The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-16

OF the defeat of Col Steptoe by the Indians We append
hereto two accounts of the affair." from a private
source written by an officer of the army at the Daes
and addressed to gentleman of this city, to>whom
indebted for the privilege of giving it TO readers
and the other from the Oregon Times furnished that
paper by officer of tho army who participated in the
battle The two narratives present complete view OF
this unfortunate event.
PRIVATE NARRATIVE.
FoRr DAIrEs June l. 1858.
MY DEAR SIR: have thought it might bc well for mo
to give you somewhat more authentic account of Col
Steptoe's affair with the Indians beyond Snake than
would be furnished from the newspapers
Col. Steptoe marched from Walla- Walla in the first
week of May, with three companies LIST Dragons, and
some rs of the 9th infantry in charge of two small
howitzers in all, 1853 enlisted His object
to make display of his Dragons among the In
dans far Colyie, for which purpose his force
deemed ample by all No one, indeed anticipated that
he would meet any organized resistance-though the
fecerih condition of these Indians well known to
many of us--and doubted his ability with his
force to cope with any body of Indians which could pos
sibly make stand against him.
Several days after he had crossed the Snake lat mouth
of Palouse seeing indications of the possibility of
trouble precautionary he ordered the ad-
vance OF company of the 9th infantry from Walla-
Waa to hold the Palousc crossing of Snake.
Continuing his march northward the Indians made
their appearance the 10th of May this side of the
Spokane river a short disancein strong force-a wild
horde of SIX eight hundred savages painted and
manfestly eager and resolved fight which, for that
day however, averted and communication held with
OF their leaders and several of the tribes present
Spokane Garry there and also the priest Joseph the
first well the last protesting to be at work
hosttes. The wild and excited state of these Indians
induced Steptoe to halt short of lvne through which
his route lay and whence he thinks now of his
command would ever have escaped Turning aside.
therefore, he encamped Here determined to fall
back Snake Early on the 18th May this retrograde
movement commenced. Several hours thereafter,
| L..
Coming up they assailed the guard und.r Lieut..
Gaston LIST Dragons, and in short time general
gagement joined A favorable point occupied by
the howtzes which were used here with marked
ton The dragons made repeated charges, with consd
cradle damage to the ndians especially in charge
when Leutenan ,rcgg and CASTOR fell upon them at
once from oppos points of direction. Meanwhile the
troops behaved as ell possible and only had
been killed and five wounded. subsequently it de-
tcrmned to take another position, to water In
doing this to keep the flanks clear of Indians who
cupied the high grounds either side OF the charges
made by the Dragons, with los, to of Captal
Taylor and Lieut. CASTOR, and six enlisted
killed, besides n number wounded. Our people
worscd the numbers of the Indians began to
tell vsbly and never, says Steptoe, did he see Indians
fight well and saray did the Spokanes and CGur
d Aenes Meanwhile Steptoe seized favorable position
hill water, placed his howitzers in position
| again. and made his camp Here he surround
cd by the Indians, rcsolutc his extinguishment an
who kept up unabated fire Of great violence for the
rest of the day Several times they made apparent dis
positions for charge our force and had they
done So Stepoc says they would have destroyed his
whole command, greatly superior they in num-
Der and so ey it'll in spirit while his people were
depressed. Now it appeared besides that his ammuni
ton almost exhausted Under these circumstances,
it determined to make night retreat as the only
means of saving the command and it known the
Indians to be reinforced that night by QaH and
his band. This DONE and through the Nez Perces
country, via Red VOLTS village, guided by 7ma'y
eighty-tive miles were thus travesed in "a hours To
sail
| howitzers animals not needed for the march, and sub
sistence. At Red VOLTS village Captain Dent
| joined Steptoe with his company SO men, and Stepoe
marched back Waa- Waa.
Septoe criticised for not having adequate supply
of ammunition he marched with but forty rounds
Doubtless it military error to do so but apprc
hend the most of us-if not all, indeed-in his place
would have done the same ; so general and fixed was
the notion that for the present at least hosties
out of the question. Therefore, why cucumber himself
with afnmuntionl SO strong this conviction
that even when Dent marched forward all of in this
vicinity laughed at the idea Of any serious conflict with
these Indians Hence, repeat Steptoe did others
would have done feel sure, too, that this very short
supply of ammunition the salvation of that command
for 30 overwhelming the force which would have
been aayed against Steptoe the 18th May that if he
had attempted to make stand he must have been de-
stroyed With such a command, fighting against such
odds when the loss or diminution reaches certain
stage after that certain dissolution and almost utter
! Inhalation are nevitablei
Sepoe finds fault with the weapon in the hands Of at
| least 100 of his men-the muskcoon--which proved un
suited to the exigency Had all been rilemen, it is
thought much better stand could have been made but
the odds fearful and it may be doubted whether
| the issue had been materially better
At the first rumor exaggerated the loss in life, Find
ing this regard the affair much less grave than
| they did at first, than do. cannot measure
its grauy by any matter Of loss great small Of
life Had all this command been cut off to a man, the
loss in military point view scarcely greater than
! it to to have been in view of the results
that the Indians without provocation to quarrel
had banded together to resist the march of troops
and have done with such effect to dpe handsome
command of regular troops in rapid fight back to their
fort with the abandonment of train artillery, and sup
plies In this is the true gravity hold, of this affair
gravity not increased diminished tae by the
number of the sain |
| This combination has been formed of the Spokanes
Ceur d Aencs-Flat- Heads even--and the Rock Island
Indians with the Paouse and of the discontented
of the Waa Waa Valley Indians, and therefore, you
will perceive is Of formidable character. 1t involves a
considerable Indian war; to which trust authorities
will give early and emphatic attention.
write to urge you to prompt interference with au
thorities first step towards any vigorous and efficient
conduct of such to induce the establishment Of
separate military department for the Columbia River and
Sound country, Independent wholly Of California and the
regme there dominant Give no district sys-
tenn as bcforc-a halfand- half mperiun upcrio- but
an independent district department The for this
need no statement from 10 you the advantages and
| indeed, necessity therefor, apparent.
Recent from Utah TO indicate that the Nor
| mons have given way and fast evacuating their
homes If So there will be adequate force convenient
Iy ut hand indeed, TO these insensate Indians
and administer prompt punishment trust that there