, 1882-03-11
OFFICIAL REPORT
OF Lieut-Col. Kelly. OF the Battle
Between the Oregon Mounted
Volunteers and the Indians.
HEADQUARTERS LIFT COLUNS.
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| Fort Bennett December Il 1850
To wv Il. FAERAR, Adj Isl. R.yt or:
Sr-On the evening of the Sth inst. l
gave yOu a hasty report of our battle with
Indians up TO the close of the sec-nd DAYS
fight, and then stated that at a future time
| would give a more detailed account of
all transactions that occurred since the
march from the Umatilla river. Owing
to active engagements IN the field, and in
pursuit Of the Indians, have not hither-
10 had leisure TO make that report
As soon as il Was dark on the evening
of the "a, proceeded with MY command
from Fort Henrietta 10 Wala Walia,
having left detachment of twenty five
men, under command Of Lieut. Sword, TO
protect the former post. On the morning
of the 81 We encamped on the hank of the
Walla Walla river about four miles from
the fort, and proceeding to the after place
found it had been pillaged by the In
iians, the builiings much deiaeed and
the furniture DESTROYED
On the morning of the oh body of
Indians was observed on the opposite side
Of the Coiunb;a, apparently making
preparations to Cross the river with a
large amount of Of baggage. Seeingus in
possession OF the fort, they were deferred
from making the attempt, when sent
small detchment down to a bar, making
in to the Columbia Immediately below the
mouth of the Walla Walla, and opposite
u where the Indians We're, with direc-
tons to fre upon them and prevent the
removal Of their packs Of provisions The
width OF the river at this place is about
two hundred and fifty yards, and brisk
fire was at once opened upon the Indians,
which WAS returned by them from behind
the rocks on the opposite shore No
boats could be procured 20 cross the river
in order to secure the provisions or to at
tack the body of Indians, numbering abou.
tifry, made their appearance ON the hill
north Of Walla Walla, who, after survey
ing our encampment, started of III
northeasterly direction. | at once de-
termined To follow in pursuit of them on
the following iay.
Early on the moruing af the 9th ,les-
pached 2i Maj Chiun with one hundred
and fifty men to escort the baggage and
pack trains to the mouth Of the Touchet.
there 10 await my return with the remain
der Of the forces under my command.
On the same morning marched with
about two hundred men to 4 point on the
| Touchet river about twelve miles from its
mouth, with the view of attacking the
Walla Walla Indians, who were supposed
to be encamped there. When | was near
to and making towards the village, Pee
pen mox-mox, the chief of that tribe,
! with SIX other Indians, made their ap-
pearance under tag Of truce He stated
he did not wish to fight, that his people
did not wish to fight, and that on the fol
lowing day he would come and have talk
and make treaty of peace. On consul
tatinn With Hon. Nathan 0lney, Indian
agent, We concluded that this vas simply
L ruse to gam time for removing his village
and preparing TOR battle | stated 10 HIM
that We had come t. chastise him for the
| WRONGS he had Gone 70 our people, and
that we would Mt defer making an at
tack on his people unless he and his FIVE
followers would consent to accompany
and remain with us until all difficulties
were settled told him that he might
60 away under his fag Of Truce if he chose,
but that if he dii So. we would forthwith
attack his village The alternative Was
distinctly made known to him, and to
save his people, he chose to remain with
US hostage fOr the iulilment OF his prom
ises, as did also those who accompanied
him He at TIE same time said that on
the following day he would accompany
us TO his village; that he would then
assemble his people and make them de.iv-
er up all their arms and ammunition, re
store the property which had been taken
| from the white settlers, or pay the full
value of that which could not be restored,
and that he would furnish fresh horses 10
rcmount my command aud cattle to sup
! ply them with rr.cle,ons 10 enable uS Ia
ware var agaius- other hostile tribes VIA"
were Ieagued with him. Having maize
these promises, We rcfrainej from making
ihe attack, thinking, We had him in our
power, that on the next day his promises
would be fulfilled. also permitted INN
to send one of the men Eho accompanied
him to his village to agprise the tribes of
the terms Of the expected treaty, 50 that
they might b. prepared to fulfil H.
On the 9th We marched to the village
and found it entirely deserted, but saw
the Indians in considerable free on the
distant hills and watching our movements
+! [ sent out messenger TO induce them TO
come IN, but could not do so. And viii
! here observe tha, | Lave since learned
from Nez Perez boy who was taken a
the came time with P,e-peu mox mox,
tha. instead OF sending word TO MS people
TO make a treaty OF peace, he sent an or
der for them to remove their w"Inen aud
children ami pre- rare for battle From
all | have since learned, AIN well per
suaded that he was acting with duplicity,
and that he expected 10 entrap my com
mand IN the deep rayine in which his
camp was situated, and make his escape
! from Us We remained At the deserted
village until about o'clock IN the after
noon and seeing no hope OF coming 10
any terms, We proceeded TO the mouth Of
the Touchet with view If going from