, 1858-06-11
From the 0regonian.
Reliable ReDOrt Of The Late Indian Fight.

couver for copy of the following letter,
which was written by an officer engaged in
the battle, to friend at Vancouver, giving
the details of the fight, From our knowl-
edge of the writer, and the source from
which we get it, we have no doubt but that
this letter gives true statement of the de-
tails of the battle. 1t will be read with
interest by all who desire to know the facts
in the case:
On the 7th inst Col Steptoe, with c.
e. and II. companies lst Dragons, and
twenty-five men of 9th Infantry, with two
mountain howitzers, left Fort Walla Walla
for Colville. The officers Of the command
we're Col. Steptoe, Capts. Winder and Tay-
lor, Lieuts. Wheeler, Fleming, Castor and
Gregg.
After marching eight days we reached
the Pelouse river, and were abont passing
into the Spokan country when we were in
formed by Indians that the SpokaEs would
resist our entrance. The Spokans have al
ways been regarded as friendly to the
whites, and when we left WalIa Walla no
one thought of having an encounter either
with 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 to fight US. Not
believing this, our march was continued,
until about IL o'clock we found ourselves in
the presence of six hundred warriors in war
costume. The command was halted 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 that if that was the case
they were ready to fight us, and that we
should not cross the Spokan river. The
Indians were well mounted, principally arm
cd with rifles, and were extended along
our flank at the distance Of one hundred
yards. After some talk, the Colonel told
us that we would have to fight, and we i'm
mediately put ourselves into position to
movc 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. Moth
ing resulted from this except the most insult
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 re-
turn to the Pelouse, marching in the follow
ing order: H company in advance, c in
the center, with the packs, and f in rear
At 8 o'clock the Indians appeared in great
Oh bn 1f hn nd
Just as the advance was crossing q small
stream they began firing In twenty min
utes the fire became continuous. Seeing
that we must fight, and that the action
must become general, was ordered to
move forward and occupy bill 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 one commanding that which | occupied.
Leaving a few men to defend the first hill,
and deploying my men, | charged the second
and drove them of.
At this time the action was general; the
three companies, numbering in oil about
ITO men, were warmly engaged with five
hundred Indians. Tie companies were
separated from each other nearly q thou
sand yards, and fought entirely by making
short charges. At IL o'clock was rein
forced by the howitzers, and the two com
panies began to move towards the position
1 held, the Indians pressing closely upon
them. AS E company was approaching,
large body of Indians got between it and
my company, so that having it between two
fires, they could wipe it out at once. Gas
toqseeiug this, moved quickly towards me
hating the Indians in his 'front.' and when
nsar enough, and saw he was about to
charge, charged with H company. The
result was, that our companies met, having
the Indians in right angle, in which angle
we left - dead Indians. After getting to-
gether we kept up the fight for half an
hour, aud again started to reach water,
moving half mile under a constant and
raking fire, under which our comrades,
Taylor and CASTOR fell. We finally reach
ed hill near the water and occupied the
summit, and the Indians having now com
pletely surrounded it, We dismounted and
picketed our horses close together on the
centre of the fat inclined summit, and post
ed our men around the crest, making them
lie fat to the ground, as the Indians were
so close, and so daring as to attempt to
charge the hill, but, although outnumbering
US eight to one, they could not succeed.
Towards evening our ammunition began
to give out, and the men suffering so much
from thirst and fatigue, required all our at
tention to keep them up. 10 move from
one point to another, we had to crawl on
our hands aud knees, amid the bowlings Of
the Indians, the groans of the dying, and
the whistling of balls and arrows.
We were kept in this position until 8 P.
NJ, when, as night set in, it became appar-
ent that on the morrow we must go under,
and that not one of us would escape. 1t
was plain that, nearly destitute Of ammuni
ton, we were completely surrounded by six
or eight hundred Indians, and the most Of
these on points which we must pass to get