Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-07-23

OI6KOu u6I"G6u SuIOuGI CI6pIOG COms
mand and the Indians. The report that
Lieutenant Winder. of Maryland. was
among the killed is, We are pleased to
learn, unfounded. The two officers who
were slain were Capt o. H. P. Taylor
and Lieut.. CASTOR. Captain Taylor was
a graduate Of West Point. in the class Of
1916, and brevet captain ''for gallant and
meritorious conduct in conflicts in New
Mexico" 1t was few weeks previous
that he returned to Oregon from the At
lautie States with his wife and children,
who are now widowed and orphaned by
this sad affair. Lieut.. William Castor
was graduate of 1856, and an officer of
great promise.
. "A letter from Oregon says:
Father Joseph. the Coeur d'Aleme
priest. rode up to Col. Step'oe Just pre-
vious to the onslaught. and told him that
the Indians were exasperated. and resolv-
ed upon sighting. because they had heard
that q road was to be laid out through
their country frow Walla Walla to Fort
Benton, and that they would massacre
every white man who attempted to pass
through their country on such a mission.
This, then, is the acknowledged. ascer-
tanned cause of the assault, and it is in
disPutably the fixed purpose of the Indi-
ans to prevent, if possible, any transit
whatever across that country"
The following letter from an officer en-
gagged in the conflict contains full details
of the engagement:
"On the 9th of June. Col. Steptoe,
with G E and H companies OF 1st dra>
goons. and seventy-ive men Of 9th infan.
try, with two mountain howitzers, left
Fort Walla Walla for Colville. The Off
GERS of the command were Col. Steptoe,
Captains Winder and Taylor. Lieusenants
Wheeler. Fleming. CASTOR and Gregg.
After marching eight days, we reached
the Pelouse river, and were about passing
into the Spokan country. when we were
informed by Indians that the Spokans
would resist our entrance into their coun-
try. The Spokans have always been re-
garded as friendly to the whites, and
when we left Walla Walla no one thought
of having an encounter with them, or any
other Indians on the march.
"On Sunday morning. the 10th, on
leaving camp, we were told that the
Spoksns bad assembled. and were ready
to fight us. Not believing this our march
was continued until about eleven O'Clock,
when We found ourselves in the presence
Of six hundred warriors. in war costume.
The command was halted for the purpose
OF hsVing a talk, in which the Spokans
announced that they had heard we had
gone out for the purpose Of wiping them
out, and If that was the case, they were
ready to fight US. and that we should not
cross the Spokan river. The Indians
were we'll mounted, princi lally armed
with rifles. and were extended along our
flank at The distance of one hundred
yards. After some talk, the Colonel told
US that We would have to fight, and we
lmmedlateIy put ourselves in position to
move to better ground, determined that
the Spokans should fire the first gun.
After marching mile we reached sheet
OF water. IL was decided to eucamp aud
hold another talk with the Indians.
Nothing resulted from this except the
most insulting demonstrations on their
part We dared not dismount, and were
kept on the saddle three hours, until the
setting of the sun dispersed the Indians.
"On Monday morning we left camp to
return TO the Pelouse, marching in the
following order: H company in advance,
G in the centre. with the packs and E in
the rear. At eight o'clock the Indians
appeared in great numbers about the rear
OF the column, and just as the advance
was crossing a small stream they began
firing. In twenty minutes the firing be-
came continuous. Seeing that we must
SIGHT. and that the action must become
general. was ordered to move forward
and occupy hill that the Indians were
making for, and upon which they would
have close fire upon the head of the
column. After close race gained the
hill IN advance. on seeing which the In
diaRs moved around and took possession
OF one commanding that which occupi-
ed. Leaving few men to defend the
first hill. and deploying my men, charg.
ed the second and drove them off.
"At this time the action was general.
She three companies. numbering in all
about ITO men. were warmly engaged
with Eve hundred Indians. The compa>
MES were separated from each other
nearly thousand yards, and fought en-
tirely by making short charges. At III
o'clock was reinforced by the howitz-
ers. and the two companies began to
move toward the position l held. the In
dams pressing closely upon them. As E
company was approaching a large body
OF Indians got between it and my compa.
ny. SO that, having it between two 6res,
they could wipe it out at once. CASTOR
percei,ing this. moved quickly toward
me. having the Indians in his front, and
when near enough. and I saw he was
about to charge. 1 charged with H com
psny. The result was that our compa.
MES met. having the Indians in a right
angle. in which angle we left twelve In
diRns dead.