Smyrna times., 1858-11-04
decisive Indian Battle in Washington
Territory.


y Inc following letter from Lieutenant Robt.
: ~ lyier' OF the U. S. Army, gives intelligence
''oni the Oregon army, Is days later than that
heretofore received.
Lie "@ur d AIene Lake is at the head of the
oPokan river, in Washington Territory. and
Tue LIE C@ur d'Alene river runs southerly from
'n's Iake' draining the centre of the eastern DOR
'ion OF Washington Territory. 1t was near
.niS lake, we judge, that the final battle was
fought. Lake Cgur d'Alene is about IL miles
north of Fort Walla WaIa.
| we are lying in camp here, upon the Cnpr
Alehe river, near the Jesuit Mission of the
I,: ae name, established for the benefit of the
aus 10 VI !nat vicinity, some fifteen years ago.
On the NTH OF the present month, we left The
camp on Four Lakes near which we had onr
nrst night. We had gone about nine miles ovor
a" extensive prairie, when we were again met
~ '"c lhulahs near the edge of a belt of tim
Ooi' sNittlng Spokan river. They formed
o"i'ha!lhg sight, prancing about on horses
'''0Neu out IN all their fnery, singing their war
~ ""9S' and evidently feeling very confident
my company was one of those first thrown for. t
Wdrd 10 meet rhem. They commenced opera.
t'o"s Oy setting fire to the grass and cIurripo Fl
uo"" upon US through the smoke. The fire
r uiu Hot uetdIh US much, aud we so0i
In Ln lar oehnd US, aud by dropping some Of
Them from their saddles. our Nina hula -
" !" armed them to keep their distance. We 6o.I, T.
HoVe them into the timber We of conrsc =;
!i'ched IN alter them, and after abouttwo hoprs -
ioHt-'hey hring at us from behind trees. bor> H.
'"u Iocks-We routed them completely. Dn 49,
"9 'he night an Indian was shot from his horse r
'"o was captured by one of my company, and
pom hlm Was found the pistol Of Lieut. C;aston fl,
'ho was KILLED in Col. Sleptoes finhn. IA
rFoVidencc favored us, as We did not lose
nan: and had only one wounded. We
we made camp in the afternoon on Snokan m
"er' which the Indians had been lone boastino VI
- snou'u never see. After resting day on sll
nc rVer' we moved up along the left bank sc
II , our camp we captured Pelot Kin. the bc,d ah
hlet OF the Spokans. The day after we struck co
ne OF the heaviest blows of the war, bv cantu- ra
hg mead OF about nine hundred horses bo- ar
"Si"9 TO Peluse chief named Til.ho.woy mi
ie must notorious hOrsethIef and rascal of The CHI
o"'ier. we selected about 200 of the hes.
'rSeS Tor our own use. AT "Dead Horse
mP we crossed the river and moved uD the al
ina dhd across the mountains 10 this nlace
otnlhS up the river we DESTROYED a LARGE
lahllly OF the crops Of the hostllrs, both in The
.lu ahu slowed away in log houses for the the
inter. 'O' '''0
Tbe ia,oo. grG
-"N'"ou uiC perfectly ulShearteneu al Our o,
ctorics, and think the war is over for his "o'
ar They dare not live with their stock in ter
p'ainS' and are therefore driven to the sire
'unlaIns' where they are living in fear and bra
'mpll"S lest we follow them. They are pre
eatIy IN fear OF our Minnie bullets. P'0
nc Indians have sent in to Us many en,isso.
$ under white flags to talk; and it is upon :
representation OF the priests of this mission !
II the Cour d'Alenes would come to our terms ss'y
y we are now at this place. Tor
We are IN the very heart of the enemv's Cit ~
intry, and the dangers which besct this letior nbo
very great. The only way we can get the on {
u through, is to entrust it to the good ia tn waI
he Indians who fought US the other dav. ~. si,ic
)ne OF the terms of the treaty is, that all the
perty abandoned by Col. Slcptoe's parlv oc
II DC returned, and The Indians are doing SO -
faithfully and mlnutely. TIN pans, cups,
RS pistols, have been returned, and even q
IN OF thread aud needle have been breuoh, Ar
These are the first Indians have ever nh
who were absolutely ignoronr of the yalue 7,