Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-03-14

hostile forces. l think We were about
five or six miles from our camp, Oh our
return, when We we're met by Saltise and
Father josef, Of the old Occur dAlene
mission, Saltise told Col. Stcptoe that he
wanted to talk, 30 the column halted,
Father Josef acted as interpreter. l
was near and heard all that was said.
Sal,ise was trying to deceive Col Steptoe
and Father josef knew it, and he might
have done so but the Nee Perez, Levi,
who understood the language, rode up
to the side OF Saltisc aud said: "You
are talking with forked tongue; you
tell this white chief, 4 mean peace :;
what do you mean by telling your people
on the bill side, at the same time, TO
wait little, hold on" He, Levi, then
struck Saltise blow on the eide Of the
head. This ended tho conversation
between Saltise and Steptoe. The
column then moved on. Col. Steptoe
ordered Lieut.. CASTOR to take fifteen
men and deploy them tanker on the
right. He did not place any on the left
as the country would not admit of it. I
think about twenty minutes after Saltise
and Father josef left us, the "ball'
opened, aud, l think, Ssltise fred the
first gun. 1t might have boon signal,
for very soon after Lieut.. Castor sent
word to Col. Steptoe that the Indians
were firing and asked for orders. The
colonel directed him to hold his fire.
Soon after he, CASTOR, reported he had
man wounded, and what to do. The
colonel again directed him to hold his
fire. To this the lieutenant said that he
would not sec his men shot down without
resistance, and he would open the ball
himself. With that the battle CON-
mencsd. This point is in the canyon of
North Pine creek, about three miles
from the town of Rosalia. In the FIRST
part Of the battle CASTOR was ordered to
rejoin the main column. He did 90. and
We then fought our way to the table
land between the North and South Pine
creek. There We made stand, and
Gregg and Fender we're ordered to
charge the indians, which they did in
gallant manner, but having left their
sabers behind, at Walla Walla, aud
having poor guns, they only succeeded
in driving the Indians back, without
inficting any serious loss to them, aud,
fortunately, received no injury from the
Indians. In this charge one Neg Perez
courier was killed in mistake for hostile
BY Sargent Williams, LIST sargent of E
troup, who was afterwards severely
wounded in this battle, and, iu our
retreat, was lost from the command and
killed by the Palouse Indians at the
mouth Of the Palouse river. The
column was ordered to move on, and
Col. Steptoe, not being able to locate
Lieut.. CASTOR, l was sent to End him,
with instructions or orders, as the troops
we're about to proceed, he would deploy
bis men Is ffankers on the left. That
was the last time l saw poor CASTOR
Lieut.. james Wheeler, Of G troop, was
on the right With fifteen men as fiaukers.
In this order the column moved on.
We marched about three miles when the
Indians made strong attack on CASTOR.
This officer made as gallant fight a.
did Gen. Custer at the time of his death:
he fought until surrounded and over
come by numbers, and died fighting
His little squad Of men, having exhausted
their ammunition, we're forced to Join
the main column. They came running
down the hill, some hatless and some
dismounted. They stated that CASTOR
was killed, and they were helpless With
out ammunition. I Immediately sup
piled them from the pack train. At this
time Capt. Taylor was shot in the back
of the neck, near the spinal column, and
knocked off Of his horse. Two soldiers
Immediately rushed to his assistance, one
by the name Of Poisal and the other
Trimble, now retired as major u. S. A..
They were lifting the captain on his
horse when he was struck by second
shot near the first wound. This mads
him speeches. and he died short time
after. This closed the fight which
had continued all day. How much
injury had been done to tho Indians
could not be known. They were better
supplied with ammunition and arms,
which they obtained from the Hudson
Bay company. We went into camp at
or near the point where Taylor was shot,
or which is about two miles from Resale,
where the S l. p r. r. leaves Pine creek.