, 1883-07-28
A HARD FIGHT IN 1856.

A HARD FIGHT IN 1855.
About the last of May in 1856, a
well-equipped command of soldiers
under Lieutenant Colonel SteptOe
broke camp at The Dalles, Or, and
took up their line of march for the
Walla Walla Valley, $50 miles dis
tant. The expedition consisted of
six companies of the Ninth United
States Infantry, one battery of the
Third Artillery and one troop of the
First Dragons. The first named
regiment had just reported on the
coast, being newly created by Act Of
Congress in 1855. Thev were armed
with the splendid MIME rifle, and
from their proficiency in the skir-
mish or light infantry drill, were
dubbed the "Shanghais." The artil-
lery and dragons were old seasoned
companies, having been stationed in
the department many years, cam
paigning incessantly. The first days
march was, as usual, short. A halt
was made On Ten mile creek. About
midnight an officer from Fort Dalles
rode rapidly into camp and delivered
an order to our commander, the pur-
port Of which was that he should
march his troops directly back that
the Indians from the Yakima coun-
try and those located at the Cascades
and vicinity had murdered all the
whites. The aroused troopers were
soon on the march. Long before the
dawn Of day the column was clatter-
ing along the trail towards the steam
boat landing, where the diminutive
steamer Mary Ann awaited our ar
rfVtEl. lrifi5 tfttie-tOut eIIIcteC
somewhat tragic part in the affair
now being narrated. She layed tied
to the bank at her usual moOring
when the Indians attacked the
whites. The crew, consisting Of Cap
tain Baughman and two others, be-
ing on shore, endeavored to regain
the steamer. The engineer was shot;
the two others rapidly cast off the
line and trusting to the effort to
make steam, soon placed themselves
in position to go over the rapids,
prefering that means Of destruction
to the tomahawk. Fortune favored
them, however, and the Mary swung
brOadside against an island on the
farther side, where she rested in Sc
curity till she got in readiness, when
she made for The Dllles at her high
est speed. One Of the two aboard
was wound in the final brave attempt
to escape.
Colonel George Wright of the
Ninth Infantry now took command
Of the steamer and what infantry
could be slowed away were rushed
upon the deck; also the artillery
company, with two mounted how
itzers, were put on board. A large,
leaky scOw was made fast alongside
and into this the dragons, with
horses and equipments, crowded.
Thus, in four short hours from the
time the courier reached our camp,
ten miles away, the little Mary was
rounding out into the broad Column
bia with the principle part Of the
force the camp contained. In those
days travel was slow by any route in
the far West, so at the end Of our
first days trip we were yet ten miles
from our destination, fOrty-five
miles from our starting point. A
bivouac was made and the journey
resumed in ahaut time 10 fetch us to
the Cascades at daybreak. Eyes
were now strained and heads in
clined in listening attitude as we ap-
preached the shore. The first at
traction was the firing Of guns and
waving Of flags from Bradford's
store, where quite party Of whites
were held in barricade by the hos
tiles. This demonstration had hard
ly greeted US when a volley from
the forest lined bank told us the red
skins were awaiting us also. Now
as the cavalry were, by bad luck, on
the side nearest the shore, their con-
sternation can be imagined. Quick
ly, however, the little boats nose
was buried in the mud and every
man sprang ashore. The infantry
jumped pell-mell into the water and
made directly for the timber, which
at that date was close at hand. A
line was soon formed. The little
hOwitzers were discharged from the
deck, raking and clearing the woods
far in front. The Indians who gath
cred to offer resistance were soon
driven back, the troops following
close upon their heels. Soon four Of
them were picked up and further on
another, lying prone beside half
empty whisky barrel, a miserable
victim Of intemperance. He receiv-
ed no opportunity to take the pledge.
Onward the skirmishers swept, over
the fallen logs, through the dense
brush, never haltlng till comrade
voices at the block-house told us they
still held the fort. This small de-