, 1878-07-27
THE INDIAN WAR.

UMAraLA. July 1S.-Major Barnhart'l
sheep-herder came in last night and seys
Indians, several hundred strong, wer.
moving toward Mckay creek yesterday
with quite herd of horses and small
band of sheep with them. He thinks
the squaws and children went all in
this band. He says they went into
camp at umahowlish' = place. near them
He was two days coming from Sheep
Ranch and Indians were in sight mosi
of the time until he got out into the
open country.
LA GRANDE. July Is, 1873
Gen j. A. Sladen. Fort sVancouuer:-I
have the honor to report the situation
as follows: Ats P. NJ. yesterday For
sythe's cavalry column reached Stark
ey's ranch. on Daley's road. following
ninety-three Umatillas who were in
charge of three white scouts. At lis
this morning / learn by courier from
them that at 2 P. II. yesterday the Uma-
tillas struck the trail of the hostiles
twenty miles beyond Starkey's. The
direction Of the trail then was toward
the head of Birch creek. At Z P. NJ
yesterday the hostiles were believed to
be about twenty miles ahead Of the
Umatillas. have ordered the cavalry
to follow them. At II 90 this morning
l received the following from Forsy.he:
re moved from Starkey's in the even>
ing, leaving his pack train at Starkey's
ranch. He found the Umatillas en-
camped on the hostiles' trail. They
had overtaken them at that point,
charged them, killed II bucks, captured
% women and children, ard GO or 70
head of stock. The Umatilas only lost
two ponies. They report the hostiles as
breaking up into small parties and get
ting off as fast as possible The death
Of Eagan evidently demoralized them.
They started to escape Immediately af-
ter it occurred, The Umatillas had
their fight in the vicinity os the east
fork of Birch creek.
Forsythe, with his cavalry column,
moves at seven this morning. II the
hos!iles are breaking up into little
bands. as reported. and as expected, it
will be useless to start Miles infantry
column to follow the cavalry. 1 may
be able to so dispose of the foot troops
as to prevent any organized bands Of
hostiles moving with any large herds
toward the Weiser country. 1 will
probably learn to-day whether TO hold
Miles column about here guarding
passes In this vicinity, or 10 move it
further south or southwest.
The Umatillas have probably iaded
their horses and returned with their
trophies to the reservation. I will
push Sanford and his squadron and the
Nez PeIce scouts west to Granite Creek
Pass 10 cooperate with Forsythe and
to intercept any bands of hostiles com
ing that way ell route to Weiser. l had
ordered Sanford to the mouth of Wolf
Greek, where be now is. I will notify
Esbert and Wagner of the situation and
supposed intention of the hos,ilas to
scatter into small parties and get back
into the Weiser country. / have guards
at Cayuse, Meacham's and Pelican, and
will escort mail coaches from La Grande
10 Umatilla agency until the road is
safe. WHEATON.
UMAT1LLA, July 21.-Dispatches to>
day received by courier from La Grand,
sent by Gen. Frank Wheaton to Gov.
Chadwick, contain the following news:
All seems to work we'll at the present
tine. The hostiles ere badly demoral-
lied and are fleeing for dear lite. The
The Umatillas killed II bucks and car
tured % sluaws at 5 P. NJ on the 18th
inst. l have our cavalry column on
their heels and they cannot stay any,
where. They are trying to scatter now,
but l think the country south of here
is too well covered for them to do much
more damage. I think the end near.
The Umatillas have kept their pledges
and have dore wonders in our interest.
The fight of yesterday took place two
and half miles from Starkey's ranch
on the Daley road. The hostiles re
treated and their trail heads toward
Birch creek. Squaw cartives say they
intended going to the Weiser country.
The gurboat Spokane, under COM
mand of Col. Miles, returned from
Long Island, eighteen miles below here.
on Friday, with one J,dien aad four
horses, captured while trying to cross
the Columbia at that point. The Indi :
az Is Columbia river renegade, recog :
pied by q number of citizens here es a
cultus Indian, who left with one horse
carly in the sp..1g ard has not been
seen since. Yesterday the gunboat