East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-09

uidIl DN lHt nditlt VI w OIL SKIN, WHO
was very talkative, tried to make his
escape by running, but his guard at
that time being the fleetest runner in
the command. overhauled his prisoner
in 100 yards distance and brought him
back to camp. After this the prison.
ers were all tied until morning.
Early dawn revealed the fact that
half of Five Crows army was on the
hills surrounding camp which sub
stantiates without doubt the narra-
tive related by the young Nez Perce
prisoner.
Battle of Walla Walla.
on the morning of December I,
1855, Companies b and II crossed the
Touchet, and formed in line; soon af-
ter Companies l and X fell In line:
Companies A and F were detailed to
take charge of the baggage wagons
and prisoners. The Indians had been
gathering in considerable numbers, on
our left and front, and before any
movement to start had been made by
the volunteers the report of a gun
was heard on our left.
This seemed to be the signal to
charge, and the companies formed in
line. dashed forth and opened a heavy
fire on the enemy as they ran. A
running fight ensued. the Indians
taking across the hills eastward to
the Walla Walla river, the volun-
teers pursuing at the top of their
speed, shooting whenever an oppor-
, tunity presented itself. Those having
the fastest horses sped away, leaving
others behind, until they became
wildly scattered. My horse not being
as fleet as some, the consequences
were l did not get along as fast as
some. but soon found I was nearing
the front, from the sound of musketry
and deafening yells of the Indians.
The forces OF the enem.' kept in
creasing in numbers from the time
he skirmish commenced until we
reached the Walla Walla river at the
Laroque cabin, while the forces of
the volunteers were growing less and
more widely scattered. Here the en-
emy became stubborn and slow to
move.
al This gave the volunteers who had
I been left behind an opportunity to
come to the front The Indians were
driven back almost at the point of
the bayonet short distance above
the Laroque cabin. BY this time
their whole force became engaged in
battle, and estimates were made of
o their number by different ones, which
ranged from 500 to 1000. My own
: estimate put down in my diary at the
: time was 1000. George Stevens, who
8 crossed the Bitter Root mountains
Z about the time the battle took place,
= and who came into our camp few
II days later after It ended, in short
y speech, said: "Peu Peu Mox Mox, the
u great Walla Walla chief was extreme
70 " hostile to myself and party, and
~ he had repeatedly said l should never
% reach The Dalles. l owe my life to
the Oregon Mounted Volunteers who
IT engaged the Indians In battle at
n Walla Walla. This was the means Of
y drawing all the Indians out of the
g country through which I had to pass.
le They were all engaged in battle there,
IL numbering from 1900 to 1900 war
l. riors." From Governor Stevens re-
port my estimate is low, but be this
is as it may, their numbers were SO
lie overwhelmingly in excess OF ours
lie hat our forces were checked
'u The hills were on our left and the
ie liver on our right. The Indians form
u. ed a line across the plains from the
IA foothills to the river The plain was
Ill partially covered with brush. The
'h hills were covered with mounted hos
VS. tiles. who played an active part ant
10 were commanded by leaders o
matchless skill and daring. Theii
W purpose was to leave no foe to ris'
lis behind them. Their policv was tn
ne policy of determination. Their flag
Ok were the scalps OF our people
Oh murdered in cold blood, whose gra,
We locks floate1 from the top of tn
sn poles raised on every prominent poin
rs on the hills to our left, with squad
ot If those bIoo'v fiends dancing tn
., war dance around them.
Was a Furious Fight.
nix From the brush on the plain an
er the timber on the river they poure
4 murderous five m the volunteers
who were com~el'e1 to fan bach
This was the hottest place anvwher
W Turing the enga cement. Here Hen
''c rv Crow and s G. Van Haeerman fe
NY mortalIy wounded ~ this criticf
er moment Lieutenant T. NJ. burrows c
WIS Company Fl was ordered to take
'aS detachment of mon and cross tn
PIE fence that surrounds the Laronu
ol "a bin and charpe the Indians fror
ed -, ..o ,u,.,,. Lo,ra ono
II