, 1865-08-18
Fort Walla Walla.

Since the last issue of our paper and du-
ring the fore part of the current week all
kinds of reports and every manner of rumor
have been freely circulated throughout the
city, all of which went to send Fort Walla
Walla off at "one fell swoop." Tracing the
matter from mere street gossip up to a
source deemed reliable, we have ascertained
that no orders for the abandonment of the
post or directing the immediate withdrawal
Of the few troops that now remain there
have been received by the Commanding Of
fcer. Though, orders said to have been re-
eeived by the Quartermaster-eo
him to purchase no more supplies for the
post at present-giye grounds for the belief
that there may be some talk upon this sub
ieet at headquarters, against all of which,
without essaying to dictate to military
heads, we make our most polite bow, and
beg leave, respectfully, to enter our protest.
Speaking in the interest of the good and
lSyal" eitizenry of Walla Walla we express
the hope that no such hasty and inconsider-
ate procedure as the withdrawal Of troops
from Fort Walla Wslla will obtain at the
hands of the military authorities below. In
public affairs is now necessary, and all who
are acquainted with the geography of the
country, the advantages of Fort Walla Wal
Ia as a supply point for Forts fartheri in the
interior, and the greater cheapness with
which large bodies of men and animals can
be wintered here over other points in the
country, can not but admit that such with
drawal would be the very reverse Of ecouo-
my. The new Military Department Of the
Columbia is about being firmly established,
and as a consequence many changes will en-
sue; and while these changes are being
made, We believe-and we are not alone in
the Opinion-that, instead of talking of the
abandonment of theIpost, if the "powers that
be" would consider the advantages of Fort
Walla Walla for becoming the headquarters
of the district and make it such, they would
more surely subserve the interests Of the
Government. The upper country is where
troops are needed, and here all the staples
that are consumed by an army are pro-
duced in great abundance, and at much
less expense than they can be shipped up
the river Then, economy would dictate
that the expense of such shipment, and that
of the transportation of troops to and from
the west of the mountains should be saved
to the Government. Again, if the protec-
tioh of settlements from Indian depredations
Is the object OF having troops in the country,
the headquarters should be in the vicinity
of where such depredations are likely to be
committed, and where direct communication
can be had with the settlements and out
posts at all seasons of the year.
The opinion heretofore he'd by several
officers ofthe regular army, now in service,
and who were formerly atationed at Fort
Walla Walla, goes to show the Importance
in Typographical point of view of at least
continuing the present garrison in this val
ley. They regard it as good point whence
to operate against the Indian tribes situate
a few miles TO the north, viz the Palouses
Spokanes and Ceur 'Alenes, and to the
cast where roam the powerful tribe of the
Nez Perces. The late General Wright,
who had travelled over the greater portion
of the country, and whose opinion deserves
20 be received with great weight, was in ia
vOr of constantly keeping here from three to
five companies of Cavalry. The well-re-
membered battle with the northern Indians
on the Spokane Plains, in the summer of
'58 when a hard blow was directed by the
savages against Colonel Steptoe's forces, on
their way to establish Fort Colville, was suf-
6cient to and did prove the undoubted util-
ity of the Fort as point from which troops,
munitions of war and supplies can be thrown
into the field easily, conveniently and rapid
ly, when occasion requires it.
Although the mountain valleys have
changed their phases during the past Eve or
six years and large settlements of whites
have been made still there is every reason
to believe that the abandonment of Fort
Walla Walla at this juncture would initiate
against the best interests of both the settlers
and Indians. The bands Of Palouses, Spo-
hanes and Cour dAlenes, although sepa-
4Tateiy small and impotent for harm, in the
aggregate would furnish an effective auxil-
iary to the disafected wing of the Nez Per
nes tribe. The name of "Wright" is to this
day terror to these tribes it reminds them
that their spirits were humbled by the mii-
tary arm during the summer campaign of
'58, when that brave officer introduced
:. King Hemp" to some of their number
Since then they have been apparently quiet
and friendly, and there is no telling how
large their tan, tunis are for the Bostons
but the abandonment Of tie Fort and the
removal sf the soldiers from the country
would tend to awaken once more those feel
ings of revenge which have lain dormant,
more on account of fear of the soldiers sta.
toned here than by reason of any we'll
meant respect and love for the whites.
In fne, if there exists any basis for the
flying reports that have greeted our ears this |
week while engaged at the cease" we are
sure we only give expression to the scnti-
ments of the community in trusting that no
such steps will be taken by those who are in /
power.