The Nevada Democrat., 1858-06-16
pEFEAr or cor. sTEPToE.

vi NOANs = ASA AOANs
The Oregonidn of the 29th ult. publishes a let
ter written by an officer engaged in the battle,
to friend at Vancouver, which gives detail
ed account of the affair
On the 9TH inst. Col Steptoe, with @. E. and
II. companies lst Dragons, and twenty-five
men of 9th infantry, with two mountain howit-
zers, left Fort Walla Walla for Colvile. The
ffiocers of the command were COL Steptoe,
Capt Winder and Taylor, Lieuts. Wheeler,
fleming Castor and Gregg.
After marching eight days we reached the
Pelouse river, and were about passing into the
Spokan country when We were informed by In.
dams that the Sp0kans would resist our en-
trance. The Spokans have always been re-
garded as friendly to the whites, aud when we
left Wala Walla no one thought OF having an
encounter either with them or any other 1ndi-
ans on the march.
On Sunday morning, the 10th, on leaving
camp, we were told that the Spokans had as
sembled and were ready to fight as. Not be.
lieving this; our march was continued, until
about ii o'clock we found ourselves in the
presence of. six hundred warriors in war cos
tune. The command was halted for the pur-
! pose of having talk, in which the Spokans
announced that they had heard we had gone
out for the purpose Of wiping them out, and
that if that was the case they were ready TO
fight us, and that we should not cross the Spo-
kan river. The Indians were all mounted,
principally armed with rifles, and were extend
ed along our flank at the distance of one hun
dred yards. After some talk, the Colonel told
us that we would have to fight, and we imme-
I dately put ourselves into position to move to
better ground, determined that the Spokans
should fire the first gun. After marching a
mile, we reached sheet Of water. where it was
decided to encamp and hold another talk with
the Indians. Nothing resulted from this ex-
cept the most insulting demonstrations on their
part We dared not dismount, and were kept
in the saddle three hours until the setting of
the sun dispersed the Indians
On Monday morning we left camp to return
to the Pelouse, marching in the following or
der: ii company in advance, in the center
with the packs, and Il in rear. At O'Clock
the Indians appeared in great numbers about
the rear of the column. and Just as the advance
was erossing a small stream they began firing
In twenty minutes the fire became continuous
Seeing that we must fight, and that the action
must become general | was ordered 10 move
forward and occupy hill that the Indians
were making for, and from which they would
have close fire upon the head of the column.
After close race gained the hill in advance,
on seeing which the Indians moved around and
took possession OF enc commanding that which
l occupied Leaving few men to defend the
first hill, and deploying my men, charged the
second and drove them off.
At this time the action was general; the three
companies, numbering in all about ITO men,
were warmly engaged with FIVE hundred Indi-
ans. The companies were separated from each
other nearly thousand yards, and fought en-
tirely by making short charges. AT IL o'clock
| was reinforced by the howitzers, and the two
companies began to move towards the position
| held, the Indians pressing closely upon them
I AS r. company was approaching, large body
OF Indians got between il and my company, so
that having it between two fires, they could
! wipe it out ut once. Gastol seeing this moved
quickly towards me having the Indians in his
front, and when near enough, and saw he was
about to charge, charged with III company
The result was, that our companies met having
the Indians in right angle in which angle we
left IL dead Indians After getting together
we kept up The Ggbt for half an hour. and again
started to reach water, moving half mile un-
der CONSTANT and rakHg fire, under which our
comrades, aylor and Castor fell. We finally
reached hill near the water and occupied the
summit, and the Indians having now complete
ly surrounded it,, we dismounted aud picketcd
our horses close together on the centre of the
fiat inclined summit and posted our men around
the crest. making them lie fiat TO the ground,
as the Indians wcro 80 close and so daring as
to attempt TO charge the hill, but, although out
numbering us eight to one they could not sue
coed.
Towards evening our ammunition began TO
give out, and tho mon suffering go much from
thirst and fatigue, required all our attention TO
keep them up. TO move from one point to an
other, we had to crawl on our hands and knees,
amid the howlings of the Indians, the groans
of the dying, and the whistling of balls and ar
rows.
We were kept in this position until T. NJ,
when, as night set in, it became apparent that
on the morrow we must 90 under, aud that not
one OF US would escape. II was plain that, near
ly destitute of ammunition, we were complete
y surrounded by six or eight hundred Indians,
and the most of these on points which we must
pass to get away Therefore it was determined
to run the gauntlet so that if possible some
might escape. Abandoning everything, we
mounted and left the hill at o'clock and after
a1ride Of ninety miles, mostly at galIop and
without rest, we reached Snake River at Red
Wolf crossing the next evening, and were met
by our friends the Nez Perces
We had two officers, five men, and three
friendly Indians killed; ten men wounded-Ser-
geant Ball Of II company missing. The Ser
geant had distinguished himself very much du-
ring the action, and we all hope will yet come
in.
Captain Taylor was shot through the neck
Lieut. Castor through the body; they both foil
lighting gallanty. The companies fought brave
ly, like true men. We brought our horses back
in good condition, except about thirty which
were shot during the fight.
The Indians made no captures. Before the
battle was near over, the Indians picked up
nine of their dead; how many of them were
killed is not known, but counted ffteen. They
acknowledge having forty wounded.
1t will take thousand men to 60 into the
Spokan country.
PURCHASE OF SoNORA-The Washington cor.
respondent of the Philadelphia Press confirms