Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-11-05
.rhe na..le o fAhe .Foar I.akss,

featand Loss of the IndianS.
The adyices from Oregon and Wash ]
ington TerritoFies fully Confined the res
port ofsa brilliant engagement with the
Indians. at the Four Lakes, insthe Spokan
country. theSscene of Col, ,Steptoe's re-.
verse 10 which the government forces.
under Col. Wright, gained a signal yicto.
~ on the first of September.
The enemy numbered from three to
Eve hundred warriors from the Spokans.
Pelouse and Cour d'Alene tribes. Small
detachments of Indians had for ten days:
before the fight been watching and am
moving the troops. but when pursued
would retire beyond reach. On the 31st
August, "a party fred the grass in the
rear Of the traiih,z while The column was On
the march, and under cover ofthe smoke
made an attack. but the rapid deploy-
ment of the troops Capt: Winder's fifes)
prevented the Accomplishment of any OBJ
ject.a Small parties were kept in sight
only to deceive the troops with regard to
their strength They had prepared a
strong position for. attack with their whole
force abouta mile from the camp of the
troops. on the line Of their SUPPOSED route
in advancing on the LIST Of September!
where thsttain passes through deile9'
On the morning of the ISL the parties
ofthe enemy on the hill increased 10 num-
Der; and expecting the troops to be de-
coyed into the ambuseade. they were
defiant and insolent. and invited attack
Little delay was had. Half an hour later
the dragons, four companies of artillery
one section of the howitzer battery, and
the two rifle companies were ordered out
One company of artillery. under Lieuten.
ants Gibson and Dandy, detachment of
Dragons and the guard, consisting OF
about fifty men, were left in the camp to
guard it. -..-' 'f'"' &''.f .'... = go
The dragons. under command Of Ma.
jor Grier, started first, marching around
the base Of the hill at the left. The body
of friendly indians (Nez Perces) under
the direction Of Lieut.. Mullan (Top. en-
gineer to the command) startad next up
the hill to the right Then came Col.
Wright commanding the third artillery.
with Lieut.. Lawrance Kip. adjutant Of the
| artillery battalion, and the third antilles
ry, the rifles, and the howitzer battery.
The dragons reached the. top Of the
bill, first driving the enemy off and hold
ing it until the foot soldiers could arrive.
On their way up. Colonel Wright reciev>
ed an express from Major Grier that the
Indians we're collected in large numbers
(about 500. it was thought. at the foot
Of the hill. apparently prepared to fight.
Captain Keys Immediately advanced his
battalion rapidly forward, ordering Cap.
tain Ord's company to the left, to be de-
ployed as skirmishers. Upon reaching
the top Of the hill, they found the dra
goons, as skirmishers, keeping the Indi-
ans in play. until they could be relieved
by the artillery and rifles. '
When the command was concentrated
on the hill, the rifles were ordered to de.
ploy down to the right and drive the In,
dams out Of the wood, while the howitzer
battery, under Lieut.. White supported
by an artillery company, under 1t. Tyler,
were ordered to charge at the lef. Of the
rifles. These orders were most CALAMITY
performed, and after sharp fight the In.
dams were driven from the woods. .
At this time the scene was exceeding
ly tine. The plain below and the slope
of the hills was covered with the enemy,
numbering, it was thought, about 500.
The troops had been formed into line,
more than mile long, which advanced
with all the precision Of parade. firing as
they went. AS they moved steadily for
ward, delivering most effective fire, the
enemy fel! back. and many took refuge
in wood at the left. Here they were
charged by Lieut.. Ransom, with company
G OF the third artillery, and, after short
struggle, dislodged. "'. d
After the enemy had been driven part
ly across the plain. the dragons passed
through the intervals of the companies,
and charged them in the most splendid
style, driving them over to take refuge in
the opposite hills. Then the artillery
companies and howitzer battesy again
passed them. driving the Indians over
the hills. when the route was entire, and
the enemy, without attempting again to
make head, scattered through the woods
and broken grounds, where they could
not be followed by the troops. The last
shot was fred by the howitzer battery,
throwing a she'll into group, which
most effectually scattered them. After
remaining some time, and no enemy APP
pearing, the recall was sounded, and the
troops marched back to camp. During
the fight. the Indian force was driven
back about three miles and half, the
firing commencing about mile and half
from the camp, and ending about five
miles off.
A NEW TERRITORY PRoPosED. A cor