, 1878-07-13
THE INDIAN WAR.
UMATILLA, July 7th.

OMATlLLA, July I'LL.
Gen. Gates, The Dalles- Voluu-
teers, so strong, had fight at Will
low Springs, so miles south of Pen
dleton; two-thirds of the company
killed, wounded and missing. Send
here as many men as possible and
at once. Arm them as far as you
can; will arm the balance here.
S. T. CHADWICK.
UMATIL1A, July TIA. NJ.
Nathaniel Dougherty, a special
courier from Pendleton, says that
company of 80 volunteers left Pen
dleton on the 9th for Camas prairie.
He says that on the head of Birch
creek, at place called Willow
Springs, about 80 miles south of
Pendleton, they encountered hos
tiles, supposed to be between 500
and 600 strong, and that only seven
are known to have escaped. These
sevev say they were surrounded by
the Indians. 1t is supposed that
the rest are killed. Two of these
were wounded. Can't. Sperry. Mr..
Rothschild, Jacob Frazier and Jas.
Wilson are reported among the
killed. Arthur Crisfield and others
are wounded and missing.
Gen. Sawtelle telegraphs to Capt.
Sladen from Vancouver under date
of July 7th:
Gov. Chadwick telegraphs from
Umatilla that two scouts have ar
rived from Gen. Howard who was
20 miles from Camas prairie yester-
day, and is moving on. Bernard is
with Howard. Throekmorton's
command is near Camas prairie,
where the indians are reported in
force the scouts say about 1000.
Under date of July 7th, Governor
! Chadwick telegraphs as follows to
Capt. J. A. Sladen:
Volunteers under Capt. Sperry, so
strong, were defeated at Willow
Springs, 80 miles south of Pendle-
ton, yesterday. Sperry is killed.
and nearly all of his command kill
ed or wounded. We can hear of but
seven left.
Captain Kress is now here with
steamer. l am trying now to re-
move women and children (some 80
families now here) to points of safety
down the river. The Indians are
still south of this point sixty miles.
have couriers out. Sent 100 guns
to Pendleton this morning.
SECOND DISPATCH.
UMAr1LLA, July 7th-4P P. N.
The following dispatch is received
by Gov. Chadwick, dated Pendle-
ton, July 9th:
We are in great danger from the
Indians. Our troops that went to
the front from hes so strong were
attat. Springs.
and from those W
must be over half
killed. OF those
are wounde
others won
We have
not over half of them red. If
possible, send us arms Ice.
J. B. KEENEY.
CAPT. sPERRY's REPORT.
UMATILLA, July 7th.
The following is from Pendleto'
July 7th-2P.M
To Cor Chad,cick. Umatilla-.
2:30 P. NJ. on the 9th, we were a
tackled by Indians while takin
lunch at Willow Springs. about 8
miles distant from Pendleton. Th.
Indians surrounded our company o,
45 volunteers. Eleven or twelve
men bolted through the ranks tf
the Indians and left the remainde !,
who fought bravely under the cover
of sheep shed. Fighting lasted
about six hours. when the Ind; Is
moved off. At IL o'clock, midnisnt,
volunteers moved toward Pendleton.
About half mile from the scene of
battle, the Indians again attacked us
by firing from both sides, being
within Is yards of our men. Firing
lasted but few minutes. The men
moved on a few hundred yards and
were attacked again. They moved
again, perhaps mile and a half,
and were fired on again, and then
moved miles and were fred upon
for the last time. The number of
Indians is estimated at from 100 to
$50. Some Indians were killed.
Two volunteers we're killed and
eight men wounded.
Signed J. l.. SPERRY.
Il