The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-19

what the resdium remain to be seen. ..
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THE WAR IN WASHINGTON TERRIToRY-INIP
.eas. .s.as ... TANT SUGGESTIONS. .a ... w..
We have seen letter from officer of the army
in Oregon, who is of rank and has much experience
in that country to his friend in this city, giving views
in relation to the Indian in Oregon and Washing
ton and containing information in relation to the thea
tire of operations which will be of general interest to
our readers; accordingly we have permission to
give the following extracts 1t is dated Sept. 5th
1852
1.-TWO corps are in the field operating against the In
dans one on the west side of the Columbia river under
Garrett ravesng that region with all the energy Of his
character and with success though he has lost
officer killed by accident by his Garnett how
ever has just and right notions; is opposed to talking
now and treats those who have compromised themselves
recently in any way as breakers and puts them to
death We hear this morning that he at the Okena
kan river, and had killed fUe hosties-how, we know
net e.a.r s.Es ..ssasa s.a ...aa. ...
.Col. Wright crossed the Snake some IL days since,
but yet have of him. The Indians threaten
to fight believe they will and that shall have STIR
ring from that quarter The colonel has fine
command and will give good account of himself if the
enemy will accept battle We hear the Indians ahead of
Col Wright have burned the country all Sides and
hence he will have great hardships to encounter, but
ness of the is also serious obstacle to very
fruitful campaign / am in favor of winter campaign
after the present one and is Garrett who has urged
his views on department headquarters. # ..a &c..
The writer then states that if the commands now in
the field under Col. Wright and Major Garrett after
having severally traversed the hostile districts and
sought battle with the Indians, should be marched
back to Walla-Waa and Smcoe, thence to be dis
persed in the direction of Vancouver for winter
quarters leaving only the regular garrisons to occu
Ply these points, the companies brought down to
Vancouver will be involved in land march of full
600 miles, and it will be quite late May before
operations can be resumed. Such an arrangement
of the troops the writer says, would be the result
Of mistaken notions Of true economy of military
administration, for it would be supposng "that the
troops could be withdrawn to Vancouver and the
Dalles and be subssted for less than may otherwise
be done the contrary of which, believe, can be
shown"
LAS you well know, only for some six weeks of mid
winter is the weather rigorous in all this region from
here to Wala, in that great valley, and beyond
Snake, the great plain of the Columbia river But in
the mountains (the Bitter Root well the Cascade
range) the snow falls very deep and remains as late Us
May at least, making the Indians seek meanwhile for
their stock especially low sheltered valleys which are
all well known Driven from these winter resorts
they must lose their horses essential to them in
and the chances all souls not captured or slain must
perish the mountains the rgors of which they by
no means proof against Positions could be taken favor
able for approaching these resorts IN due and be
assured winter campaign is practicable and the true
ways to operate against these revolted tribes north of
Snake river sa #.... # t E
Be this so or not, however point surely should be
occupied in force during the winter in C5lce palte
U,nsp bpII in pf 1arpa
of the hostes--namey, the Ceur d. Alenes Spokanes,
Paouse &cand be,ceeh these and their allies the
west banks of the Columbia from the Oknaane river to
the north and Indians beyond the b5pdqy line who are
doubtless involved in the This Colve valley is
the to very much of the .phoie hostile district the
fountain head of hostile resources and the council ground
where hostile combinations against moulded into
shape.
" It would therefore, seem to be of tho first military
importance to occupy such point at and for the
winter and in that service six companies of infantry
surely better employed than rerogrdde
Fort Vancouver which has become sort of military
maestrom. Timber is abundant in the Colye valley
you know, and there mill there lime is also
TO be had and hence the troops could h themselves in
short time at comparatively small EXPENSE while the
military results to be accomplished by the occupancy of
the point papably great to warrant FIVE times
the amount which would be required
The writer here intimates that the officers of the
quartcrmasters department on the Columbia river
would Be glad to undertake the seruce, and goes on
The Columbia river is the natural channel by which
il should and by which it be done, you know
steamboat is now under construction at Des Chutes
mouth and will be surely running far as Waa- Waa
landing Fort WallaWalla of the old maps by LIST of
November at latest Some persons say that such boat
surmount Priests Rapids; and do not doubt indeed
that such is the fact at certain stages of water but with
out relying that for the navigation of all that part of
the river above Priests Rapids ample in battcaux and
small schooners at hand and be assured that the Co
lumbs river should be used channel of supply for the
troops operating against the Indians engaged in this re-
volt.
oddly enough, the Hudson Bay Company and the
missionaries have been allowed to keep up their establish
ents among the hostes just before the and the
country Is full of class of nras which any ought
TO see Is miscbevous in the extreme tending it plainly
must 10 blind these Indians to the gravity of their sa
tion and their unprovoked hostility to legitimate author
iy and place IL in their minds the footing with
their petty bros with neighboring tribes.
- Moreover these establishments, If not supplying
powder directly sell other supplies to these Indians quite
necessary to them ammunition, and which, If de-
prved of now, would bring them to their senses,
and lasting recognition of their subordinate relation to
our people and authorities Hence all these establish