Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-02

Phil sheridan's Gallant Pursuit Of
the sava&es-Frentier warfare.

1 nc f00aef W0B18re.
About the LIST OF May, 1886, a well
equipped command of soldiers undel
Lieutenant Colonel Steptoe broke camy
at The Dalles. Or, and took up then
line of march for the Walla Walia val.
ley. los miles distant. 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 regi.
ment had just reported on the coast, be-
ing newly recruited by Act Of Congress
IN 1855. They were armed With the
splendid Mimic rife, and from their
proficiency in the skirmish or light in
fantry drill, were dubbed the '-Shang-
hais-" The artillery and dragons were
all seasoned companies, having been
stationed IN the department many
years, campaigning necessarily. The
nrst days march was, as is usual, very
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 purport of which was that be should
march his troops directly back; that the
INDIANS from the Yakima country and
those at the Cascades had murdered all
the whites. The aroused troopers were
soon on the march. Long before the
dawn OF day the column was Gathering
along :he trail towards the steamboat
landing, where the diminutive steamer
Mary Ann awaited our arrival. This
little boat enacted somewhat tragic
part IN the affair now being narrated.
She lay tied to the bank at her usual
noorings when the Indians attacked
fhA WhIfaQ Tha "a
Captain BauRhman and two others,
on shore, endeavored to regain the
steamer. The engineer was shot; the
two others rapidly cast off the line, and
trusting to their efforts to make steam.
soon placed themselves in a position TO
go over the rapids, preferring that means
OF destruction to the tomahawk. For
tune favored them, however, and the
Mary swung broadside against AN island
on the farther side, where she rested in
security till she got in readiness, wnen
she made The Dalles at her highest
speed. One of the two aboard was
wounded 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
deck: also the artillery company, with
two mounted howitzers were put on
board. A large, leaky Sow was made
fast alongside, and into this the dra-
gOons, 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 Colum-
bia with tho principal part of the force
the camp contained. In those DAYS
travel was slow by any route in the far
west, 80 at the end of our first DAYS
trip We were yet ten miles from our des-
tination, forty-five miles from the start
ing point. A bivouac was made and the
journey resumed in about time to fetch
US to the Cascades at daybreak. Eyes
were now strained and heads inclined
in listening attitude as we approached
the shore. The first attraction was the
firing of guns and waving of flags from
Bradford's store. where quite party of
whites were held in barricade BY the
hostiles. This demonstration had hard
ly greeted Us when a yolley from the
forest lined bank told US the redskins
were awaiting US also. Now as the cav
airy were, by bad luck, on the side near
est the shore, their CONSERVATION can be
imagined. Quickly, 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, rakin0 and
clearing the woods far in front. The
Indians who gathered to offer resist
ance were soon driven back, the troops
following close upon their heels. Soon
four of them were picked up and far
ther on another, lying prone beside
half empty whiskey barrel, a miserable
victim of intemporance. He received
no opportunity to take the pledge. On
ward the skirm ishers swept, over the
fallen logs, through the dense brush,
never hating till oomrade voices at the
blOckhOuse told rs they still held the
fort. This small detachment had been
stationed here at the center of the port
age regularly for some months and suf-
fored the first onslaught of the Indians,
losing one of their number; but they
kept them at bay for some thirty hours,
although they numbered only six
against more than hundred. Soon a
spirited firing was heard still on toward
the lower portage. This proved to be
the skirmishers, commanded by Lieut..
Phil. Sheridan. who, with his usual en-
ergy, was driving the hostiles from that
vicinity.
The action of the military from The
Dalles above and the garrison of Van
oouver below was Simultaneous 80 the
redskins were compelled to vacate the
whole section they had contemplated
devastating and which they had rem
dered quite undesirable for settlement
for some years. A system of securing
the brush by skirmishers was kept up
for several days, until the enemy could
no longer be found or heard. Many
amusing and serious mishaps occurred
among the raw soldiers, especially at
night, when burnt stumps and black
powders were easily clothed with
blankets and other savage semblances.
A remnant Of the war party was cap
tared on an island Just below the mid
die rapids, to which refuge they were
chased with much difficulty and danger.
The able-bod bucks, numbering
eight, were promptly hanged by order
Of our commander, after an examina-
ton by a commission Of officers. They
all met their death stoically, with the
exception Of one burly and powerful
fellow, who no excited the ire Of an CO.
centric lieutenant that the latter dis
charged the contents Of his. revolver
into the body while it was swinging
from the scaffold. The dragons were
kept constantly busy after the fighting
ended in hunting up the victims Of the
slaughter. All were finally found, num-
bering about twenty three. Several in
stances of excessive barbarity were dis
closed in our search and traces of desc
lation were abundant. I am, however,
happy to say that since this trouble the
peaceful dwellers in the shadows Of
these gigantic mountains have not
been again disturbed by the savages.
The troops remained at the Cascades
| until two substantial block houses had
been erected. Leving sufficient gar
rison, they departed for their several
different posts. The dragons proceed
ed to Hood river. where they had the
pleasure and pain of again meeting the
Yakimas, who in retreating 10 their own
country had halted at this point on the
Columbia, midway between the portage
and the Dalles. TO fire and destroy some
cabins and drive of some cattle. As
they we're posted on the north or the
opposite bank, considerable risk was
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