New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-11-08
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE
INDIAN WAR.
From Our Own Correspondent.



in Washington Territory is not to be ended this
year by the conquest of peace. The Indians have
Low had four or five encounters with the whites,
aud in every instance save one have been victori.
Gus. They are confident and defiant, and protected
by the nature OF their country they may resist our
troops perhaps until late pext Summer Ii Is worth
while, then, that the cause Of the war and the re-
sources of the red men should be clearly under
stood.
The sest Of the war is in the eastern division of
Washington Territory, from latitude t61 to 49,,
and from the Cascade to the Rocky Mountains, a
district 200 miles from north to south, by 300 from
east to west. The number Of Indians in this dis
trct is yariously estimated at from 200 to 5000
warriors, and even the number Of the tribes is
matter of dispute, some of the tribes having almost
lost their separate existence by ntermsrrisge with
larger tribes. The principal tribes are the Cgur
dAlene, Pend d'Oreille, Neg Perez, Yakima, Xii
kstst Pelouse, Oksnagans, Spokane and Snake.
The cause of the war is that the treaties made
with the Indians have been violated by the whites;
that the red men have been driven from tine homes
Of their fathers without compensation: that the
whites killing of their game and passing through
their country against their will. 1t has been the
policy of our Government Ia treat the Indians as
the owners of the lands which they have occupied,
and TO purchase il of them by treaty. Until
such purchase was made, white settlers We're
never permitted TO enter the Indian territory
east of the Rocky Mountains. When treaties
were made they were agreed to voluntarily
by the red men, who atterward could not
well complain that they had been robbed of their
lands. The Indians west of the Rocky Mountains
know what has been the policy Of our Government
in the East. II has been often explained to them
by Indian Agents and others who supposed that of
course the same policy would be pursued in Oregon
and Washington.
But our Government has seen fit to take a differ
ent course East of the Rocky Mountains no land
was ever, if l am rightly informed, thrown open to
presumption before the extinguishment Of the In
dian title: but settlers were invited to all parts of
Oregon in $50, by promises OF large donations Of
land, none Of which had been purchased from the
Indians. This led TO difficulty. The red men con-
sidered themselves robbed; they felt themselves
hsulted by the disregard of their title; they were
indignant at the violation of the promises of pay
aud presents made to them by Americans who were
represented to be chiefs They have their ideas of
property and hold the land to be theirs, and look
upon it trespass for any stranger to come upon
their land uninyited-a trespsss which justies them
in killing him. Such is al established principle OF
their law Many of them hate the Bostons who
cheat them in trade drive away their game, sell
them msddeniDg liquor, and inoculate them with
acute hereditary and mortal diseases.
The consequence Of this treatment Of the red
men in Oregon and Washington Territories has
been constant ll-ieeling aud frequent hostillties
since 1850, including two serious wars. The Cay
use war of 1852, and the general Indian war
through Oregon and Washington in 1855. The last
mentioned year treaties were made with most OF
the Indian tribes of those two Territories for the
purchase of their lands and the payment to them OF
considerable sums, and the red men supposed OF
course the treaties were binding when signed; but
the treaties have not been ratified by the Senate
and the pborigines nOw accuse the Bostons OF 'lo-
lating their promises.
Previous to the late war, a number OF imm-
grants, in accordance with the invitation OF Con-
Qress had settled upon the Indian lands IN the rich
valley near Fort Walls Wsla, but they were com
PEELED to abandon their homes during the hostlltes
When peace was restored, the settlers wished 10
60 back to their farms, but the red men said the
land was theirs, and they never would have peace
while the BOstOns should try TO take it: 80 the
United States officers at Fort Walla Walla were
compelled to order the American settlers awayy
and they did So But of late some settlers have
been going in there and this the first cause OF
difficulty. At>ut the Goth April, party of Indians
stole the cattle of an intruder and killed him. On
the 18th May, Col. Steptoe, not knowing TO what
tribe the murderers belonged and not anticipating
any serious trouble, started out with l52 men, pro-
yided with ten rounds OF ammunition, to march
through the country OF the Pel0uses (the supposed
ofienders) and terrify them. They, knowing be-
forehand that he was coming, and perhaps expect
ing an attsck, had collected force Of some 400 or
500 warriors, including a number of Spokanes and
Cour d'Alenes, with which they attacked him on
the Eth May, when be was about 10 miles north
east of the junction Of the Columbia and Snake
Rivers. He was badly beaten, and made q very
hasty retreat. He had five men killed and fifteen
wounded.
About the 18th June party Of ~ miners, under
the command of Captain Robinson, started from
the Dalles 70 90 To Fraser River. They went up
on the west side of the Columbia, and when in the
valley of the Wenatshe River were attacked BY
the Indians and defeated, losing siZ men and -
pack animals. They reiterated, the Indians hight
ing them all the way To Fort Sincoe.
In the middle OF July party of l70 miners, un'
der command of David Mclaughlin, started from
Fort Was Waa for Fraser, going up on the east
ern side Of the Columbia to the mouth oil the
Okarsgan. There they crossed over, and on the
second day after crossing were attacked by the In
dams. The red men were Victorious the whites
turned out of their way, and escaped win tnrre
men killed and eight wounded three of whom were
dangerously wounded. The party succeeded IN
getting through to Fraser River.
Abow the lst of August, Gen. Palmer, formerly
Indian Agent in Oregon Territory, started from
Walla Walia with party Of several hundred nF9
for Fraser River. We have rumor that he ana
ali his men have been killed. but the rumor 10 not
credited.
About the same time Capt. Robinson, VINO was
driven back from the Wenatshe, started again 20
follow the same route, with $50 well-armsd men.
We have rumor that he has been attacXso' ou-
| nothing reliable.
started from Seattle, on Puget Sound, 10 70 10
Fraser River. under the command of Capt. Pear