Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1858-07-20
FROM OREGON.
The Defeat of Col. sleptoe Confrmed.

SsviiSA 9tePtVSi ny tne lnulnndJ IS confirmed. The
number of killed and wounded is not as great as at
first reported, yet there has been melancholy loss.
Ten were killed and ten wounded. Among the
killed were two officers, Capt. o. II. p. Taylor and
Lieutenant CASTOR. Capt Taylor was a graduate of
West Point in the class of 1910, and was breyet-
ted for gallant conduct in New Mexico. 0ne>letter
says that, Father Joseph, the CGur d'Alene priest
rode pptc just presiou to the onslaught
aud told him that the Indians exasperated and
resolved upon fighting, because they had heard that
a road was to be laid out through their country
from Walla Walln TO Fort Benton, and that they
would massacre every white man who attempted to
pass through their country on such mission
This, then, is the acknowledged ascertained cause
of the assault and tits indisPutably the fixed purs
pose of the Indians to prevent possible any tram
sit whatever across that country.
The following letter from an. officer engaged in
the conflict contains full details of. the engage
tnent.
:, On the 9Th instant, Col steptoe With o. e. and
companies OF LIST Dragons, and seyenty-fiye men
of 9th infantry with two mountain howitzers left
Fort Walla Walla for Colville. The officers az the
command were ooLSteptoe Csptaias Winder and
Gregg. After marching eight days, we reached the
Pelouse river and were about passing into the Spo-
kan country, when we were informed by the Indians
that the Spokanss would resist our entrance into
their country. The SpoKans have ALWAYS been re
garded friendly to the whites and when We laft
.Malia Wallas no one thought of having an encounz
Ter WIN them, or any other Indians on the march,
on sunday morning, the 10th, on leaving camp
we were told that the Spokans had assembled and
were ready fight u.s. Not believing this our
march was continued until about eleven o'cIoclr
when we found ourselves in the presence of hun.
dred warriors in was costume. The command halt
cd for the purpose of having talk, in which the
Spokans announced that they had heard we had
gone out for the purpose of wiping them out and if
that was the case they were ready to fight us; and
that we should not cross the Spokan river. The In
dlans were well mounted, principally armed with
rifles and extended along our flank At the dis
lance OF one hundred yards. After some talk The
Colonel told us that we would have to fight and
we immediately put ourselves in position to move
to better ground determined that the pokans should
hre the first gun. After marching mile we reach
ed a sheet of water-it was decided to encamp and
hold another talk with the Indians Nothing rex
suited from this except the most Insulting demon
stations. on their part. We dared not dismount
and were kept on the saddle three hours until set.
ting of the sun dispersed the Indians
On Monday morning we left the camp to return
to tho Pslouse, marching in the following order:-
ID company in advance, in the centre, with the
packs, and E in rear. AT o'clock the Indians an
peared in great numbers about the rear of The COL
ann, and just as the advance was crossing small
stream they began firing. In twenty minutes the
hrlng became continuous. Seeing that we must
hight, and that the action must become general 1
was ordered TO move forward and occupy hill
that the Indians were making for, and upon which
they would have close fire upon the head of the
column Afer close raceI gained the hill in ad-
vance, on seeing which the Indians moved around
and took possession ofone commanding that which
&c occupied. Leaving few men to defend the first
drove them off.
AT this time the acton was general; the three
companies numbering in all about llO men were
warmly engaged with 500 Indians The companie
were separated from each other nearly thousand
yards and fought entirely by making short charp.
es. At ~ o'clock was reinforced by the howitzers
ana the two companies began to move toward the
the position held, the Indians pressing closely
upon them. As company was approaching a
large body of Indians got between II and INV cnps
pany that having it between two fires thew eouId
could wipe It out at once. Castor perceiving this
moved quickly toward me, having the Indians in
ms 'front.' and when near enough, and I saw he was
ABOUT to charge, charged with company The
result was our companies met, having the Indians
In right angle, at which angle left twelve dead
Indians.
Toward evening, our ammunition began to give
OUT, ana our men, suffering much from thrs aud
fatigue, required all attention keep them ut
10 move from one point to another, we had 10
crawl on our hands aud knees, amid the bowling
OF the Indians, the groaus of the dying, and the
whtstllng otthe balls and arrows. We were kept
In this position until o'clock, P. NJ. when. as
nlSht came on, 1t became apparent that on the NOR
row we must Ego under" and nearly destitute of
ammunition, we were completely surrounded by six
OF eight hundred Indians, and most ofthese on
points which we must pass to get away. Therefore,
was determined to the gauntlet sothat ifpos-
sloie, some might escape. Abandoning everything,
we mounted and left the hill at O'Clock, and after
rest, we reached Snake river at Red Wolf CrossSs
ing, the next evening and were met by our friends
the Neg Perees We had tive officers, Eve men, and;
three friendly Indians killed, and ten men wounded
and ten men wounded Sergeant Ball, OF FL. Compa-
ny, missing. The Sergeant distinguished himself
very much during the action, and we all hope he
will yet come in.
Capt. Taylor was shot through the neck, and
Lieut. GastoH through the body they both fell fight
ing gallanuy. The companies fought bravely, like
true men. We brought our horses back in good
condition, except about thirty which were shot du-
ring the hight. The Indians made captures.
THE FRAZER RIVER MINES.
All the California and Oregon papers are filed
with accounts of land speculstions upon the new
goldmincs discovered upon the Frazer River and
surrounding regions. The expectations which the
first discovery excited seem likely to be even more
than realized. The latest accounts represent that
not only is there an abundant supply of gold, but
that good order prevails at the mines; that no diff
Guilty had occurred with the Hudson's Bay Compa.
ny !; that the Indians were friendlyand peaceable
and that goods OF all kinds were admitted free ex-
cept liquors. gentleman just returned from the
mines, (Mr. Lewis Lewis,) reports to the editor of
the Sacramento Mercury that he spent seven eight
days on and near the river, and was we'll satisfied
that the mines are immensely rich; that he saw ST.
500 which had been taken out by one man in four
teen days, and that he about Immediately to re-
turn, taking his wife and family. He recommends
the Victoria route the least expensive 1t is ads
ded -
The Surprise is running on the river and the cur
rent may be estimated from the TACT that she made
sixty miles in two hours and twenty minutes down
stream. "A trail has been opened from Fort Hope,
py which goods can be conveyed on mules. No I'M
portant gold discoveries have yet been made except
on the bars of the rivers which he thinks enough
10 give employment to all who are going. He saw
many ~Sacramentans. -