The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-30


forward copies only by express, and viii send the
originals by the next mail and am sir, very respectfully
your obedient servant, N. 5. CLARKE
Brevet Brgadier General Commanding.
Col. 3. CooPRR, Adutant General U. s. A,
Washington, d. c.
[No l4I
HEApouARrEus EXPEDITION AGAINST NoRrnEns INDIANS
Camp on the Spokane river, (W To-
IL miles below the falis, Sept. g. 1858.
SIR have the honor to submit the following report
of the battle of the Spokane Plains fought by the troops
under my command on the 5th instant Our enemies
were the spokanes, Occur dAenes, Peouses and Pend
dorees, numbe ering from five to seven hundred war
riors -r-.
Leaving my camp the .sFour Lakes at ca, a. m,
the 5th, route lay along the margin of lake for
about three miles, and thence for two miles broken
county thny scattered with pines when emerging to
the open prairie, the hostile Indians discovered
about three miles to right, and in advance, moving
rapidly along the skirt Of the woods apparently with the
view Of inteceptng line OF march before should
resoh tAe timber. After hang and closing up long
pack train moved forward and found that the In
dans setting fire to the grass ut various points In
front and my right flank. Capt Reyes was now di-
rected to advance three of his companies depoyed
skimshers to the front and right; this order was
promptly obeyed, and Captain Ord with company X,
Lieutenant Gibson with company M, and Lieutenant
Tyler with company A, Sd artillery, thrown for
ward At the time Captain Hardie, company q,
Sd artillery, deployed to the left, and the how
itzers under Lieut. White, supported by company 9th
infantry, under Capt Wnder advanced to the line
of skirnishers The firing became brisk on both
sides, the Indians attacking in front and both
fanks. The fires the prairie nearly enveloped u.s. and
rapidly approaching troops and the pack train
not moment to be lost ordered the advance The
skirmshers the howitzer and the first squadron of dra
guons under Breve Major Ger dashed gallantly through
the roaring fames and the Indians driven to seek
shelter in the forest and rocks. AS suitable
position could be obtained, the howitzers under White
opened fire with Shells the Indians again routed
from their cover closely pursued by skirmishers and
followed by Grier with his squadron leading. At this
time pack train was concentrated as much as pos
sble and guarded by Capt Dent, 9th infantry, with his
company b, Lieut. Davidson LIST Dragons, with his
pany f. and Lieut. Ihrie, Sd artillery with his company
b advancing The train bore off to the right, which
threw Ord and Tyler with their skirmshers to the left
heavy body of Indians had concentrated left when
whole line moved quickly forward, and the firing be-
came general throughout the front occupied by Ord,
Hardie, and Tyler and the howtzers under White sup
ported by Winder with Gregg's troop of dragons,
following in the rear waiting for favorable oppor-
tunity to make dash. At the same time Glib
son, with company M Sd artillery, drove the In
dians the right front. An open prairie here in
teryenng Major Grier passed the srmishers with his
and Lieut. Penders troops and charged the Indians
killing two and wounding three Our whole line and
train advanced steadily driving the Indians rocks
and through ravne point OF direction having been
changed to the right. Capt. Ord found himself alone
with his company the left of the skrmishes
and opposed by large number Of the enemy they were
gaanty charged by Capt Ord and driven successfully
from three high table rocks where they had taken refuge
Capt Ord pursued the Indians until, approaching the
tain he occupied the left flank. In this movement Capt
Ord was assisted by Capt Wnder and euts Gibson and
White who followed into the woods after him.
Moving forwards towards the Spokane river, the In
dams still in 'front.' Leuts lhrie and Howard. with com
pany Sd artillery, thrown out the right flank
and instantly cleared the way, and, after continuous
fight for hours distance OF IA miles, en-
camped the banks of the Spokane the troops exhaust
ed by long and fatguing march of 25 miles without
water and for thirds of the distance under fire. The
battle won two chiefs and two brothers of the chief
Garry killed. besides many of lesser note either killed
wounded. A kind Providence again protected us al
though at many times the balls flew thick and fast
through ranks, yet strange to say, we had but one
man slightly wounded. @.a' q. '.t5e a'7' 1892
Again it affords me the highest pleasure to bear witness
to the zeal energy perseverance, and galanty displayed
by the officers and men during this protracted battle
A number of officers here honorably mentioned by
name 4 5@ @a-t..Nt t.@.~~. ' -," .-. @~. ""]
Dnrng the battle chief was killed. and on his body
found the pistol by the lamented Gaston who
fell in the affair with Lieut. Col Steptoe in May last
| (signed) G. WRIGHT, Col 9th Infantry, d
"e Commanding Officer
Major W. W. MAcKAn,
Assistant Adjutant General Headquarters ID,
Department of Pacific.
No Is is also from Col Wright dated the 9th of Sep
tember at the camp on the Spokane river, IL miles
above the Falls He says l." remained during the 9th
my camp, three miles below the Falls, my troops
required after the long march and battle of the
yios day No hostile demonstrations made by the
enemy during the day. they approached the opposite bank
the river in very small parties and ntimated desire
to talk but direct communication had with them
the distance too great and the river deep and
| rapid. Early the morning Of the 7th advanced
along the left bank of the Spokane and tile Indians
were the opposite side, and talk began with
friendly Nez Perces interpreters They said that they
wanted to and me with the chief Garry, who
was near by. told them to meet me ut the ford, two
miles above the falls. rrs .:. a# a..szss6z at
halted at the ford and encamped. Soon after Garry
crossed and came to He said that he had al
ways been opposed to fighting but that there were many
of the chiefs against him. and he could not control them
then told him to go back and say to ALL Indians and
Chiefs have met you in two bloody battles, you have
been badly whipped you have lost several Chiefs and
many warriors killed and wounded. have not lost
man animal have large forces and you Spokanes,
Occur Aenes, Pelouses and Pend Grizzlies may unite,
and can defeat you badly as before. did not come
Into this country to ask you to make peace came here
to fight. Now when you tired of the and ask
for peace, will tell you what you must do. You must
to with your arms, with yeur women and chill
dren and everything you have and lay them at my feet
If you do this shall then dictate the terms upon which
will grant you peace. If you do not do this, war
will be made you this year and next and until your
nations shall be exterminated told Garry that he
could go and say to all the Indians that he might fall In
WITH what had said and also to say that If they did as
demanded no life should be taken Garry promised to
join the following yesterday morning on the march
After my interview with Garry the chief Pootken,
with nine warriors approached and desired interview
received them. found that this chief the writer
of the three letters sent to you by Congato that
he had been conspicuous in the affair with Col Steptoe,
and the leader in the battles of the LIST and 9th inst
| s.t - l..l