The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-03


quar,ermaster. was mentioned, as having
rendered efficient service. He was one of
the storming party of Ell Molino del Rey,
September s. 1877, having charge, with an
other officer. OF a detail of 100 men, and for
gallant and meritorious conduct was bre-
vetted captain. At the battle of Chapulte-
pee. September Is. 1s41. Lieut.. Halter Is
especially mentioned in the report OF
Brevet Col. John Garland as having shown
evidence of courage and good conduct"
and for his service on this occasion he
was brevetted major. Shortly before the
close OF the Mexican war. January l, isss.
Lieut.. Halter was promoted 10 captaincy
In the Fourth infantry. For time he
was employed at mastering out men who
had enlisted during the war. after which
he was assigned to recruiting duty.
ON the PaciRc Coast.
In 1852 Breyet Major I.arned's and Hal
ier's companies were ordered to the de-
partment of the Pacific. They sailed In
the United States ship Fredonia. via Cape
Horn. arriving at San Francisco In June.
1853. having spent seven months on the
voyage. Major Iarned's company pro-
cecded To Fort Steilacoom. Washington
TERRITORY. and Hallers company TO For,
Dalles Or Toward the fail OF 1854 small
company of emigrants. consisting OF a Mr..
Ward his family aud few others. were
murdered by the hostile Indians at Boise
river. Major Halter. with small detaeh-
ment itwenty-six enlisted men. half OF the
garrison at Fort DalIes) was dispatched to
guard the enligranfs and. II. possible, chas-
tise the murderers. ON the route he was
Joined by Capt. Nathan Oiney and num-
Der Of citizens who volunteered to resent
the attack upon the emigrants, whose
numbers were Increased by emigrants on
the road, They arrested four Indians at
the Hudson Ray Fort Boise, who had been
charged with the murder and we're tried
before military commission and each
admitted his share in the massacre one
made an attempt TO escape. and Was shot
dead by the guard. The other three were
hanged on the massacre grounds within
sight of the pyramid OF bones OF their vic
Tins. Others OF the hostile band were can
tured and two. while trying TO escape.
were shot. Thus the band OF murderers
| was broken up. and MalAr Halter returned
/ with his command 70 Fort Dalies In 1876
| with n respectable force he proceeded as
| far Salmon falls. ON the Snake river
where IL was ascertained that some OF the
| assassins had Just left with shod horse
| and mule belonging 20 the Ward party
| and secuted 10 the head waters of the
Missouri river following he tracks of the
! murdercrs ON the return trip these In
| dams were captured. the guilty hanged
/ and the rest brought hack as prisoners.
| Upon his return he found the old
/ friends Of the whites greatly excited the
/ Yakima Indians under arms and the In
dian agent Bolen. had been murdered.
/ MAJ Halter with a small force proceeded
| to the Nakima country. meeting the In
| dams near the present site az Fort Sim
che. where the fighting commenced. His
| little band 81 100 men against So Indians
was unevenly matched and a retreat for
| an increased force became necessary. He.
| however. discovered the well-laia plans of
the Indians for making war and this in
| teiiigence aroused the people 20 rcaliza-
| ton " their danger. and the governors
| 81 Oregon and Washington called for
| volunteers. With a concerted movement
the Indians were ultimately overcome and
| scattered
| In KS MAJ Halter was ordered tn esfah-
! lish q fort near Port Townsend for he
protection 81 the inhabitants in ease Of a
! raid from the Northern indians lie sub
I soqusntly relieved Whatcom when Invaded
/ by the Naoksack Indians. participated In
/ the san Juan irnbroeuo in fSsa. was order
/ II Co Fort AoiaFe. AriE.. Ia 1871 aud 20
{ MsshIBgtof. -. - ~ 1851 70 partieinate
! IA the VAR for the suppression Of the re-
hellion. Upoa arriving az Washington Re
| found that he bad been promoted 10 be
major - the seventh infantry. Septena-
/ ber . ISL. The members ~ this rees-
utaUt had become prisoners % var IN
Texas. and were not sf liberty ~ neht
/ TIE enemy until exchanged Thereufon
| he rep'rtrsi On Gen Mcclellan. who at
tAched him to she provost marshal gen
/ eralH staF tUicn, Andrew Porter. shortly
attefw&ro p" was appointed conma rstiant
general of the general headquarters and
attached 81 tscn MrNlellau's star hav-
ms under hts command tn thaf canas.f,
the Ntnety-third regiment q New York
volunteer He MAS fhuE .ran5r.>-s
throughout we hlfetnla and MARYLAND
/ campaign. IN Juiy. Iss1 Mai HaIler vas
relieved from service accused OK ,sf~-
Io2a} coucuet end the uttsrancs 81 as
FeSa continents Astenisne{ bsrars
| measure. he demanded an invrssts-afi-.-
| anf hearing. but In fae excitement ~ a..
W. ais Efforts we're unsnccessfuf ana
/ even after she war has appeal VS. n,f
fessasnszsa untsl iu March fS,s when r,r-
Sress allowed = court 81 inquirv He rs
triei az NashlnSfan CITY. when m. -
netsl papers IA his ease we're ~utsr,f,t.4
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