, 1882-03-11
Indians. Immediately all the companies

main With the baggage commenced an
eager chase Of the Indians in sight. A
running fight MAS the consequence, the
force of the Indians increasing every mile.
Several of the enemy were killed in the
chase before reaching the farm Of la.
Royne which Is about l. miles from the
mouth of the TouChet At this point they
made a stand, their lef. resting ON the
river covered with trees and underbrush,
their center occupying the Hat at this
place covered with elumps Of sage bushes
and small sand knobs their right on the
high ridge Of hills which skirt the river
bottom
When The volunteers reached this point
they were not more than 80 or % men,
being those mounted upon the heetest
horses. Upon these the Indians poured
a murderous fre from the brushwood and
willows along the river, and from the sage
bushes along the plain, wounding a num-
Der Of the volunteers. The men fell back
The moment was critical They were
commanded to cross the fence which sur
rounds La Royne's field and charge upon
the Indians IN the brush In executing
this order Lieut.. Burrows Of Co. II was
killed, and Capt. Munsun of Co. | Isaac
Miller, Sergt. Major, and Il. W. Smith
Of Co. 4, were wounded. \ despatch
having been sent to Capt Wilson Of Co.
A, to come forward, he and his company
came up on gallop, dismounted at a
slough, and with fixed bavonets pushed
on through the brush. la the Course Of
half an hour Capt Bennett was on the
ground with Co. +, and with this acccs-
sion the enemy We're steadily driven for
ward for two miles, when they took pos
session of farm house and close fence.
in attempting TO carry which, Capt Ben
son of Co. F, and private kelso OF ca. A,
we're killed
A hoxi;zer found at Fort Walla Walla,
under charge of Capt Wilson, by this
time was brought 20 bear upon the enc
my. Four Iounds were fired when the
the piece bursted, wouudins Capt. VII
SON The Indians then gave Way at all
points, and the house and fence were
siezei and held ty the volunteers and
the bodies Of cur men recovered. These
positions were held by us until nightfall
when the volunteers fell. SLOWLY back and
returned uumo!ested to camp.
Early on the morning Of :he Slh the
Indians appeared with increased foEces,
amounting to fully SIX hundred warriors.
They We're posted as usual i'll the thick
brush by the river among the sage bush
g, and sand knulls, ani on the surround
ing hills This day Lieut.. Pillow with
Co. 4, and Lieut. ilannon with ca. HI
were ordered to take and hold the brush
skirtins the river and the sage bushes on
the plain. Lieut. Fellows with Co. F.
was directed To take and keep the pos
SESSION of the point at the foot of the
hill. Lieut. JefIries with ca. Il, Lieut..
Hand with Co. |, and Capt Cornpyer
with Co. X, we're posted on three several
points on the hills with orders to MAIN
tain them and to assIil the enemy on
other points Of the same hills. AS usual
the Indians We're driven from their posi-
tlon, although they fought with skill and
bravery.
Ga the 9th they did not make their an
pcarance until about ten O'Clock in the
morning, and then in somewhat dimin-
ished numbers. As | had sent to Fort
Henrietta for companies u and f, and
expected them Oh The 10th, ! thought 1t
best To- act on the defensive and hold our
positions which were the same "a on the
S!h, until We could get an accession to
cur forces sufficient t" enable us TO assail
their rear and cut IF their retreat. An
attack MAS made during he day "n com
p2nies 4 and Ii IN the brush wood, and
upon Il on the hall, both Of which were
repulsed with great gall4ntry by those
companies. and with cunsid rabIe loss to
the enemy. Companies F, | and X also
did great honor 10 themselves in repellIDg
all approaches to their positions, although
III doing 50 one man Ia company +, and
one in company w~re severely wounded.
Darkness as usual closed the combat, by
the enemy Withdrawing from the field.
oSins 10 the Inclemency f the night TIE
companies On the hull we're Withdrawn
from their vera! positions, company Il
didl!ublili- 40 iiiE li'o hh4Nh wv "'"'N
BY the men Of that company for rs pTO-
tect:nn At early dawn on the next day
the Indians we're observed from our camp
to be in possession of all points held by
us on the preceding day. Upon seeing
them Lieut. McAulif Of Co. Il calamity
observed that his company lad Gug those
holes and that after breakfast they would
have Them again, and vel was hrs declara-
ton fulfilled, for in less than half an
hour the enemy vas driven from the pits
and fed 70 an adjoining hill which they
had occupied the day hefere. This pOsi
ton Eas at once assailed- Capt Cornnyer
with Co. +, and portion OF ca. ], being
mounted, gailantly charged the enemy on
his right flank, while Lieut. MeAulitf
with c., i dismounted, rushed up the
hill in face Of heavy FIRE and scattered
them in all directions. They at once fed
in all directions to return 10 this battle
field 10 more. ami thus ended our long
contested fight
! have already given you list Of the
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