The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-02

The Battle Ct the : Four Iakcsr sn vyas!s-
inxtOn Iei1itCry-Total Defeat of she In-
dinns--InteryieN with the Redskins.
4 FORT VANCOUVER coHGLsposSEnoE.

nans-lnHrvIeW with the kcGskins.
OUR FORT VANCOUVER coHgLsPonDEaoE.
FoKr VANCOUVER, W T., sept. -, 1855.
Our express has just arrived from the column Of Ce
Wright in the country Of the hostile indians bringing tho
of their having received their first lesson, IN the
fern Of total defeat by troops. We have various
letters from the officers engaged in the fight, from which
coate Of The whole affair for your readers
When lasl wrote, Col Wrghts command was at Snake
river, sixty miles from Waa Walla At this point the
Third Artillery had thrown up fcrtncations AM one com
pany--hat OF Brevet Major Wyse-was left to garrison
them, white the rest Of the regiment took the field with
Col Wright They were 10 have crossed Snake river on
Che 2d Of August but detained two days by violent
rams They crossed. however, the 25h and Goth, il
taking days to get over the command and supplies
Having 400 train twas some trouble to make the
passage once over, they fairy III the cnemy's
country.
August % they left the river and everything put in
order for immediate service For three days the march
very harrsssing both 10 and anmashe country
scorched rocky aud mounainous-tc water scarce, and
miserable whom iound-ard the heat at times exhaustng
Yet under this tho marched twenty miles day. The
last day tho country sprned with timber and they
saw that ahead it was heavily wooded-ust the ground
for Indian ambush.
On the Goth they found that the Indians were lowering
around them considerable force Their Nez Perces allies
were therefore kept out az scouts At evening, just
the camp had arranged two of the Nez Prces rode
in with the intelligence that large body Of Spokans
were approaching The dragons at once sadded and
etood ready mount at moments warning In short
time firing heard, outposts and the enemy
exchanged shots. The companies Immediately
turned ont; but by the time they got under the
enemy had retseated.
AuG 3l.-Durng the whole days march a body of
T4s.l n.. ,It
~ tho time 70 DO scouts OF the main body. As ii
afterwards ound they had chosen Their ground ahead in
strong position attack where TIE trail passes through
a dehe and there they awaiting the troops with
tier whole force These small bodies sent to
docoy troops Cd and to deceive them rs 10 the mum
bers OF the tnomy. Occasionally oil tho march the
dragons woold depoy towards them, when they would
Immediately retire beyond reach.
Just before the encamped at evening, party
rode up Of the train and fired the grass Their
object seemed be to make attack under Of the
s,noke. The nianouyres Of troops, however,
too quick for them they commenced firing at
the guard Captain Reyes ordered out Captain
wudors company OF rifles to depoy across the rear of
the column at right angles a company depoyed the
right and another On the left Of thu column thus forming
rectangle about the train Tie grass was too green to
burn freely and single reura their ire caused the
Indians 70 retreat II being found that both and
animals were exhausted by their harassng march, Coonel
Wright determined 10 eucamp at that place for two days
to recruit them.
PREPARATIONS foc riR BATTLE
AT daylight next morning they found that the number Of
the enemy on The hills about the camp had Increased and
they seemed defiant and nsoeut, uyin. attack.
II was just What officers Sane M Colonel Wright
made d,y n gratifying them n eight oc'ocs orders
were issued have the artillery battalion in perfect order
a. they might be called out any moment. Han an hour
later the dragons, four companies the Third artillery
section o. the Aowzer battery, and tie two ride
psnies were ordered out These were formed into two
columns-one Of Dragons numbering 100 the other u
artillery and infantry, apous 30 strong.
rs they had extensive stores anI 100 mules aud the
strength of the enemy moi known, became neeessa
ny 70 leave force 10 defend tn c.mn, lest IL should be
attacked the absence OF tnos in tho heid Orders
therefore g for Captain ]. 4 Harde tho field officer
OF the day iacutoaan. H. H. Lyon, tho ocef OF the guard
fAyutepani, ~ g. tlbsoa anu - = ~ DANDY with com
parry NJ Tb-G artillery, aud detachment Of tho Dragons
and infantry COMPANIES 70 ROMAN a. guard to the camp
TaR ATTACK 90 Tux tiiI-
The columns marched about mile and a hall to the hill
which the lasaas were pasicL TIL Dragons, under
Major Griet, started frst marching around the bese Of
lie hill on Tie cfi The body u friendly Indians cz
Perccsl Under tie direction 4. Lieutenant aa IOpo
craph.cai Fn.nt.r a. lie command worud M the Mi 1,
rae right. Thea came Colonc' Wrgt commanding, witn
rs STAFF followed by Captain Reyes commanding the
Third artillery S,;h iActensnt Lawrence Kip, Adatint
tn artillery battalion, and ,1e Third Artillery, hc Rifles
all the howtter battery.
Inc dragons reached tho brow Of ,c hll ars, and
Ing an cxrress e. Colonel WRIGHT that tn enemy ia
I'm force below. They set So Indians u ?ay, acting
srnl !cfs Until the c0nd 10 relieved by the artillery
and rides &c the Indians Leia their ground, Captain
neyes by digCclol OF Colonel Wright, advanced rs bat
tai'on rapidly forward, and orucrtd captain ord with
Lieutenant ~ 4. Morgan 10 advance with his company 70
support III a~Dors anG charge ihc enemy IA open order
THIS CALAMITY done AMI the Indians, dryen from tho
hIl, rc,reaca DIVA aud oseT tho plain to t,or mis
vKw or ru RArax oEorSp.
Here, for the ist time from tue crest VI the Ill., they
hal view ~ The entire sorn ~ III VttnN. Just AZ th
lua, ol l,igh barren hill which they LAY
large AXE stretched peacefully and calm tie
mcYs morsfg To the lcf, three small prtiy
hkts boratrc BY rocks and pines b~ccn these lakes
VA nm extensive plain wse yond va eno;.er scres
81 grussy hlis, rolling away 70 tho casward Here and
thrre .c ciym.S trees scattered about. ~alc Ia
the far diarcc long Inc oi mountains, apparently
Yc,ail tls sjacc scca,d perfectly alive with The enemy
There gathered II wifi warrior % tn ano,s tsar
dAcncs 10 A. arts q Arroasl the Peloass III sosans,
and the Nssinas They swarmcd over inc Ia between
tbe l~cS hl Vnh tue pines On Their boruers ~ tho gul
lcys, hd ~ W. olo.te w s,avs ~! ~ ~ 80, ~
mounted and armed Most 81 them hal HUDSON Bay rifles,
ati some II addition, hat bow and arrows. There was
fhe wild Ghvary q the forest in ts highest perfection
ThcS nn.nbS, probably sss about Csc tundrel. but
they seemed nnc more humorous, a. they covered tho
country iur than two RIFLES. and
Mounted ttoir roct horses they slrgng sholi
aWa,iug flcn, eide 10 the other IT, paa bran
.lshug thfr weapons, yelling or keeping np avid, OK
citing song.
IN tn meanwhile artillery and infantry companies
bad been termed into line, taan milo long, aud the
order given to charge down TIE bill and drive tue
enemy from their cov'ris TIC Inc s,ca y .nccd with
a the prcciaor Of parade passing tn dragoog and As
they within range opening well directed
crr hrs, the Indians had experience Of oar long
range rifles and mnnc halls First ono saddle Is cnp ci
then three then iovr i've reel aud clutch at the
msnc, evidently badly werndei-tbcn tlIc wouadcd
Lorses spring forward and dash the plirhcn, a.
abe line presses nearer, La dorm warriors swcrve IN
sher seats and f All these however, arc NJ ohcs picked
up and borne from tho aeld rtea he whole body q The
Indians break and turning their horses commcnce their
retreat across the plain.
This the chance Cor Which the dragons
had been impsuehly watng--when they could
reach the enemy ufon the plains. They rode
Through the company intervals ot the artillery
and infantry. Major Grier Numbered out tho order
10 charge aud afruss tho plain they dashed upon them
This ctmpecd tho rou, AMI ,hc Inans ~ brcac iuI
shc hills and ihckets with the dragons dasing Their
On thny went. riding them and cutting tom