The New York herald., 1878-07-11
CAPTURE OF AMMUNITION.
Five Enlisted Men Wounded and
Twenty Horses Killed.
REPORTS OF INDIAN AGENTS
Encroachments by White Settlers on
Indian Lands.

WASHINGTON, July TO- 1873
The following telegram received this morn,ng:--
SAN FRANCISCO, July 0, 1875
To General snERMAS--rne following despatch
received from General Howard. dated Head OF Birch
Greek, July S.
At Pilot Rock formed junction with tho troops,
General Wheaton having been ordered to meet
me there with tho force under rhrock-
morton. II being uncertain IRON conflicting re-
ports whether the main body of tho hostiIes was
near tho head of Butler Creek or nearer the
Columbia crossing, sent two excellent scouts
to place their camp, and at sunrise moved two
columns one under Tnrockmorton, consisting Of two
companies oi artillery. ono of infantry and a few
volunteers which proceeded by tho stage road d-
rec.y 10 Butler Creek Post ONCE. Tho other column
consisting OF sovcn companies First Cavalry Dat
TALON under Colonel Bernard, aud sevsrally com
msndcc by Captains McGrcgor, whipplc. Bendirc
Winters, Parnel. Ward ana Bomus with about twenty
OF Roboins' scouts and a Calling gun. 1
accompanied Bernsrd's column We had pro-
ceeded three milos toward tho head
OF Butler Creek when We met tho two
scouts, who reported tho Indians force on a height
about three miles from Bernard, taking tho tro
moved quickly into position those troublesome
loot hills the least OF which Is fenced by eany on aud
over mile In tho asccnt Tho cavalry sped from hill
to hill TIL In the vicinity OF the enomy, strongly
posted on n rocky crest. AL the companies, cxcep.
Mcorogor's. with the jack train, were depoyed and
used during the engagement The advance was
along several approaches in handsome manner. not
a man falling out Of the ranks
THE HEIGHT
Tho different sides OF tho hill wers sleeper thnn
Missionary Ridge still the troops, though encounter.
ing severe Are that empticd saddles and
killed many horses, did wnvcr, bu. skrmshed to
she very top tho cnemy abandoning his position and
running TO the next height in the rear slightly higher
especially with natural cefcnces Of lava rock
In twenty minutes tho height was charged from
different sides and taken.
PURSUIT INDIANS.
Thence commenced q rapid pursuit OF flying Ind
ians who abandoned their spare horses that were on
the field, perhaps two hundred, mostly jadsd and
worthless; also provisions, ammunttion End camp
mat riai The nostos struck for the thick pincs
which rest tho Blue Ridge and again made stand,
the trees for dsfsncs agnin the cavalry pressed
them In front and on The flank, amt in a lew minutes
disodRsd thcm third time and pushed them four or
nve miles further In the mountains Tho rough
country and the great exhaustion Of horses and mon
oaused cessation Of pursuit. for 10 day.
TN. KILLED WOUNDED.
In shis battle i've enlisted men wounded and
probably twenty horses killed The encmy's loss In
killed and wounded IL difficult 90 toll Ther womon,
children and best horses In drove wcre we'll out OF
tho way before the battle began, seemingly toward
the Grande Ronde. Tho flight Is IN that direction.
CAPTAIN BERNARD SoBLr.
Captain Bernard rs entitled to special cred, for this
engagement as iadsed for tho entire campaign, and
mis- officers and did as wcll as brave and truo
men soly can do. Could you know the difficulties OF
ibis wilderness you would then appreciate their loyal
services MCDOWELL, Major General
QuARTERs-FIvE ENLISTED MEN WOUNDED
AND TWENTY HORSES KILLEp-A SEVERE
YroHr IN THE LAVA BfDs-rHE INDIANS
PUT TO rLloHr.
San FRANCISCO, CAL, July Q, 1873
A despatch received At The Army Headquarters here
from General Howard, dated at the Head OF Bircn
Creek July s. Gays he found the Indians In force on
the sth tho head OF Butler Crock. He advanced
Two columns, under Major rhrock morton. Of the
Fourth artillery, consisting OF two mpanses OF art
lsry one OF infantry and fcw volunteers, and tho
othcr under Colonel BERNARD, of tho FIRST cavalry
consisting of seven panIcs Of cavalry and twenty
Of Robbins scouts, General Howard accompanying
tho latter column Colonel Bernsrd's scouts notified
him Of tho vicinity OF tho hostiles when tho cavalry
moved forward at .rot over three foot blls. each
over a mile IN ascent. The Indians wsro strongly
posted a rocky crest One company was loft with
the pack train.
ADVANCES UNDER YiRK.
Tho others dopoycd and advanced handsomely
under heavy fire. The ascent is described MS sleeper
than that Of Missionary Ridge, but no man brose
ranks though several saddles cmpiicd and many
horses killed. Tho enemy driven from It's position
another height In tho rear OF the greater elevation
and crowned with natural dcsncss Of lava rocks. la
twenty minutes this position was also stormsd from
different sides at once and rapid pursuit commenced
OF the flying Indians. who abandoned their horses,
provisions, ammunition and camp material
PURSUED THE MOUNTAINS.
Tho hostiics MADE for a thick timber crownpg Blue
Ridge and made another stand, but worc again dis.
lodged and pushed iour nvs miles urthcr into the
mountains The rough country aud the great exhaus-
ton of the men horses caused cessation oisbo
pursuit for tho day.
rivE MES worSpEo
10 this engagement Ave enlisted men were wounded
and sbou, twenty hcrses killed 1t Is impossible to
state the loss OF tho oncmy. Tbs.r women aud chill.
dron aud bss, horses were moved before the light
began apparently In the direction OF Grande Roude
ana the hostiics ncd In that direction. Olrers and
men behaved in the best possible manner throughout
the affair,
MOTHER ACCOUNT or THE vrGHT.
Tho following despatch from Ums,,llu, dated tho
9th inst -
"a letter received from Peudicton, July 8, TO Gov
error Chadwick, says:--Geucrsi Howard ATTACKED
the Indians At Bcssiey's Mil The hos,iics number
about iour hundred. General Howard rcpulsed ,hem
three times ana IL stil nghting lie captured iron,