New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-07-15
IMPORTANT FROM OREGON.
TIE NEW INDIAN WAR.
Col. Steptoe's Defeat Confirmed.


FROM Our Own Correspondent
San FRANCISCO, June 10, 1858.
The report If the defeat Of Col. S.eptOe BY the
ILdisDs in Oregon is confirmed.
The facts of the defeat go far as they are sscer-
tairAble from confused and contradictory newspa-
per Standardization no official report has been
publisked-sppear to be as follow:
About the goth Of April, some Indians, supposed
to belong to the Pelouse tribe, stole number OF
cattle from the vicinity Of Fort Wals Wslia, and
Killed several white men. On the 9TH May, Col.
Steptoe started out to arrest the offenders, and to
terrify the red men generally BY display OF his
force, but with no expectation of having fight
He took with him Companies c, and II OF the
First bragg obs, and half Of Company Z, 9th la.
fantry, numbering l52 men in all, provided with
only 40 rounds Of ammunition each. They had two
mountain howitzers with them.
On the 18th May, Col. Steptoe, taking the diree.
tiou Of Fort ColvilIe, crossed Snnko Kver, AUD
about this time he received warning that the
Spokan tribe had determined to resist his entrance
into leir country. The force continued 10 advance
till the 10th, when they came to where 600 war.
riors, painted, armed and equipped for war, and
bo.tile in their attitude, were posted. They were
we'll mounted, armed with rifles, and apparently
very willing that there should be a eight. They
old Col. Steptoe they had heard that he had come
% attack them, and they were ready; AID they ad-
vited him that be must 80 back, for if be should
attempt to cross the Spokan River, they would at-
tack him. Such was tho language Of tho most Ps-
cfc chiefs, but many Of the warriors used very in
iOlent language.
The position Of the Indians was such tina! Col.
Steptoe could not venture to attack them, 20 10
tuired Of 10 get better place, but the Indians fol-
lowed and continued clOse by until shutdown, the
dragons not daring TO dsmount for three hours
after reaching the place seIected - the camp, for
fear that the Indians would then attack them. Az
it began to get dark, the Indians went of, aud tho
soldiers had peace during the night. In the morn
irg S<ptCe determined to retreat and started back
to Walla WslIs. The IndiAns soon made their sp-
pearanee following him, and soon tight began,
but On which side, or how, We have no infOrma-
ton. The fight soon became general The To-
disIs seem to have acted chiefly on tho defensive;
they took positions and the Dragons charged them
often. The American troops were much scattered,
and if the published accounts be correct, Col. Step
toe did not manage bis battle we'll. The tight BE-
gan at ten in the morning and lasted till dark, tho
troops continuing to retreat till about O'Clock,
when they came to bill, Of which they took pos
session. The Indians charged up the bill number
Of times, but were repulsed. After dark, SteptOc
cached (buried) his hOwitzer and ran. An Ofdeer
who was present writes:
Abandoning everything, we mounted and left
tie bill at 8 O'Clock, and after ride Of nearly ~
miles, mOetly on gaOp, and without rest, We
next evening""
This retreat was judicious, have no doubt, fos
the soldiers we're out Of ammunition, and many Of
them were greatly scared. In fact, they had ex-
hibited much cowsrdice during the day, 20 that the
officers were unable to rely upon them. Most Of
them we're new recruits. The Indians, on the
other hand, seemed to have an abundance Of powder
and lead, and we're in high spirits, and very bold.
Before crossing Snake River the hrst time, Col:
Steptoe had sent orders to Fort Wslls WalA that
Cspt. Dent should follow him with . company
10 the river and there wait for his return.
Capt. Dent obeyed the order, in going to Snake
River and after arriving there and bearing that Toe
SpOhans would attack SteptOe, be crossed over aiM
started to Join the main force, but before going lar
be met them on the retreat
Although whole day was spent IN skirmsning
and lighting, and although number Of charges were
made by the drseocns, yet only five of the Ameri-
cans were killed, and, 20 far - we know, about
twenty Indians The following il LET Of the killed
and wounded:
KILLED, in company &, Fms. Dragoons Brovet
Captain q. II. Taylor and privste Alfred Barnes; IN
company Z, First Dragons, private Chxles d. Ham
sh sLd janice Greet in company Il, First Dfsgooor,
Lieut.. VIM. Cation.
WouSDYD, l5-In company c, Fist Dragons,
privaes T. Z. DE Nay james L. nch, Henry M'ntre.
vile, aid fsrisr T. K. Birch; in company ii ct
Drssoorr, First Sergesn; W. Z. Williams. privstes
Jsmes Kelly Vim. d. M.coo, Harriet Metchu .mes
H.sly, Maurice Herly, Charles Hughes sod John
Mitchell; IN company T., Ninth Infantry, p,yases Dr.
u ord w. HAmmone John Kay ard Gilbert Berger.
Mls.ISG. lin company II, Fret Dragons, Flint
Sergeant Edward Ball
In addition 70 tie killed above mentioned, there
we're three friendly ILdians, who fought with the
troops. left dead upon the field.
Capt. Taylor AID Lieut.. Castor both iell whe
leading eksrges upon the enemy.
Tie number OF Indians engaged 10 the light 10
var,oGsDy estmatsd at from coo to 800 the lorner