, 1864-08-05
Letter from Snake Hunter.
CAMP ON CROOKED RIVER, OREGON, I
july 22d. 1864.

July 22d, 1864
EDS. STATEsMAN:-In compliance with orders
received from District Headquarters, Captains
Curry's and brakes commands have been con-
sohdated. learn that it is the intention for the
former command to return to the0 0wyhee country
some time in August
You are doubtless aware that another force
has lately been ordered out into the Snake
country under command of Captain Caldwell.
They are now on the John Days road Anoth-
er command is also en- route for the 0wyhee
country from Klamath Lake-making, all told,
near 800 men. moving against the Snake In
dians.
Although your correspondent proposes to have
some knowledge of the country in general, he
never was aware that there were so many almost
insurmountable difficulties in these mountains,
in the way of following up the Indians, We
marched from the Lake country to the waters
of this river without seeing the least evidence
that Indians had at any recent period been in
the country;-not until the 18th inst, when ly-
ing over on the headwaters of the middle fork
of this river, when five of our Indian scouts,
who had been out in the morning reconnoiterng,
came charging over the hills into camp, yelling
out the Indians cry of distress-a low vail of
terror. In an instant the quiet appearance of
the camp was changed into active preparations
for pursuit of the Indians, and in less than one
''marching on" toward their camp, less than six
miles off. They had killed one four scouts and
pursued the remaining ones within two miles of
camp. The Indians were encamped in a deep
canyon, place difficult of access and of easy
defense. Unusual caution was oL7erved by
Capt. Curry in approaching this stronghold,
which, however, was useless, as the Indians had
anticipated our coming and left, apparently not
thirty minutes before our arrival. And yet so
cupnin rrI,v tbis ratreat expcuted that mora
than one hour and halfwas spent in searching
for their trail, which when we found it, bore ev-
dence that a large number of stock had been
driven over it, Night coming on, we returned
to camp On the following morning we again
set out in pursuit,-this time taking ten days
rations with us, and numbering l40 men. AT
o clock on the 18th, while descending into a
deep canyon ON the South fork of John Days
river, the Indians were discovered on the bluffs
above us, and before the rearmost of the COM
mand had fairly reached the foot of the hills
the Indians commenced firing, and volley after
volley was sent at us but happily without effect,
The balls eitherwent overour heads or fell harm
less at our feet. Our guns failed to carry to the
Indians owing to the great distance they were
above us, which plainly shows that they have
arms of no Indifferent sort. We necessarily spent
some time before we could gain the highlands
on the opposite side of the river, which was not
done without some distance having to be made
to avoid the hills upon which the Indians were
posted. When we reached the hills the Indians
were gone Two days chasing after them salts
fed all hands that such pursuit was useless
we being the losers all the time in running our
horses down in the pursuit of game we could
not get sight of.
No country presents greater advantages for
Indians or greater disadvantages for whites than
this. 1t is a land of high rugged mountains
with any number of defles, gorges and canyons
Thick forests cover the whole face of the coun-
try, making Indian warfare more difficult if pos
sible than in the famed swamps of Florida. If
the Snake Indians are as strong numerically as
is generally supposed, this war will not be like
ly to end this summer nor the next A disad-
vantage we have labored under this summer has
been the want of guides possessing thorough
knowledge of the mountains. And now, from
some cause, all our Indian scouts have gone
home. They, while with rs W., -. - - / :
10 s vs. gGfy rehearsed have made the Sna
i IhdSdns adopts in theft and murder so none me-
be surprised, if we return this fall leaving tn
war unsettled. s
, If eyer soldiers did scouting those efn this cor
mand certainly have; for scarce a day pass
without more or less OF them being out ramblir
: over the hills. t1
This morning Capt. Curry left camp with II
men, to be gone ten days, and as l write Cap
Drake is moving out,of sight with so more, n
to return for or 10 days. SNAKE HUNTER.