The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-05
FROM IDAHO.
A Battle with the snake Indtans-ROui
of the Red skins by Ghe Upited states
Twnnna

A Battle with the snake Indtaus-ROut
of the Red Skins by Ghe Untted states
Troops.
We have received by the Overland Mail late
issues of the Idaho St1teymon, published at Boise
City, iourishing place on the Boise river,
whose choice valley and rich surroundings OF
Lodges of gold and silver are rapidly making it
the point of attraction in Idaho Territory.
Boise City has grown within a very short
space OF time, into population OF about 1900,
and is at present the capital of the Territory.
Th1ee-fourths of a mile distant from Boise City
is Fort Boise, comparatively new tort, and one
OF the largest and most expensive of the United
States Government in the Indian country. This
fort is now an important military post for wide
extent of territory infested by Indians who
have long been seriously troublesome to over
land travellers and to settlers. Captain j. II.
Walker, l4th United States Infantry. is here I'm
command, and actively and efficiently, as ap-
pears from the above papers which have come
to us.
An extra Idaho Statesman, of Tuesday, Febru-
ary u, has the following:-
"Hill Benchey's Owyhee Stage arrived this after
noon at FIVE O'Clock with the following cheering
news from Captain Wolkor:-Mr Beachey did not
gooyer to Ruby on this tip, but received the follow
ing letters by eXpreGs. Passengers who came over
IRON Ruby corr0borate the news, and say that it is
generally believed there Captain Walker took only
fourteen days rations with him, and that time ex-
pred yesterday. This information explains why
he has not retul ned He appears 70 have made very
clean sweep OF the camp, with the loss Of man
OFFICE WELLS, FARGO Co, RUBY CITY,
February 20, ,1S65.-HIl Beachey-Dear Sir:-Childs,
the Government express messenger, arrived this
evening, and reports that messenger arrived at
Camp Lyon this morning with the news that on last
Thursday Captain Walker came across a camp of
at the mouth OF Jordan creek and charging It. left
eighteen dead Indians the ground 1t Is supposed
that one made his escape. Twenty Of the indians
were bucks who fought desperately, killing one of
Captain Walkers party. Corporal Burke, and
slightly woundinga drummer boy, name not remem.
GTen S Sn & Sond not fA be-
helped owing to theidesperate defense made by the
Indians. 1t Is reported that he took eighteen head
Of stOck-particOlars not known The Owyhee
Volunteers not being able to get horses have gone
on 20 HaPs ranch aioot, and are determined to get
after Mr.. Indian.
Return of Captain walker-His Account
of the Fight.
The same paper of Thursday, two days later,
March l, semi-officially authentcates the above
account of fight with and rout by the command
OF Captain Walker of body of the Snakes"
and adds the following particulars
Captain Walker and Lieutenant Tobey arrived
from Camp Lyon yesterday about IL O'Clock, from
whom we obtain the particulars OF his pursuit and
took the course he had intended before starting,
crossed the Snake at Boise ferry, and went UD
between the Owyhee and Malheur. His party
consisted ot th,rtv-nIne mon aiI tnId Iost Eri
day, the 23d instant, about O'Clock p NJ,
viii the party were fling down hill where four
canons meet, the foremost of the party came sud-
denly upon camp OF Indians nearly secreted
from the trail The men Immediately opened
ort OF shelving precpice in one of the canons, from
whence they kept up most vigorous defense until
they were neary all killed. Some time elapsed before
Captain Walkers men came up, and they did not at
all, at any time, engage in the fight. The Indians
almost entirely barr;caded behind the rocks
where they hid and defended themselves with des-
peratlon. They were armed with sporting rifles
and plenty of ammunition. They also sent arrows
whizzing around the ears OF the men whenever
they came within range of the hole in the rocks.
The fight continued until aftor dark, by which
time all the Indians were killed except three,
who escaped into bunch of thick chappare, two of
them badly wounded From that retreat they kept
up fire, though they could not themselves be seen.
Determined not to leave one alive, Corporal Burke
and several others charged upon them, when
Burke received fatal shot through the breast. 1t
beng next to impossible to find the remaining In
dians in the darkness and brush the fight was
abandoned, and the party moved three miles and
camped for the night, carrying the body Of Burke
and wounded music an by the name of Vroomon,
both Of Company ID, I'd Battalion, 18th Infantry.
They left eighteen dead bucks on the ground, be-
tured all tie Indians hoIses nineteen in number,
and destroyed three lodges, in which they found
punches OF keys, boxes OF yeast powder. salt, Gov
ernment blanket soldiers gloves, citizens clothing;
also rasps and files, considerable quantity of bull
lets, powder, and bullet-moulds; also Government
Walker started for Camp Lyon, where he arrived on
the 18th, out OF provisions, and his horses jaded-
nine having died. Leaving his command at Fort
Lvon to recruit the horses, he came over to Fort
Boise
The Captain Walker who achieved the good
service thus noticed, and so signaliEed himself,
is of Brooklyn. He went out with the 18th New
York Regiment as a volunteer, on the three
months call, in April 1861 when he was but
eighteen years OF age. In a few weeks after
wards he was appointed to first lieutenancy
in the 14th Regulars, with which regiment he
participated in all the fortunes of the Army
of the Potomac through the war. He
obtained his Captaincy early last autumn,
when he was ordered to Boise, where,
though the Youngest officer in the army
in command of post-being now but twenty
three years OF age-he is proving that the selec-
tiOn OF him tor that command was wisely made
Corporal Burke, who was killed in the engage
ment noticed, the Statesman says, had been in
tw enty-seven battles during the war, and
strangely enough, survived them to fall finally
at the hands OF Snake Indian. The SAFES
man had a report that, as the result of the chas-
tisement by Captain Walker, the "Snake" tribe
were anxious for treaty, and says thai Gov
ernor Lyon was that day going to meet them
Wi.