The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-16

PROSPECTS, OF AN INDIAN WARM addition
to the accounts published in yesterday HERALD
Of the recent disastrous battle between the Spo.
kans and other Indians In Washington Territory
and q couple Of hundred United States troops
under the command of Col Steptoe, we give
today some further particulars, as contained in
our own correspondence, in private letter re-
ceived by gentleman Of this city, and in OK
tracts from local newspapers. There seems to be
a unanimity of opinion as to the fact that there
is just reason to apprehend a general Indian war
in that Territory, and that the military force at
present available to suppress these hostilites Is
ridiculously small and totally inadequste for
that purpose.
The Indians with whom Colonel Steptoe's
command came into conflict are represented to
have been in large force-numbering from
thousand to fifteen hundred warriors, well
mounted, well armed, brave and resolute. The
professed cause Of their hostility was that the
government intended to build military road
through their hunting grounds, between Fort
Wana Walla and Fort Benton on the Missouri
river, which they declare their determination
TO prevent. II cannot be doubted, however,
that this Is but pretense on their part, and
that there Is a concert Of action on the part Of
nearly oil the savages in that region of country
against the settlers. The victory which the
Spokans obtained over the troops under Colonel
Steptoe's command will naturally inspire them
with confidence, and may be the means of
arousing all the Indians throughout that Terri
tory, and kindling up . war which will entail
the most disastrous consequences on the new
settlements, and which will require the sacrifice
of hundreds Of men and millions Of treasure 10
suppress.
To cope with snoh an enemy promptly and
successfully there must be an adequately large
force brought into the field against them.
There Is no question that the troops now in
Oregon and Washington Territories are entirely
too few even TO garrison the outposts, much
less TO enter upon o campaign Of such charac-
ter as that which is evidently impending. Ad-
vices from there say that the people are 80 dis
gusted with the treatment Of their volunteers in
the late Indian war, and with the neglect Of
Congress In liquidating their war debt Of six
millions, that the government need rely no
longer on that arm of defence, but must carry
on operations independently of volunteers A
body of troops has been already despatched
from San Francisco to the disturbed region; but
this reinforcement is entirely too small 10 act
effectively. These savages must be severely
chastised and brought into subsection; and TO
that end the military force there must be trebled
or quadrupled. Now that the Mormon difficulty
is settled, troops can be spared from that expe-
dition; and we hope that large force will be
Immediately directed on Washington Territory.
In such case promptitude is everything. We
are glad to learn, as we do by our despatch
from Washington published under the tele-
graphic head, that the government h~e
already made arrangements to send out rein
forcemeuts Immediately from this port by the
way OF Aspsnwau asd Psaams.