Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-16
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


gepce of Indian outrsges to create the appre
hension that considerable trouble with the saw
ages in that quarter will ensue. The most
important feature of this incipient war is the
attack upon the command of Col Steptoe,
respecting which yesterdays Star contained
all the important particulars. The alleged
prOyocation to this onslaught, as communi-
Gated by Father Joseph, missionary among
the "CTur dAlenes,'' is a report circulated
among the Indians that road was to be cut
through their country from Fort Benton to
Fort Walla Walla and they express deter
minatiOn to resist tho carrying out of that
project.
Before encOunterng the Indians Col. SteptOe
was warned of their intention to attack his
command, but be could not credit the report;
and even if he had, and had acted upon it, it is
doubtful whether anything would have been
gained by such conduct, as he was then within
reach of the hostile Indians, who were all
mounted, well armed, and determined to en-
gage the troops. The Oregonian, of May 10Th
speaks thus of the affair:
" The attack was evidently unexpected by Col
Steptoe, and the disastrous consequences, the
result of well arranged stampede assault, by
which the animals attached TO the hOwitIerS
ammunition and baggage wagons became I'M
manageable. Col. Steptoe is known to be a gal
liant officer; he has earned that reputation by
unmistakable evidence of bravery upon several
battle fields. The officers and soldiers under his
command have smelt powder before, without
Quallng, and could not have been conquered by
the superiority of numbers had not their annrnri-
milton given out. As ii was, the only thing ia I
could b. done was TO retire as best they could -
The Oregon Standard adds to its account of
this affair report that there arc already on
the way from the Dalles, en- r0Hie for the mines
by way of this Indian country, more than two
hundred well armed miners. About one hun.
dred more will start forthwith for they are by
no means disheartened by the report of this
battle. They will become an important auxil-
larry to the troops in routing the Whole force
OF the Indians from the upper country, and
making the entire route free from Indian dep
relations, and that. too in 2 very short time
fIGHTING A SHADOw.-The Richmond En-
qmrCr, which has, of late, become the mere
organ or mouth-pie of Governor Wise is
just now fighting the shadow Of ''Disunion'' Mt
the SOuth-which, under the administration of
James buchanan, has become small Ly de-
greeS and beautifully less" until hardly
enough of il remains to he a target for the
lance oil so doughty political knight of La
Mancha as the eccentric Governor. encouraged
as ne is by the lusty shouts and profound ere
dence and admiration of his trusty Sancho-
squire-the E"9"ircS. Really, disunionism-
thanks TO the confidence which all men of all
parties at the South place in James Buchanan
and his ADMINISTRATIONS their determination
to uphold the compromises of the constitution
and protect the South in the enjoyment of her
constitutional co-equality under that instru-
ment-has no advocates at this time in any
Southern State, except one; and in that State
butOne
We refer to the Hon VIM. l.. Yancey of Al
aoama, who, when in public life, was quite az
eccentric as the distinguished Governor Of the
Old Dominion himself. Ills attitude of hostility
to the continuance f the Union is in fair keen.
ing with his political history His admitted clio
quence has made him a man oflnark, as that of
Governor Wise has also made him. The mo-
mentarIly striking speeches of neither of them
the only features Of their career as public
men which have been noted by the public at
Iarge-embrace points that have caused them
oIlyeln the memory Of the public. Their eccen-
tricitles alone are circumstances in their public
career To which the minds of all revert when
thinking of their connection with ublic affairs
Indeed, in so many striking particulars are they
aiiKe aS statesmen, as that there il an eminent
fitness in the fact that while VIM l.. Yancey
Is the DiSuniGn Parig of the South, Henry A
"ise's organ should he the champion beating
the air on the other side
The truth is, anti LecOmptonism has failed
to pay at the South. With the earnest devotion
OF his eloquence, energy, and really great per-
sonal popularity, backed by almost daily ap-
peais Of the Enquirer in favor of his (the Gov
erner > idiosyucrasies on the subject it is very
certain that there does not exist at this moment
larger party in the South in favor of the po-
sltlons OF Douglas Co. than OF those of Yam
cey Co-the latter party being Yancey and
the New Orleans DeAo; and the former, Wise
and the Richmond Enqnirer.
We admire the Governors oratoricaI abili-
ties, his gO-aheadativeneSs and the muscle,
OF his nerve as public man; but, in common
with everybody in Virginia, we cannot ego"
the phase OF FIee-soilism which he seems to
have donned III his march after what he mis-
takes for Northern public opinion.