The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-09-05
THE INDIAN WAR OF 1855.

serted. Appearances indicated not
only that this had been the camping
ground OF large band for weeks, but
that il had At last been evacuated with
precipitaucy. The slOvenly manner i'm
which the contents Of the numerous
caches had been handled in removing,
attested the excitement aud haste that
had attended their preparations for
flight. -t-s-vi.lage had contained not
less than one hundred lodges, aud had
evidently been intended for their winter
quarters. But they babe hasty and
no doubt reluctant farewell to their
well-chosen rendezvous, just as a winter
Of unusual rigor was upon them, aud
fed toward the Nez Perces country.
Some Of US followed them TO the mouth
Of the Alpowa, some fifty miles distant,
where they had crossed Snake River
two days previous, when we returned to
Camp Bennett" where headquarters
had been established during our alb
sence. Here we remained a month or
more, during which time the weather
was quite severe. Our supply Of cloth
ing and blankets being wholly made
quate, not few Of Us suffered greatly
from the cold. During the latter part
Of December and first Of January the
temperature was constantly below zero,
while a cutting wind freighted with
PARTICLES Of snow mOaned and shrieked
around Us necessarily. All, mel It
makes me shiver still when recall the
unwelcome voice of the duty sergeant
as he grullly summoned me from my
not too comfortable bunk at midnight
to repair TO some bleak point to 90
guard duty, my bare toes prOtruding
from my dilapidated boots, aud only a
'kanaka" coat to shield my body from
the piercing blasts. We had plenty to
eat, however, as hundreds OF fat cattle
roamed unguarded over the valley, and
were appropriated with downright prod
igality. Yet msledictions without
stint were heaped upon the absent head
Of old "Sorrel-top," the commissary
who, instead of bestirring himself TO
provide US a more varied bill OF fare,
was understood to be roasting his shins
by blazing oak-ire at The Dalles.
With US were a number of friendly (?)
Indians, and one day, seeing "tele-
graph smoke" burst forth on the sum-
init Of hill some miles distant, my
thirst for u-eiul knowledge asserted
itself, aud I essayed the doubtful task Of
at once acquiring a full knowledge OF
their nature and Specification. For by
what means these peculiar pillars OF
smoke are produced, or the language
they convey to the initiated, is a secret
very few Of the benighted white race
have ever been fortunate enough to
possess. Often had we viewed these fu-
mid columns shoot heavenward and
disappear, when another and another,
miles or leagues away, wouM as sud-
denly burst forth and as quickly fade.
Our interpreter assured me that his in-
tellect had ever refused to grapple with
subjects so profound, and that he was
really as ignorant Of these phenomena
as myself. At length / bethought my
self that l had never known an Indian
/ to possess anything that he would not
exchange for whisky. 1 accordingly
asked one of the most garrulous OF the
parasites that infested our camp If b,
would "disciple" me if ! should reward
him with a bottle of that coveted bever
age, and he surrendered at once and On
, conditionally. My spirits mounted L
: the very summit Of the Pisgah Of joyfu
. anticipation, for I expected now {,
4, pierce with glad eyes tire gloom tina
had ever hidden this promised land o
8 knowledge from the wondering eyes o
my unfavored race. But fate, crue
tate, stepped in at once to blast m!
s hopes, aud l have been compelled T.
} groPe my way in total darkness re
! specting this transcendently importan
/ subject, even to the present day, for
5 had no whisky.
About the middle of February, Com
pany + returning to Portland to be dis
r charged, took transfer to COMPANY
/. H. then under the command Of Antoin
REVERE. Captain Reviere's father &C
! compauied the Lewis and Clarke expe
j dition to this country in 1893, and, wit
= two Others, chose to cut himself of for
e ever from friends and home, and al
il the blessings Of civilization, and bur
himself among the squalid savages &
the Pacific Coast. Aud here he re
e mained uninterrupted, aud, as I bay
j. recently learned, passed awav at in
!, ripe age OF about one hundred years a
: the beginning Of the present deead,
"a But feel that it is simple Justice
Is Captain REVERE aud his uncoutb An
e registering command, to say that
4 braver, more maguanimous or trul
! hospitable set Of men never lived than
: found them in every emergency, and o
d all occasions. True, when infiamed b
y liquor they were like a set of crazy d,
n mons, t0wdrd each other, and woul
:. often quarrel aud fight among then
IS selves. But let me, mere youth as
!, was at the time, appear and pleasant
-e invite them to desist, and instantl
IL anger was chased away by pleasar
n smiles, aud every hand was staye,
: And l verify believe that, had one
'e them so far departed from the inbor
politeness that distinguishes their pi
.o1 o,,csstrv a. IN hava Iiftad a hon