The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-22
The Indian War In Oregon -Omcsai Repors
OF Colonel sssptssss


cordnsy on the 18TH lett with companies snd
II, First Dragons, end L, Ninth inantry-n ALL Ave com-
psbies, omcers, and LOB enlisted Hearing tbAs the
hostile Paouse were near Al pow-os we, In the Nez
Perces land moved to aa POM ferred a,ross
Snake river by Timothy, Sez Percos chief The enemy
fed towards the north and followed leisurey on the
road to Colvle. On Sunday morning, the i6th when
near the TO hots MINNIE, in the Spokane country
we found ourselves suddenly in the presence Of
len or twelve hundred IndiAas OF various tribes
spoksnes, Psouse, Occur a'A,eues, Yakemas, and
soms others-Nl armed, painted and defiant
moved slowly until just about TO enter ravine
hat wound along the bases Of several bills which
all crowned by the excited savages Perceiviog that
their purpose To attack AS IN this dangerous place,
turned aside and encsmped the whole WHO, eDzer N 49,
gpAraIeit to and by yes 'anots and menacs @p
parepty trying 70 Drive us b some ipasors act oil VIC
eLce towards night number OF cnels rode up 10 eAlx
shh me- and Inquirer what we're our mJ0ves 70 ms IN
rusiop upon them. ADS wered ue we're passing on 70
CCville and had hostile Intentions owatds the 5po
kapes, who had always been our fr'ends nor to rsrcs
any other tribes who we're friendly thai my caef aim 10
coming far TO hs Indians aud the whe people
Culve and ny friaDdy discussion with both endssvor
TO strengthen their good feelings for each other They
expressed themselves satisfied but would not conseot To
he. ne have CANOES, wthou, which would oe impossible
| 10 cross the Spokane river. concluded for this
reason 10 reirsce my steps az once, snd toe mex
Dot marched three miles chen the Indians who had
gathered the hills adjoining the line Of march began
attack upon the rear guard and daey the hgn, ne
OF baviIg defend the pack train while 10 notion and u
rolling country peculiarly avo. able 70 the adian mode
warfare We bad only small quantity Of am nuntou,
but IN their excitement the soldiers would not DC RESTRAIN
ed from firing IL In the widest manner. They did, how
under the leading of their respective comm aoders
sustsir well the reputation Of the tor some nours
charging the enemy repeatedly with gala0try Aud
The dlout and dangerous duty of dsuking the
column ned TO brevet Captain ray lor AM Lieu.
CASTOR TO both o! whom proved fatal Toe after fell
eoout twelve O'Clock, and the enemy soon after
charging formally upon his company, il fell bsck
I'm COps lon Ia
half hour after this Captain Taylor brought IN
tally wounded, upon which TN Dedatey took possession
or lent height and halted rne hgnt continued
here with unsbsted activity the Indians occupying neigh
boring heights AUD working themselves along TO ocS of
our men. The wounded Increased In number continually
rSce the enemy gave upmstakebe evidence Of design
position by assault their number and dee
quences TO US from such an attempt ON their part vas
manifest that the loss of their officers and comrades be
tell upon the spirit or the soldiers that they
becoming discouraged not to DO relied upon with
AdeDce Some Of them recruits but recently joined
| Two Of the companies had musketoops which we're
tery worthless In present condition. and what
| most alWmpg only two three rounds OF
| ricges renamed to some Of the men, and bu. few
70 any Of them. 1t plain thai tho enemy
would give the troops rest during tbs night, and
they would be st further disqualified tor stout resistance
on the morrow, while the number Of enemies would GER
,aBly be increased determined for these reasons 70
nske forced march 70 Suake river about eighty five
nDes distant, and the in advance OF
lnoiaus who hs3 already threatened TO do the In
regard ~ After consulting with the oicers-a OF
whom urged me 10 the step "a the ony means In their
|
cluded TO abandon everything that might impede our
march. Accordingly set out about ten O'clock In per
fecsy good order leaving the disabled animals and such
not in condition TO travel far and FAST and
with deep Isp have 70 add, the no ~itzers The
necessity for this last measure will give you, we'll
many words conception Of the strait 10 which 40 be
neved ourselves TO be reduced officer OF tho CON.
mabd doubted that would be nelmed with the
nrs rurh the enemy upon position in the rlornng
| TO retreat further by cay vito our wounded mon
| and property was out OF the qoestiou " retreat
Ia rph I'll II
10 relieve ourselves OF all ncun brances and 10 ny. We
mao no horses able 70 carry the guns over eighty miles
route from their ferocity certainly expected they
would not sooier could be for any other dnty
han skrrnishiDg For these reasons which candid
ly seemed to cngeDt nj tho time than trey do
now, resolved TO bury the hosizers WHAT ds,rssse,
me rs thai no stsmp, was m,de to bring them or and
committed AFTER the camesi discussion OF
tr: ID shcb, believe, every ef'ocr agreed ~isb me
Enclosed list Of the killed and wounf.d Tao
my acknowledged loss OF killed and forty nfiy
wounded, mary ofthem MORALLY. Is Is known 10 tbs,
this under estimsts for % the officers informed
me that on single spot whore Icu,spauts Gregg and
Iaston met In joint charge, tScve dead Indians
| counted. Many others 10 fall.
cspro; DO justice In this communication the conduct
OF the officers throughout the AFFAIR The gallant bearing
of each and al was accompanied by admirable cool
and sound Judgment TO the skill and pronptues OF
assistant surgeon Randolph the -ourded are deeply in
debted.
Be pleased TO excuse the bssty appearance Of this let,
ter am anxious 70 get Oh, ana have 1t lime 10 have
| II transcribed,
| nave tie hOnor 70 20 your obcdleDt sevynnt,
| " J srEpr0E,
p d. Col. u. 3. A.
Major ". w. HAcKirI, Assistant Aojusan; General
United States Army, San Francisco
The following extract from letter OF Col. steptoe
| dated at Walls walla, May al
lett this fort (wsla wals) the i3h with the
pnnd mentioned above (lb2 men) " visit Colyle,
s~bite s,tlemept near the British hne and about two
hunored miles distant The object Of my visit Gas W
talk with the white people and Indsns aod try 10 effect
more harmonious inisrcourse between them Two deep
lwlV rtxs fhg kTU In and Aa~n~ a.ANa h..
crossed succeeded 10 crossing the nrst win great oI
Guilty, and when near the other suddenly found myself ia
the presepc OF more than thousand Indians all armed
painted aud highly excited They demanded whether We
came 70 attack them answered that fricuds 70
be avoided rbey expressed tbemseIves ssitsned, but
posted themselves on the summit Of three hills, around
tac bare OF shch our road wound Never suspecnng
utscbery, the point OF entering the dehe, when
scciden, excited my Suspicion. turned aside
mere Is no doubt In my mud now ma, we osd sonc
| rot ore would have lived 70 zee the morrow. There
halted and encamped, but the bsfied ssvAxes gsred
upDn bestatng TO attack, and renamed thus
nall hostile attitude TIL me merest triie
would have been sufficient 70 preciptas either party Dom
| the ether The next morning resumed the
mach bns hsd only gone two or three miles whom the
cab, became general We lsbored under the aissiysn
nge Of having 70 fsht while moving co. and the midst
country Of successive bills peculiarly favorable N tbs
enemy Ny force was all mounted, but composed CHIEFLY
u uoope Who had before been under hre
the Indians charging 6eroeiy upon me men, they
ray soo could not be rallied. Soon after, another
psny cofumsucer fei and some Of The hraves petty ON
ccrs IN The cone and we're severely wounded deter
mined, therefore, to take position aud halt The ugni
Cort - without inisrmssi0D, until short Tine beore
funs zen the enemy pnsted themselvcs AL around
~ wait ior the Deht and for renfOrcenents We
that tao hundred three hundred would join the
before morning ammunition nearly exhausted,
loar IN killed. and vosoded very considerable. IL
| evident that We could not eight another dag
These Considerations determined 70 mako a forced
march ard get secession OF the rhlch had
crossed snske river before the enemy could DO Pain
ul a. the step saw there other alternative
We could not remain where we're, and slo9 march
would be fury disastrous; .or n the enemy seized
upon The situation woulo he ever
For bese xesscps the commssd In motoo about ea
lcchEtnght and cid not stop until reached the
riverAfsiry ninety miles on
lhSwsr has been maturing for time, but could
have besen the enemy at the start all future difficulty
might have been prevented; s IL, fear thst macy
lives will be ost before satisfactory adjustment can be
The appear 10 been excited nv ru