. Reno, LIST drag oOns
DIR. Mccormick and family mot on dutv) also
acc0mpanis the detachment. Their destination
Is Vancouver, W. II. These ttoops 20 out pro-
vided with GOO OF Sharpe's carbiues and q larps
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