The Nevada Democrat., 1858-09-29

Later From Oxegon-F1ght with Indians.
By the Stea mer Northernsr, which arrived ai
the Bay last Saturday. from the COlumbia river
we have dates from Portland to Sept. 18th. By
this arrival we have intelligence Of an Indian
aght, at FOur Lakes, near the scene Of Col
Steptoe's defeat, between q detachment Of
troops under Col. Wright, and party Of hos
tile Indians numbering from 800 to 500. The
Portland Standard gives the following account
of the engagement
Col. Wright was offered battle, September Let
by a considerable force Of Indians-Spokans,
Cnur d'Alenes and Palouse near "Four Lakes -
He promptly engaged them on grounds Of their
own selection. and by series of admirable dis
positions and movements Of the several corps
under his command, swept the savages before
him.
The troops were engaged, 10 the onset and
pursuit, about five hours, with certain loss to
the enemy of seventeen killed and considera-
BILE number wounded. On our side. though tine
Indians at one time, under favorable shei!!eT'
made decided stand. and delivered hot Ore
ns our troops charged them, not single person
was slain or wounded. This singular and very
rare escape from the casualties Of war was due
as the officers engaged write. to the Goodness"
with which Colonel Wright handled his men In
the action, and to the "MiBnie and Sharp's RI
fies,n with which our men are armed, and which
are 80 superior in range and accuracy of aim
to the weapons in the hands of their foes.
From the accounts of the affair which have
reached u.s. it was singularly brilliant in detail
and incidents. The movements and dispositions
of the troops were characterized by the precis-
ion, display and circumstance" of o field day
drill
Without attempting any minute description
Of this action of the "Fonr Lakes" 1t will he of
general interest for as to state here that the
troops Immediately engaged were two squad
rons (fonr companies) Of Dragons, command
ed by Brevet Major Grier, four companies of
the Third Artillery, under Captain Keyes, and
two companies Of the Ninth Infantry, under
Captain Dent; also, a detachment of artillery,
with howitzer, commanded by Lieutenant
White, of the Third Artillery, and thirty Nez
Perces, commanded by Lieutenant John Mullan
Second Artillery.
The Indians. first engaged by Company X.
Third,Artllery under Captain Ord and Leuten-
ant Morgan, the Howitzer Department and o
squadron of Dragons, under Lieutenant David
son, were driven from hill to its base, where
they rallied under shelter of some pines at the
head Of ravine from which they were soon
dislodged by the footmen, who descended upon
them, deployed as skirmishers. The Indians
being now driven into the open ground beyond,
the Dragons, hitherto held in rear, dismount-
ed and leading their horses at the sound to
mount and charge. given by the Colonel in com
mand, were launched at the enemy, through
the intervals in the ranks of the Infantry. In
this dashing charge, four companies of Dra-
goons, in all only one hundred strong were
engaged and the scene is represented as excit-
ing and memorable. Charging CALAMITY through
the open ranks of the Infantry, the Dragons
rushed upon the Indians, who, soon taking to
fight, the hindermost were overtaken and cut
down with the sabre. The remainder fed over
the hills and sought refuge in wooded plain
beyond. This charge was kept up for more
than mile and until the horses became ex-
hausted, when the Dragons were halted. The
foot troops again came up and moved on, but
finding no enemy in sight, except an occasional
scout on remote hill top, the Colonel gave the
signal for recall-assembled his command and
marched it back TO his camp, which during the
action had been held by Company NJ, Third Ar
tillery, howitzer detachment, and guard Of
some fifty men, the whole commanded by Cap
tain Hardie. Third Artillery. The express loft
Colonel Wright enoamped on the I'd instant a:
the Four Lakes, some seventy-seven miles be-
yond Snake river, where 1t Is probable that he
will remain several days, to refresh his men and
animals.
1t is thought from signs that the enemy will
again take heart and measure strength with
our troops, either on this same ground, or some
fifteen miles beyond, at the Spokan river.