The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-11-25
The Last Indian Battle i'm washinetop
~ t1T Territory. re

The Last Indian Battle i'm Washington
ia7,I Territory.
The following is the official despatch
of Col. Wright in regard to the battle
of September 5th:
HEADegARrERs, CAMP on SpoKAs RIVER,
w. T., September 9th, 1885,
To Major W. MackaU, assistant Id
jutort General u s. Asnay.
SIR IL have the honor to submit,
the following report of the battle Of
the Spokan Indians, fought by the
. troops under my command, on the 5tb
instant. Our enemies were the Spo.
kans, the Ceur de Alenes, Pelouses
and Pend dOreilles, numbering from
five to seven hundred warriors. Leay.
ing my Camp at the " Four Lakes" at
81 A. NJ, on the 5th, our route lay
along the margin of a lake for about
three miles, and thence for two miles
over broken country thinly-- scattered
with pines, when emerging on to the
open prairie, the hostile Indians were
discovered about three miles to our
right and in advance, moving RAPIDLY
along the skirt of the woods. and an
parently with the view of Intervening
our line of march before we should
reach the timbers. After hating and
closing up our long pack train, 1 moved
forward, and soon found that the In
dians were setting fire to the grass at
various points in front and on my right
flank. Capt. Keys was now directed
to advance three of his companies.
deployed as skirmishers, to the front
and right. This order was promptly
obeyed, and Capt. Ord with Company
X, Lieut.. Gibson with Company NJ.
and Lieut. Tyler with Company A,
Third Artillery, were thrown forward.
AT the same time, Capt. Hurdle, Com
pany G, Third Artillery, was deployed
to the left, and the howitzer under
Lieut.. White. supported by Company
q, Ninth Infantry, were advanced to
the line of skirmishers. The firing now
became brisk on both sides, the Indi-
ans attacking us in front and on both
fianks. The fires on the prarie nearly
enveloped us, and were rapidly ap-
preaching our troops and the pack train.
The skirmishers, the howitzers, and
the first squadron of Dragons under
Major Grier, dashed calamity through
the roaring flames, and the Indians
were driven to seek shelter in the forest
and rocks. AS soon as. suitable DO
sition could be obtained, the howitzers
under White opened fire with shell.
The Indians were again reused from
their cover, closely pursued by our
sklrrnishers, and followed by Grier with
his squadron leading.
AT this time our pack train was con-
centrated as much as possible, and
guarded by Capt. Deut, 9th infantry,
with his Company B, Lieut.. Dawson,
1st Dragons, with his Company E,
and 1brie, Sd Artillery, with his Com.
pany B, advancing. The trail bore off
to the right, which threw Orde and
Tyler with their skirmishers to the left.
A heavy body of Indians had concen-
trated on our left, when our whole line
moved quickly for ward and. the firing
became general throughout the front,
occupied by Ord, Hardie and TYLER.
and the howitzer under White, SUP,
ported by Winder with Griog's troop of
Dragons following in rear, waitino for
a favorable opportunity to make dash.
AT the same time, Gibson, with Com
pany NJ, Sd Artillery, drove the Indians
on the right front; an open plain here
intervening, Major Grier passed the
skirmishers with his own and Lieut..
Pender's troop and charged the Indi-
ans, killing two and wounding three.
Our whole line and train advanced
steadily, driving the Indians over rocks
and through ravines. Our point of
direction having been changed to the
light, Capt. Ord found himself alone
with his company, on the extreme left
ot the skirmishers, and opposed by a
arge body of the enemy. They were
calamity charged by Capt. Ord and
driven successfully from the high table
'ocks where they had taken refuge.
Capt Ord pursued the Indians, until
approaching the train he occupied the
eft flank.
Moving forward toward the Spokan
River, the Indians still in front, Lieuts.
lbre and Howard, with Company B, Sd
Artillery, were thrown out on the right
iank, and instantly cleared the way,
md after continuous fight for seven
hours, over a distance Of IA miles, we
,ncamped on the banks of the Spokan
River-the troops exhausted by long
md fatiguing march, twenty-five miles
water, and for two-thirds of
he distance under fire. The battle
vas won, two chiefs and two brothers
# the chief Geary killed, besides many
# lesser note either killed or wounded.
Since the battle We learn that Kamia-
lin, war chief of the Y Yakimas, was
learly killed by a shell. A kind Pro-
'idence has again protected us, al
hough at many times the battle few
hick and fast through our ranks, yet
TRANCE to say we had but one man t
lightly wounded. IF
Again it affords me the highest plea !
ure to bear witness to the zeal, energy,
and perseverance displayed
Y the officers and men during this
rotracted battle. "