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 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Received _Q^V^^,„ /^^^ . 
 
 Accessiofis No. 3 ^ ^^ ^ Shelf No. 
 
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Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
 
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 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/armylifeonpacifiOOkiplrich 
 
ARMY LIFE ON THE PACIFIC 
 
 A JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 €^pfMtion|.piitstflj£ ^ortjn'n |iiMans, 
 
 THE TRIBES OF THE 
 
 CCEUR D'ALENES, SPOKANS, AND PELOUZES, 
 
 IN THE SUMMER OF 1858. 
 
 BY 
 
 LAWRENCE KIP, 
 
 SECOND LIEUTENANT OF THE THIRD REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY, U. S. ARMY. 
 
 ►^ OP THE ^ 
 
 'tjniveesit 
 
 ^IFO 
 
 v: 
 
 R'EDriELD, 
 
 No. 34 BEEKMAN STREET, NEW YORK. 
 1859. 
 
PRINTED BY 
 26 Frankfort Street, 
 
 
 i^^O'i. 
 
TO 
 
 MAJ. EDWARD D. TOWNSEOTD, 
 
 ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL UNITED STATES ARMY, 
 THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
0.,NTENTS 
 
 Origij; of the "War 1 
 
 Departure ■ 15 
 
 Fort Dalles and the March 23 
 
 Fort Walla "Walla 31 
 
 Fort Taylor 30 
 
 Battle of the Four Lakes 51 
 
 Battle of -the Spokan Plains 63 
 
 The Ccbur d'Alene Mission "75 
 
 The Cceur d'Alene Council 81 
 
 The Spokan Council 91 
 
 OWHI AND QuALCHIEN 99 
 
 The Dead of the Battle Field 109 
 
 The Pelouze Council 115 
 
 The Return 121 
 
 Conclusion 127 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Colonel Wright's Official Report after the Battle of the 
 
 Four Lakes 131 
 
 Colonel Wright's Official Report after the Battle of the 
 
 Spokan Plains l^T 
 
 Extract from the " General Orders " 141 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The following pages are merely a journal kept during the expedition 
 it attempts to describe, and afterwards prepared for the press. It is an 
 attempt to show the manner in which such an expedition is conducted, 
 and to picture some phases of " Army Life." 
 
 It is the tendency in this country to decry the services of the army 
 and of its officers ; and yet, most of the latter spend the greater part of 
 their lives on the frontiers and in the Indian country. Weeks at a time 
 are passed in scouting against their treacherous foe, enduring every 
 hardship, and daily risking life itself, to open the way for the pioneer 
 and settler. Yet, what is their reward ? When the papers come to 
 them from the regions of civilization, they find themselves stigmatized in 
 editorials, and even in speeches on the floor of Congress, as the drones of 
 society, living on the government, yet a useless encumbrance and expense. 
 
 But, one by one, how many lay down their lives in this cause ! With- 
 out counting those who sink into the grave from sickness produced by 
 unwholesome climates, exposure and hardships, how many more actually 
 meet their deaths on the battle field ! During the last season alone, 
 Taylor, Gaston, Allen and Van Camp have thus shed their blood, and 
 every year the list increases. Yet they fall in battle with an obscure 
 enemy, and little are their sufferings appreciated by the 
 
 " gontlemen 
 
 Who lire at home at ease." 
 
 Of the exposure and hardships, indeed, of our Army, the present jour 
 nal furnishes no fit illustration, for the country in which the expedition 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 was undertaken is comparatively a healthy one. The story is far differ- 
 ent when the scene is among the Everglades of Florida, the burning 
 heats on the Colorado, or the mountain passes of the Apaches. Yet 
 these pages may give some idea of the nature of these expeditions, and 
 the manner in which they are conducted. 
 
 Of the two battles the descriptions are necessarily very general, while 
 for the benefit of the professional reader, the OflScial Reports have been 
 printed in the Appendix. 
 
 These pages having been printed while the writer is on the other side 
 of the continent, he would avail himself of this means of returning his 
 thanks to George L.Duyckinck, Esq., for his kindness and the trouble he 
 has taken in carrying them through the Press. 
 
 ; Fort Vancouver, W. T., December 1th, 1858. 
 
ORIGIN OF THE "WAR. 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 ORIGIN OF THE WAR 
 
 'HE montli of May, 1858, was a disastrous one 
 for the army on the Pacific. On the 8th, Colonel 
 Steptoe set out from Fort Walla Walla, with a 
 small command of one hundred and fifty -nine 
 men, to make a reconnaisance of the country, to 
 examine into affairs at Fort Colville, and to seize 
 some marauders belonging to the Pelouze tribe, who had 
 stolen cattle from the Fort. As this is a feeble tribe, 
 his force was considered quite sufficient to overawe them, 
 while the more powerful tribes through which he was to 
 pass had always professed friendship, and there had been 
 as yet no reason to distrust them. 
 
 On the morning of the 16th, however, after passing 
 Snake river, he found himself unexpectedly in the face of 
 a force estimated at from one thousand to fifteen hundred 
 Indians. They were Spokans, Pelouzes, Coeur d'Alenes, 
 Yakimas, and warriors of the smaller tribes, all painted 
 and in their war dress, evidently meditating an attack. 
 The hills around were covered with them, and it being 
 evidently impossible under such circumstances to pene- 
 trate into the country, it became necessary for his little 
 command to return, and endeavor to make good its way 
 back to Snake river. The train was therefore closed up, 
 2 
 
10 OEIGIN OF THE WAE. 
 
 and a retrograde move begun. Tlie moment tMs was done, 
 the attack commenced, and the fight was kept up through, 
 the whole day. Most of the men, too, were new recruits, 
 who had never before been under fire. Yet everything 
 that could be done by the officers was accomplished. It 
 was a series of gallant charges, driving the Indians back 
 with loss, to have them after a brief interval close up again 
 around the troops. 
 
 Night at last settled down upon the battle field, and 
 found the little command perfectly exhausted, and with 
 their ammunition almost gone. Two officers, — Captain 
 Oliver II. P. Taylor and Lieutenant William Gaston, both, 
 of the First Dragoons, — had fallen, with a number of the 
 men. The remainder were gathered en a rising ground, 
 while every hill around swarmed with their exulting ene- 
 mies, who seemed to have them now completely in their 
 toils. A consultation of the officers was hastily held by 
 Colonel Steptoe, at which there was but one opinion. The 
 force against them was overpowering, and by the next 
 morning would undoubtedly be still further increased : 
 without ammunition they would be almost defenceless, — 
 and it was evident, that long before the close of the next 
 (Jay, not one of the command would be left to tell the 
 story of their fight. 
 
 Nothing remained, therefore, but to attempt a retreat 
 during the night. The bodies of the fallen, which were 
 within their reach, were buried, — the two howitzers were 
 cached^^ — and the command mounted and struck off in the 
 direction of Snake river. Fortunately the Indians did 
 not make a night attack, and their retreat was unimpeded. 
 
 * This is a word introduced by the first Canadian (French) vayagairs and 
 trappers. Pits were dug, where they deposited provisions, or other things, 
 and they were carefully covered so as to conceal all traces from the Indians. 
 They thus often remained for months till reopened by their owners. ! 
 
ORIGIN OF THE WAR. 11 
 
 Still, tliey knew that the morning would bring their foes 
 upon their track, and therefore they pressed on. They 
 rode seventy-five miles by ten o'clock the next morning, 
 and succeeded in crossing the river without the farther 
 loss of a single man, or even of an animal belonging to 
 the command. Here Colonel Steptoe was met by Captain 
 Bent, who, having received intelligence of the ambush, 
 was advancing by forced marches from Fort Walla Walla 
 to his rescue. 
 
 Among those who were reported as " missing" after the 
 fight, were two non-commissioned officers. They were 
 both wounded, but escaped from the Indians ; and finding 
 that the command had retreated, commenced their own 
 return on foot. Fortunately the Indians next day did not 
 follow them, being probably engaged in the division . of 
 plunder, and their attention directed to the main body of 
 the retreating command. After several days they reached 
 the river, where they were seized by the Indians on its 
 banks. One of them, — Sergeant Williams, — they killed, 
 but permitted the other to cross the river, and he finally 
 reached Walla Walla in safety. 
 
 Such is a brief history of this unfortunate affair. I have 
 recurred to it, because it is appropriately the opening 
 chapter of the campaign, and indeed the cause and origin 
 of all our operations through the ensuing season. In the 
 newspapers, too,— many of which are always ready to 
 decry the regular army,— -the greatest injustice has been 
 done to this gallant little party. Surprised by an over- 
 powering hostile force, they fought it out gallantly as long 
 as fighting was practicable, and then made their retreat 
 without any additional loss. 
 
 The Indians of these northern tribes are the most bold 
 and warlike on the continent. Splendid specimens of 
 physical humanity, they are skilful in the use of arms, 
 
12 ORIGIN OF THE WAR. 
 
 and accustomed from childhood almost to live on horse- 
 back. They have seen but little of the whites, except 
 a few straggling miners who during the last year may 
 have passed through their country, and the employes of 
 the Hudson Bay Company, from whom they purchase 
 their muskets and ammunition. For years it has been the 
 object of the latter to inculcate upon them reverence for 
 themselves, and a proportionate contempt for the Ameri- 
 cans. The fight with Colonel Steptoe of course confirmed 
 this impression, and brought out all the smouldering feel- 
 ing of hostility which had before been excited by their 
 fears of the future encroachments of the whites* In fact, 
 the attack on Colonel Steptoe was probably produced by 
 the news they had received of Lieutenant Mullan's party 
 being on their way to survey and lay out a military road 
 through their country. This they regarded as the first 
 step in taking possession of their lands* 
 
 The result was natural. At once a league was formed 
 of all the most powerful tribes, — the Spokans, Coeur 
 d'Alenes, Pelouzes and Yakimas, with a portion of the 
 Kez Perces; — a general outbreak took place, small par- 
 ties of whites were cut off in eVery part of the country, and 
 even the safety of Fort Walla Walla was threatened. The 
 Indians became everywhere bold, defiant, and insulting. 
 
 With the limited force on this coast, scattered in small 
 parties over fifteen hundred miles, it was of course difficult 
 to meet the exigency* Troops had to be withdrawn from 
 posts at the South where they really were needed. Yet 
 every possible step was promptly taken by Greneral Clarke. 
 As soon as expresses could reach them, companies were 
 converging to the hostile country from every part of the 
 Pacific coast, even from Fort Yuma on the far distant 
 banks of the Colorado, and from San Diego on the borders 
 of Mexico. 
 
II. 
 
 DEPARTURE, 
 
^^^ OP THE ^y: 
 
 I7EESIT 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE DEPARTURE. 
 
 T this time I was in San Francisco, preparing to 
 join my company at San Bernadino in Southern 
 California, when I received orders from General 
 Clarke to remain in the city, as my company would 
 shortly be up, on its way to Oregon. Sunday 
 morning, June 12th, it arrived in the steamer >Sfe?2ator, and 
 being transferred to the Pacific, I at once reported for 
 duty and went on board. 
 
 Monday was a busy day. The soldiers, after their sea 
 voyage, were naturally restless to visit the city, yet for 
 fear of desertion they had to be watched and confined to 
 the steamer. Military stores of all kinds were to be taken 
 on board, — provisions, ammunition, cannon, and a lot of 
 mules. The embarkation of the latter was by no means 
 easy. It required the most forcible arguments to induce 
 them to march up the plank, and one so successfully 
 evaded it, as to drop himself into the water, to the infinite 
 delight of the countless idlers around. Swimming out 
 beyond the wharf into the bay, he seemed to have no set- 
 tled plan for the future, and so commenced going round in 
 a circle, an amusement which he continued until he was 
 lassoed and dragged again on the wharf The officers 
 found themselves fully occupied in attempting to keep or- 
 der in this scene of confusion. 
 
16 DEPARTURE. 
 
 At three in the afternoon we managed to get under way. 
 The command on board consisted of companies A, G, and 
 M, of the Third Artillery, and the following officers : 
 Captain, Erasmus D. Keyes. 
 First Lieutenant, Eobert 0. Tyler. 
 " " James L. White. 
 
 " , " Dunbar K. Kansom. 
 Second Lieutenant, Hylan B. Lyon. 
 '' - " Geo. F. B. Dandy. 
 
 " " Lawrence Kip. 
 
 Our voyage was a long one, as the coal was bad and we 
 ran slowly. It was not until Friday, the 18th, that we 
 crossed the bar at the mouth of the Columbia river, — ^from 
 its shifting shoals the most dangerous navigation on the 
 whole Pacific coast. A short distance up the river stands 
 Astoria, rendered classical ground by Washington Irving. 
 An old trapper stillliving, who belonged to Mr. Astor's first 
 party, says he has often seen one thousand Indian canoes 
 at a time collected on the beach in front of the fort. When 
 the Hudson Bay Company took charge of it, they removed 
 their establishment up the river to Vancouver, and allow- 
 ed the fort to fall into decay, till not a vestige of it now 
 remains. A few houses, like the beginning of a village, 
 are scattered along the banks which slope down to the 
 river, wooded to the edge with pines. 
 
 At evening we reached Fort Vancouver. Near the 
 river are low meadow grounds, on which stands the post 
 of the Hudson Bay Company, — a picketed enclosure of 
 about three hundred yards square, composed of roughly 
 split pine logs. Within this are the buildings of the es- 
 tablishment, where much of its immense fur trade was 
 once carried on. From these head quarters, their compa- 
 nies of trappers, hunters, and voyageurs, generally Cana- 
 dians, were sent out to thread the rivers in pursuit of the 
 
DEPARTUEE. 17 
 
 beaver. Alone they traversed tlie plains, or passed 
 months in the defiles of the mountains, far north to the 
 Kussian possessions, or south to the borders of California, 
 returning in one or two years with the furs, to barter at the 
 fort. Then came generally a short time of the wildest 
 revelry, until everything was dissipated or perhaps gam. 
 bled away, when with a new outfit they set forth on 
 another expedition. From Vancouver the company sent 
 their cargoes of furs and peltries to England, and thence 
 they received by sea their yearly supplies. They possessed 
 an influence over the Indians which was wonderful, and 
 which the perfect system of their operations enabled them 
 for years to maintain. But the transfer of the country to 
 the Americans, and the progress of civilization around 
 them driving off the Indians and beaver, have forced them 
 to remove much of their business to other posts. 
 
 Fort Vancouver is probably the most pleasant of our 
 posts on the Pacific coast. The place is healthy and the 
 scenery around beautiful, furnishing opportunities of fish- 
 ing, hunting, and riding, while its nearness to Portland and 
 Oregon City prevents the young officers from being, as at 
 many other western posts, deprived of the refining influence 
 of female society. Many are the occasions on which they 
 find it necessary to drop down to these places. Deserters 
 are supposed to be lurking there, garrison stores are to be 
 provided, or some other of Uncle Sam's interests are to be 
 looked after. Th§n, these visits must be returned, for the 
 inhabitants of these places have an equal c^re for the wel- 
 fare of their neighbors at the fort. Numerous, therefore, 
 are the parties of pleasure which come from these towns 
 to enliven the solitude of the garrison. On these occasions 
 they are welcomed by balls, and night after night music is 
 heard floating over the waters of the Columbia river, and 
 the brilliant glare of lights from the fort shows that tattoo 
 is not the signal for all within its walls to retire. 
 2* 
 
18 DEPARTURE. 
 
 On landing, the officers were distributed around, while 
 Lieutenant White and myself were indebted for our quar- 
 ters to the hospitality of Major Alvord. 
 
 When I was here, three years ago, the post was quiet 
 enough, there being but three companies stationed at it. 
 Now it is as lively as can be, being the landing-place of 
 all those on their way to the seat of war, and where they 
 are equipped for the field ; — constant drills going on, and 
 nothing but hurry and preparation from morning to night. 
 The rattle of the drum and the notes of the bugle are the 
 constant sounds we hear. 
 
 June 20th. — Had a general review to-day. Lieutenant 
 Colonel Morris, (Fourth Infantry), who commands the post, 
 inspected our companies, together with those stationed here. 
 
 June 2 15^.— Captain Keyes, with companies A and M, 
 left this morning for the Dalles. My company must 
 wait until next week for the arrival of the Columbia, as she 
 brings up arms and ammunition, and the men must be 
 equipped anew, before they can go into the field. Colonel 
 George Wright, (Ninth Infantry), will take command of 
 the expedition, while Captain Keyes will have command 
 of the Artillery Companies in the field. Six companies 
 of the Third Artillery will be collected at Fort Walla 
 Walla ; a larger number of the regiment than have been 
 together since they were wrecked, five years ago, on the 
 ill-fated steamer San Francisco. 
 
 June 23rd — Last night the s-teamer arrived, bringing 
 General Clark^and Staff, Captain Kirkham, Quarter-mas- 
 ter, Lieutenant Walker, A. D. C, and Lieutenant Sill, of 
 the Ordnance Corps. They stopped at Umqua, and took 
 in Company B, of the Third Artillery, commanded by 
 Lieutenants George P. Ihrie and James Howard. A salute 
 of eleven guns was fired this morning for General Clarke. 
 Colonels Wright and Steptoe are ordered down to Fort 
 Vancouver to have a consultation with General Clarke. 
 
DEPARTURE. 19 
 
 This morning our company left Fort Vancouver in the 
 steamer for the Dalles; the officers, Lieutenants White, 
 Eansom, and myself. It is about fifty miles to the Cascades. 
 The scenery of the river is in all parts beautiful, but very 
 varied in its character. The pine forests stretch down to 
 the banks, enlivened here and there by the cultivated spot 
 which some settler has cleared, whose axe awakened new 
 and strange echoes as it rang through the primeval woods. 
 On the margin of the shore, and particularly on one of the 
 islands, we noticed the dead-houses of the Indians, rudely 
 constructed of logs. Within, the bodies of the deceased 
 are placed for a time, attired in their best array, until the 
 building becomes filled. Then the oldest occupants are 
 removed and placed on the shore, till the tide launches 
 them off on their last voyage, and they are swept down to 
 the ocean, which to the "untutored savage" as to his more 
 cultivated brethren, symbolizes Eternity. 
 
 When a chief dies, his body is somethnes wrapped in a 
 blanket and su^ended between two trees, as if swinging 
 in a hammock. We saw one which had already remained 
 in that situation more than six months. 
 
 At six in the evening we reached the Cascades, the head 
 of navigation. Here a portage has to be made, as the 
 river for more than two miles flows over the rocks, whirling 
 and boiling in a succession of rapids similar to those in the 
 river St. Lawrence. This is the great salmon fishery of 
 the Columbia river, the season for which is in the spring, 
 when the fish ascend the river in incredible numbers. The 
 banks are inhabited by the remains of the Indian tribes, 
 (most of them'having been removed to the Indian Reser- 
 vations,) who display their skill in catching the salmon, 
 which they dry for exportation. Little bridges are thrown 
 out over the rocks, on which the Indians post themselves, 
 with nets on hoops, to which long handles are attached. 
 
20 DEPARTURE. 
 
 "VYith these they scoop up the fish and throw them on the 
 shore. They are then pounded fine between two stones, 
 cured, and tightly packed in bales of grass matting lined 
 with dried fish-skin, in which state they will keep for years. 
 The process is now- precisely the same as it was when des- 
 cribed by Lewis and Clarke. The aboriginal village of Wish- 
 ram, at the head of the narrows, which they mention as 
 being the place of resort for the tribes from the interior to 
 barter for fish, is yet in existence. We still notice, too, 
 the difference which those early explorers observed, be- 
 tween these Indians and those of the plains. The latter, 
 living on horseback, are finely developed, and look like 
 warriors ; the former, engaged only in their canoes, or stoop- 
 ing over the banks, are low in stature, and seem to have 
 been dwarfed out of all manhood. In every thing noble 
 they are many degrees below the wild tribes on the plains. 
 
 At the Cascades the men were landed, and camped for 
 the night, while the officers were supplied with quarters 
 by Lieutenant Mallory, (Fourth Infantry), who has com- 
 mand of the company stationed at this post. During the 
 last Indian war, three years ago, this little settlement was 
 surprised and almost entirely destroyed by the Indians. 
 
 June 24:th. — In the morning we marched the men about 
 four miles, across the portage, and embarked in another 
 little steamer which was to carry us to the Dalles. The 
 scenery above was similar to that which we had already 
 passed. In one place the mountains seem to come down 
 to the river, ending in a huge rock perfectly steep, which 
 has received the name of Cape Horn, Above, the preci- 
 pices are covered with fir and white cedar ; two small cas- 
 cades, like silver lines, leap from point to point for a dis- 
 tance of one hundred and fifty feet, while below, in the 
 deep shadow, the waters sweep around the rocks with a sul^ 
 len sound, About six: in the evening we reached the 
 Dalles, 
 
III. 
 
 FORT DALLES AND THE 
 MARCH. 
 
 «> • 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 FORT DALLES AND THE MARCH. 
 
 HEIS" last I saw this post, three years since, it 
 seemed to me to be the most unattractive on the 
 Pacific. Without even tlie beauty of scenery 
 which surrounds Fort Vancouver, its sole re- 
 commendation was its healthiness. Nor did the 
 Government buildings add anything to its ap- 
 pearance. Planned and erected some years ago by the 
 Mounted Rifles, when they were stationed in Oregon, they 
 were remarkably primitive, and very little attention had 
 been bestowed upon their architecture. In those days, the 
 ornamental had not yet been developed on the Pacific coast. 
 The change now is a great one, for during the past year 
 new quarters have been erected, under the direction of 
 Captain Jordan, Quarter-master, which are arranged in 
 every" way to promote the convenience of those for whom 
 they are intended. The officers' quarters are in the cot- 
 tage form, and for taste are superior to those we have seen 
 at any other post. 
 
 On our arrival, my company, together with the three of 
 the Third Artillery already there, camped about a quarter 
 of a mile from the barracks, while the officers' tents were 
 pitched a short distance from those of the men. 
 
 We at once commenced our regular routine. At nine 
 
24 FORT DALLES AND THE MARCH. 
 
 in the morning, we have dress parade ; at half-past nine, we 
 drill for an hour, (light infantry, Hardie's tactics); at 
 twelve, the men are practiced at firing at a mark, and esti- 
 mating distances ; at five in the evening, we have drill ; 
 and at half-past six, guard mounting. Drilling, too, is a 
 very different matter from what it is at a post in time of 
 peace. Then, it is a sort of pro forma business, in which 
 neither ofiScers nor men take much interest. Now, it is 
 invested with a reality, since all are conscious that our 
 success in the field depends perhaps upon the state of dis- 
 cipline. 
 
 Still, there is time for sociability, and the esprit du corps 
 which prevails in the Army, renders a meeting of officers of 
 different regiments a delightful reunion. We have our 
 mess in camp, but are constantly dining with the officers at 
 the post. This is the head- quarters of the Ninth Infantry, 
 and their band is an exceedingly fine one. 
 
 June 28th. — Colonel Steptoe arrived from Walla Walla, 
 on his way to Vancouver; and on the same day. Major 
 Mackall, Assistant Adjutant General, Major Allen, Quar- 
 termaster, and Captains Ingalls, Kirkham and Jordan, 
 came up from Yancouver. They all returned in a couple 
 of days, except Colonel Steptoe, and Captain Jordan who 
 is stationed here. 
 
 June SOth. — Major Mackall reviewed us ; after which we 
 had muster. The officers are now mounted, and we are 
 only waiting the arrival of the steamer with additional 
 stores, to begin our march. 
 
 The news brought in from the country of the hostile 
 Indians is, that they have made a league among themselves 
 to carry on this war for five years. This they consider to 
 be the last struggle in which they will have to engage, as 
 in that time they can exterminate the whites. 
 
 July 7th. — At three in the afternoon we took leave of 
 
FORT DALLES AND THE MARCH. 25 
 
 the officers to whose hospitality we have been so much 
 indebted, and commenced our march across the plains. 
 The length of each day's march will have to be regulated 
 by the water, which in some places is not to be found for 
 a distance of twenty miles. The country over which we 
 passed during the afternoon is barren and desolate, unfit 
 for culture, except a few spots on the river. After a march 
 of six miles, we reached Five Mile Creek, where we camped 
 for the night. 
 
 Our time of starting in the morning depends on the 
 length of the march before us. When it is to be a long 
 one, we have reveille at three o'clock in the morning, and 
 get under way by five. With short marches, reveille was 
 at five, and we marched at seven. It takes two hours to 
 pack up and get the command started. Through the 
 twelve and a half days which it took to reach Walla Walla, 
 our march varied from five to thirty miles a day.* The 
 soldiers in marching average a mile in twenty minutes. 
 
 Our order of march was, to have two companies in ad-, 
 vance, — then, the train, — then, two companies more, — 
 then, a rear guard- of twenty men behind, under a lieu- 
 tenant, with the hospital wagon. Their duty was to pick 
 
 * We give the list of each day's march to Walla Walla : 
 
 July nh. To Five Mile Creek, 6 miles. 
 
 " 8" "Des Chutes, 10 " 
 
 » "9" " Mud Springs, 11 " 
 
 " 10 " " Camp beyond John Day's River, 20 " 
 
 " 11 '' " Rock Creek, 6 " 
 
 " 12 " " Willow Creek, 20 " 
 
 " 13 " " Butter Creek, -30 " 
 
 " 14 " " Umatilla River, 13 " 
 
 " 15 " '• Camp up Umatilla River, 5 " 
 
 "16" " McKay's River, 16 " 
 
 u 17 a " Wild Horse Creek, 18 " 
 
 "18" Camp, 13 " 
 
 '' 19 " Walla Walla, : • • 9 " 
 
26 FORT DALLES AND THE MARCH. 
 
 up all stragglers and to keep in the rear of: everything. 
 The companies in front and rear alternated every day. 
 Our transportation was limited to ten pack mules to each 
 company, and one wagon to two companies. We had 
 thirteen wagons in the train. 
 
 When about half way to Walla Walla, Colonel Steptoe, 
 Captain Kirkham and Lieutenant Davidson passed us on 
 their way to Walla Walla, with an escort of fifteen dra- 
 goons. Lieutenant Davidson goes up to take command 
 of one of the Dragoon companies, in place of Lieutenant 
 Gaston, who was killed in the late action. 
 
 During most of our march the weather was exceedingly 
 hot. This was particularly the case the day we were 
 obliged to advance thirty miles. It took the men exactly 
 twelve hours, starting at half-past five in the morning. 
 The sun — hot as the tropics — beat down on our heads 
 with an intolerable glare, while there was nothing in the 
 appearance of the country to afford any relief Far as 
 the eye could reach was only a sun-burnt plain, perfectly 
 lifeless, — for the summer's sun, by burning up the herbage, 
 had driven the game to seek refuge by the rivers. The 
 prairie was covered with a miserable crop of salt week and 
 wormwood, and even the horses of the ofilcers drooped 
 when the sun began sinking towards the west ; still 
 our camping-ground was not in sight. Yet, on the men 
 marched, loaded with their equipments, and through a 
 stifling dust, which added to the exhaustion of the heat. 
 
 The line of country through which we passed is varied, 
 the plains generally barren and desolate, though some- 
 times covered with thick bunch grass which affords good 
 pasturage to cattle. It is rolling in its character, and 
 probably ill adapted for culture, except along the rivers. 
 The absence of timber tends to give it a more waste ap- 
 pearance. Along John Day's river, (so called from a 
 
FOET DALLES AND THE MARCH. 27 
 
 hunter wiio was one of the original members of Mr. 
 Astor's enterprise,) there is but little wood, and that of a 
 small size, often not larger than brushwood. Along the 
 Umatilla and Walla Walla, on the contrary, the timber is 
 abundant and heavy, and the water is excellent. 
 
 The valleys are the redeeming features of this country. 
 The Des Chutes valley is admirable for grazing, as the 
 temperature is such that cattle can be kept out the whole 
 year and find subsistence. It is the place where formerly 
 the Hudson Bay Company raised all the best horses they 
 used. The Umatilla valley is one of the richest and best 
 adapted for cultivation of any on this side of the Kocky 
 mountains. It has plenty of wood, and much of it is 
 heavy timber. The Walla Walla valley, too, is a large and 
 fertile one, and in places where cultivation has been at- 
 tempted, it shows that the products will amply repay the 
 laborer. 
 
 We saw no signs of Indians until the day before we 
 reached Walla Walla, when before we broke up camp in 
 the morning, two Indians (one a Walla Walla and the 
 other a Cayuse,) came in, as they said, for protection. 
 They told us that the Snakes and Cayuses had a fight 
 two days before, and the latter had been defeated. 
 
lY, 
 
 FORT WALLA WALLA 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FORT WALLA WALLA. 
 
 'E reached Fort Walla Walla, July 19tli, after a 
 march of twelve and a half days. The fort is 
 almost on the ground of the Walla Walla Coun- 
 cil which I attended three years ago, when those 
 tribes we are now to fight were all represented, and 
 their great leader, Kamiaken, was himself present. It is 
 in a beautiful spot of the Walla Walla valley, well wooded 
 and with plenty of water. Ten miles distant is seen the 
 range of the Blue mountains, forming the south-eastern 
 boundary of the great plains along the Columbia, whose 
 waters it divides from those of Lewis river. It stretches 
 away along the horizon until it is lost in the dim distance, 
 where the chain unites with the Snake River mountains. 
 
 At this post are stationed four companies of the First 
 Dragoons, and two of the Ninth Infantry. The Dragoon 
 officers are Major Grier, Lieutenants Davidson, Pender, 
 Gregg and Wheeler. The Infantry officers are Colonel 
 Steptoe, Captains Dent and Winder, Lieutenants Fleming 
 and Harvie. Besides these, are Captain Kirkham, Quarter- 
 master, and Dr. Randolph, Surgeon. The dragoon can- 
 tonment and the infantry post are about a mile apart, and 
 we are encamped between them. 
 
 The two companies of the Fourth Infantry, which were 
 
82 FOBT WALLA WALLA. 
 
 lately ordered up here, have had their orders changed and 
 go to Simcoe. A command, consisting of three hundred 
 men, leaves there on the 15th of next month for the 
 Yakima country, under Major Garnett. 
 
 One of the first persons who came into camp to see us 
 was a Cayuse Indian, Cutmouth John, who was Lieuten- 
 ant Gracie's guide through this country three years ago, 
 when I accompanied him on his march with a detachment 
 of the Fourth Infantry, to act as escort to Governor 
 Stevens at the Walla Walla council. This worthy had a 
 dreadful distortion of visage, from having been shot in the 
 mouth in a fight Avith the Snake Indians, and hence his 
 soubriquet. He once lived with Dr. Whitman, physician 
 to a Presbyterian mission which existed for a time near 
 Walla Walla, and when the Doctor and his family (seven 
 in number) were cut off in 1847, he defended them as 
 long as possible and received at that time his wound. 
 
 John seemed very glad to see me, after our long separa- 
 tion, and during the expedition was a visitor almost every 
 evening at our tent. He was exceedingly fond of talking 
 about his former connection with the mission, and yet, it 
 must be acknowledged that he had not retained much of 
 the Christianity he learned while there. His sole stock 
 consisted of two or three hymns, with which he always 
 insisted upon favoring us, particularly when he had im- 
 bibed too much whiskey, a contingency occurring far more 
 frequently than was for his good. 
 
 Colonel Wright, who is to take command of the expe- 
 dition, has arrived, and drills and reviews are going on as 
 usual. The Third Artillery drill twice a day in Light 
 Infantry tactics, except Major AYyse's company, which 
 practices at artillery drill, mounted battery, mules being 
 used for horses. 
 
 August 1st — Colonel Wright and staff this morning re- 
 
FORT WALLA WALLA. 33 
 
 viewed all the troops, each corps separately. The expe- 
 dition will consist of about seven hundred men, while 
 about a hundred will be left to garrison Fort Walla Walla, 
 under Colonel Steptoe. 
 
 A few days ago sixty Nez Percys arrived, under an old 
 chief, named Lawyer, whom I knew at the council in 1855. 
 He has been a great warrior in his day, and is still suffer- 
 ing from a wound in his side which he received many 
 years ago in a fight with their old hereditary enemies, the 
 Blackfeet Indians. These are the most dangerous banditti 
 among all the tribes, — perfect Ishmaelites, — who, while 
 they are at war with all the neighboring savages, have 
 nourished the most implacable hatred to the whites, since 
 they first met them in the days of Lewis and Clarke. 
 War is their employment, and the booty they gain by it, 
 their support. They are admirable horsemen, and as much 
 distinguished for their treachery as for their headlong 
 courage. Their hunting-grounds extend from the Yellow 
 Stone and Missouri rivers to the Eocky mountains. 
 
 The Nez Perce, or pierced-nose Indians, received this 
 name from the early traders and trappers, but they call 
 themselves by the name of Chipunnish. While they are 
 the most friendly to the whites of any tribe in this region, 
 they are at the same time one of the most numerous and 
 powerful, roaming over the whole Kocky mountains, along 
 the streams to the West, and across the almost limitless 
 plains to the East, until they reach the hunting-grounds 
 of the tribes of the Missouri. They hunt the elk, the 
 white bear, the mountain sheep, and the buffalo, while they 
 trap the beaver to sell the skins to the whites. They are 
 celebrated for their droves of horses, which, after being 
 branded, are turned loose to roam upon the fertile plains 
 till needed by their owners: when this is the case, it requires 
 but a few days to break them sufficiently to answer the 
 purpose of their bold riders, 
 3 
 
84 FORT WALLA WALLA. 
 
 The warriors leave all labor to the women. They per- 
 form all the menial offices, arranging the lodge, cooking, 
 and bringing wood ; for it would be a disgrace to their 
 lords to be seen engaged in these things. It would procure 
 for them the title of squaws. Everything but the perils 
 of war and the chase are beneath their attention. When 
 at home and not occupied in preparing their arms, or in 
 feats of horsemanship, they are gambling, lounging in 
 groups on the mounds of the prairie, or listening' to some 
 story-teller, who recounts the exploits of the old warriors 
 of the tribe. 
 
 The Nez Percys are blessed with a more tractable dispo- 
 sition than most of their brethren, and we have never seen 
 any Indians who appear so willing to be instructed, not 
 only in the arts of civilization, but also in the precepts of 
 Christianity. At an early day the Presbyterian mission- 
 aries went among them, and their labors met with consid- 
 erable success. A kind of Christianity was introduced 
 among them, strangely altered, indeed, in many respects, 
 to bring it into harmony with Indian thoughts and actions, 
 yet still retaining many of the great truths of the faith. The 
 Methodists subsequently added their teaching ; and many 
 of them have been brought into contact with the Jesuit 
 Fathers, one of whose missions is established in the Coeur 
 d'Alene country. We believe, therefore, that the theo- 
 logical creed of the Nez Perces, if now investigated, would 
 probably be an odd system, which would startle an ordi- 
 nary D. D. 
 
 Still, it exerted a very perceptible influence over their 
 system of morality and their daily life. When with Lieu- 
 tenant Gracie at the council, on this spot, in 1855, twenty- 
 five hundred of the Nez Percys tribe were present ; and as 
 we were camped among them for three weeks, I had an 
 opportunity of learning something of their habits. I found 
 
FOET WALLA WALLA. 35 
 
 thej had prayers in their lodges every morning and eve- 
 ning, service several times on Sunday, — and nothing 
 could induce them on that day to engage in any trading. 
 
 On one occasion, at that time, visiting the old chief 
 Lawyer in his lodge, on some evening in the middle of the 
 week, I found him surrounded by his family, and reading 
 a portion of the New Testament. On another occasion, on 
 a Saturday evening, he was employed with a number of 
 his tribe in singing sacred music to prepare for the worship 
 of the morrow. The next day, therefore, we rode over to 
 the Nez Perc^ camp, where we found they were holding 
 service in one of the largest lodges. Two of the chiefs were 
 officiating, one of them delivering an address, (taking the 
 Ten Commandments for his text,) and at the end of each 
 sentence the other chief would repeat it in a louder tone of 
 voice. This is their invariable custom with all their speeches. 
 Everything was conducted with the greatest propriety, and 
 the singing, in which they all joined, had an exceedingly 
 musical effect. We found indeed an odd mixture of this 
 world and the next in some of the Nez Perces — an equal 
 love of fighting and devotion — the wildest Indians' traits 
 with a strictness in some religious rites, which might shame 
 those " who profess and call themselves Christians." 
 
 Colonel Wright has had " a talk" with the deputation 
 of the tribe, and made arrangements by which they have 
 become our allies. This will have the effect of withdraw- 
 ing some seventeen hundred Hudson Bay muskets from 
 the ranks of the hostile Indians, though we understand 
 there are some discontented lodges among the Nez Perces 
 which will unite with them. Still, the great body of the 
 tribe will probably be faithful to their pledge. A party, 
 too, is to go with us to act as guides and scouts. At night 
 they had a spirited war dance to celebrate the forming of 
 this alliance. 
 
V. 
 
 FORT TAYLOR. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 FORT TAYLOR. 
 
 UGUST 5th.— To-day the Third Artillery received 
 orders to march in two days as far as Snake river 
 (about sixty miles), to erect fortifications. This 
 will take about a week. By that time the rest of 
 the command will arrive there, when we will all 
 start together. For some days Lieutenant White 
 has been employed in superintending the making of gabions 
 for the field works, as there is no wood on Snake river 
 adapted to this purpose. 
 
 August 7ih. — We left Walla Walla at nine in the morn- 
 ing, and marched eight miles to Dry creek, finding the 
 country covered with luxurious grass, and an abundance 
 of wood and excellent water. 
 
 Our force, which is under the command of Captain 
 Keyes, consists of one company of dragoons and six com- 
 panies of artillery, with two twelve pounder howitzers 
 and two six pounder guns. We transport with us, on 
 pack mules and in wagons, thirty thousand rations. 
 
 August 8th, — -Marched thirteen miles to Touche river, 
 a well wooded stream, skirted by rich valleys, where the 
 grass is too moist for the Indians to burn, as they have 
 done that on the entire plains from Walla Walla to Snake 
 river. They hope thus to drive us back, by depriving 
 us of forage for our animals. 
 
 About half-way on our day's march an express arrived 
 from Colonel Wright to Captain Keyes, with the informa- 
 tion that the night before a party of Indians had driven 
 off thirty-six oxen from Walla Walla, and ordering him 
 to send Lieutenant Davidson, with his company of dra- 
 
40 FORT TAYLOR. 
 
 goons, in pursuit. Lieutenant Gr. H. Hill, (Third Artillery,) 
 joined him. in the expedition. After scouting over the 
 country for thirty miles, as night approached, they had 
 discovered no signs of the Indians, and being in a region 
 with which their guides were unacquainted, they returned, 
 reaching camp late in the evening. 
 
 August 9th. — Marched seven miles through clouds of 
 dust, the grass in most places having been burned by the 
 Indians. The country is so rough and broken that Captain 
 Keyes was obliged to send ahead an officer with a party 
 of men, to act as pioneers in constructing a road. In the 
 course of the morning two of our wagons were overturned, 
 but with very little damage. 
 
 An express came into camp in the evening, from Walla 
 Walla, informing us that Lieutenant Gregg, with his com- 
 pany of dragoons, had pursued the Indians who had driven 
 off the cattle, but only gained sight of them as they were 
 crossing Snake river, and his command was not strong 
 enough for him to venture over. 
 
 We ascertained there were parties of Indians hovering 
 around us and in our rear, but we could not discover their 
 strength. During the day we took prisoner a Walla Walla 
 Indian, but no information could be gained from him, and 
 in a couple of days he was released. 
 
 August 10th. — To-day we marched twelve miles, and 
 encamped on the Tucanon, a narrow but in some places 
 deep stream, and its valley fertile. It empties into Snake 
 river, and somewhere in this vicinity we are to throw up 
 the fortifications for our depot while we are in the hostile 
 country. 
 
 As soon as we arrived at camping ground, Captain Keyes 
 sent Lieutenant Mullan, (Second Artillery,) who accom- 
 panies us as Acting Topographical Engineer to the com- 
 mand, with a detachment of dragoons, to find what kind 
 of road there was to the river. He returned and made a 
 
FORT TAYLOR. 41 
 
 very unfavorable report. At the same time, lie decided 
 that we were in the best place for the camp, as he had 
 examined the Tucanon to its mouth, and the Snake river 
 to the mouth of the Pelouze, to select the most favorable 
 position for us. 
 
 We are now camped for a week at least, until the forti- 
 fications are thrown up, and Colonel Wright joins us with 
 the rest of the command. 
 
 August 11th. — This morning Lieutenant Morgan and 
 myself were detailed with a party of sixty men to cut a 
 road to Snake river, which we accomplished by three 
 o'clock in the afternoon. The command was then marched 
 down and encamped on the river. 
 
 While working on the road, about half way to the 
 river, we heard musket shots ahead, and thinking that the 
 hostiles might have crossed the river and driven in our 
 pickets, Lieutenant Morgan ordered me on with ten men 
 to support them. On reaching the river, I found that 
 some Indians had crossed to our side, and, on returning, 
 had been exchanging shots with our sentinels. At the 
 same time a small party appeared on the opposite bank, 
 but a single vollc}^ from our men caused them to wheel 
 their horses and ride off. 
 
 To-day Lieutenant Mullan had quite an adventure. 
 Captain Keyes, with a detachment of dragoons, having 
 gone to Snake river to select a site for the fort, while there 
 captured two Indians, who were left under the charge of a 
 sergeant and three men. They had not marched, however, 
 a hundred yards, when the Indians broke from them and 
 sprang into the river. The party fired at them without effect, 
 as they were concealed by the growth of willows on the 
 banks, which is dense and impenetrable, when Lieutenant 
 Mullan dashed into the river to his waist, to secure one of 
 whom he caught sight. The Indian was an exceedingly 
 athletic savage, the sight of whose proportions would have 
 3* 
 
42 FORT TAYLOR. 
 
 tempered most persons' valor with discretion. But my 
 gallant friend is not one to calculate odds in beginning a 
 fight. The Indian dived as the lieutenant fired at him, 
 and came up with some heavy stones, which, hurled at 
 his antagonist, bruised him severely. He then seized 
 ijieutenant Mullan's pistol, which had got thoroughly wet, 
 and the struggle commenced in good earnest, grappling 
 each other, now under water, now above. It might have 
 fared badly with my spirited companion, but the Indian, 
 stepping into a hole, got beyond his depth and was obliged 
 to relinquish his hold, when he made off and escaped to 
 the other side. 
 
 The working parties have commenced throwing up the 
 field work, which yesterday, in General Orders, was named 
 Fort Taylor, after Captain Taylor, of the dragoons, who 
 was killed in Colonel Steptoe's fight. It is in latitude 
 46° 33' North, longitude 118° 6' West, at the junction of 
 the Snake and Tucanon rivers. It stands at the mouth 
 of a canon, with high bluffs of basalt on each side, about 
 eight hundred yards apart ; one being two hundred and 
 sixty, the other three hundred and ten feet high. These, 
 of course, command it, and with a civilized enemy we 
 should be soon routed out. The Indians, however, are 
 not scientific enough to give us any trouble in that way. 
 
 This spot seems to have been used as an old Indian 
 burial-place, for we are surrounded by graves. 
 
 August ISth. — To-day a Eoman Catholic priest, who 
 belongs to the Mission in the Coeur d'Alene mountains, 
 came to our camp. As the ''black robes" can pass to and 
 fro uninjured among the different tribes, he was sent by 
 Greneral Clarke to the Spokans and Coeur "d'Alenes, to 
 announce to them the terms on which he would make 
 peace with them. The answer which they sent back to 
 the General was exceedingly bold and insulting. They 
 said, -^" that the whites were always talking of war, and 
 
FORT TAYLOR. 43 
 
 the first to propose peace ; that the Indians were ready for 
 war and did not wish peace, but a war of extermination." 
 It is evident that their hxte success has rendered them 
 perfectly defiant. They warn us, that if we cross Snake 
 river, we shall none of us live to cross back. Dr. Perkins, 
 who was at Fort Colville (the Hudson Bay Company's 
 post) shortly after the battle with Colonel Steptoe's com- 
 mand, in his narrative says, — " The sword of poor Lieu- 
 tenant Gaston was waved in my face by the Indian who 
 had taken it from him at the time of Steptoe's defeat. The 
 saddle of Captain Taylor was also shown to me, covered 
 with his blood. These things the Indians displayed with 
 exultation, saying that the white soldiers were women and 
 could not fight, and the more that should be sent into that 
 country the better they would like it, for they would kill 
 them all. They seemed to be very much elated, and were 
 confident that the United States troops could not stand 
 before them. The old chiefs told us they were going to 
 fight till they died ; they had plenty of arms, ammunition, 
 provisions, and everything they wanted ; and when their 
 ammunition gave out, they would poison their arrows and 
 fight with them." Such is the temper of the enemy, to 
 whom we are to teach a different lesson. 
 
 We have seen but little of the Indians for the last few 
 days. Now and then they fire upon our sentinels, and 
 shots are exchanged, but generally without effect. Last 
 night, however, we had quite an excitement in the camp. 
 About nine o'clock an Indian was heard shouting to us 
 from the other side of the river. Captain Keyes, accom- 
 panied by the officer of. the day and the interpreter. Went 
 down at once to ascertain what he wanted. On reachijig 
 the bank, the interpreter called to him, when he began 
 cursing him in reply, and finished up by telling him that 
 "he was a traitorous Boston (^. e. white) soldier, and had 
 no business to be with us." As he ended, another Indian 
 
44 FORT TAYLOR. 
 
 aimed and fired at our interpreter, wlien four of our sen- 
 tinels at once returned the fire, with what effect the dark- 
 ness prevented our seeing. The companies turned out at 
 once, and remained under arms for about an hour ; but 
 the firing not being renewed, they were dismissed with 
 orders to sleep on their arms. 
 
 August 18th. — An express was received last evening 
 from Colonel Wright, saying that he would be here to-day, 
 and the supply train the day after. This afternoon his 
 command arrived. The dragoons and infantry are en- 
 camped about a mile from us. 
 
 The fortifications are nearly completed, so that in a few 
 days we shall be able to cross. The works^consist of a 
 parallelogram, with two towers at diagonal corners. The 
 Nez Perces tell us that the Indians are collected in large 
 numbers at the Lakes, about five days' march from here, 
 where they are going to meet us. We trust it is so, as it 
 will give us an opportunity of finishing the war, instead of 
 making it a campaign of guerrilla skirmishing in the 
 mountains. For several nights we have seen the light of 
 fires ahead, made probably by the Indians burning the 
 plains to cut off our supply of forage. 
 
 As soon as we have crossed Snake river, the Indians 
 will regard us as having "passed the Kubicon," and being 
 in their territories. Then the campaign will begin in good 
 earnest. 
 
 Our transportation consists of six mules to a company, 
 and a mule to each ofiicer, besides the three hundred and 
 twenty-five mules which the quarter- master has in his train. 
 Our entire train, therefore, consists of about four hundred 
 mules. Baggage wagons cannot go beyond Snake river. 
 We shall attempt to take only one light vehicle, which 
 Lieutenant MuUan needs for his instruments. 
 
 Now as to our fighting force. The dragoons number 
 one hundred and ninety, — the artillery, four hundred, — the 
 
FORT TAYLOR. 45 
 
 infantry (as Eifle Brigade), ninety. Total, about six hun- 
 dred and eighty soldiers, besides about two hundred 
 attaches^ as packers, wagon-masters, herders, &c. 
 
 Then we have thirty Nez Perces, and three chiefs, to 
 act as scouts and guides. They were placed under the 
 command of Lieutenant Mullan, but in an engagement he 
 found their individuality developed so strongly that it was 
 difficult for him to induce them to obey orders. Each one 
 was fighting on his own responsibility. These, our allies, 
 have been dressed in uniform, to distinguish them, during 
 a fight, from the hostiles. Like all Indians, they are par- 
 ticularly delighted with their clothes, and no young officer 
 just commissioned, thinks as much of his uniform as they 
 do. They insist, indeed, upon having every minute por- 
 tion, even to the glazed cap covers. 
 
 The manner of our march can be best shown by the two 
 following Orders, which I copy : — 
 
 ORDERS ) Head- Quarters, Expedition against Northern Indians. 
 
 No. 5. j Camp near Fort Walla Walla. 
 
 August I8th, 1858. 
 
 I. The residue of the troops for the Northern Expedition will march 
 from Fort Walla Walla to-morrow, and unite with the advance at the 
 Snake river. 
 
 II. Marching from Snake river, the order will be as follows : — 
 
 1st. The Dragoons. 
 
 2d. The Mountain Howitzer Company. 
 
 3d. The Battalion of Artillery, serving as Infantry. 
 
 4th. The Rifle Battalion of the Ninth Infantry. 
 
 5th. Pack train of Corps and Head-Quarters. 
 
 6th. One company of Infantry as rear guard. 
 
 7th. General train of Quarter-master and Commissary. 
 
 8th. One troop of Dragoons as rear guard. 
 
 III. The mounted troops will not precede the Howitzer Company 
 more than four hundred yards ; and on approaching canons or defiles, 
 where Dragoons cannot operate on the flanks, they will be halted and 
 the Rifles advanced. 
 
 IV. No fire-arms of any description will be discharged, either on the 
 march or in camp, except in the line of duty, without the special au- 
 thority of the commanding officer. 
 
 V. No person, except the employees of the Staff Department and 
 the officers' servants, will be allowed to accompany the troops, or to 
 encamp with them, without the written authority of the commanding 
 officer. 
 
46 FORT TAYLOR. 
 
 YI. Habitually the Guard will consist of one company, and mount at 
 retreat. 
 
 VII. It is announced for general information, that a body of friendly 
 Nez Perces Indians have been engaged to serve with the troops. These 
 Indians have been equipped in soldiers' clothing, in order to distinguish 
 them from the hostiles. Company commanders will caution their men 
 particularly in regard to these friendly Indians. - 
 
 VIII. Whether in camp or on the march, the companies will parade 
 with arms, at retreat and reveille roll calls, and the arms and ammunition 
 will be inspected. 'Ihe men will habitually wear and sleep in their 
 belts. (By order of Colonel Wright,) 
 
 P. A. Owen, 
 1st Lieut. 9th Inf., A. A. A. Gen. 
 
 (CIRCULAR.) Head- Quarters, Camp near Fort Taylor, 
 
 August 24th, 1858. 
 
 The following regulations, in addition to those already published, will 
 be strictly enforced on the march : — 
 
 1st. The mules with ammunition will be led, and follow close in rear 
 of the column, in compact order under a guard. 
 
 2d. The baggage mules and supply train will be kept in close order 
 in rear of the ammunition, and under the special orders of the 
 Quartermaster. 
 
 3d. The ammunition for the Mountain Howitzers will follow close in 
 rear of the guns. 
 
 4th. The animals for the Hospital Department will move with the 
 ammunition. 
 
 5th. Particular attention will be given by company and battalion 
 commanders, to see that the men, at all times, by day and by 
 night, wear their belts ; that their rifles are always at hand 
 and in order ; and that, on the march, the men keep in the 
 ranks and in proper order. 
 
 Cth. The camp signals will be sounded at the proper times, by the 
 buglers of the Artillery Battalion, and repeated by the other 
 corps. At retreat inspection, the last roll call for the day will 
 be made at 8 p. m., a signal will be given for extinguishing 
 lights, after which no noise or loud talking will be allowed. 
 
 •Jth. When the troops are to march, the company cooks will be called 
 up in season to have breakfast ready immediately after reveille. 
 
 8th. Should the enemy be met while on the march, and a combat 
 ensue, the entire pack train will be closed up, and either 
 picketed or the animals tied together, and the whole enveloped 
 by the rear-guard. In case of alarm at night, the companies 
 on rear-guard the previous day will protect the train. 
 
 9th. The detachment of friendly Nez Perces, as well as the guides 
 and interpreters, are placed under the special direction of 
 Lieutenant Mullan, Acting Engineer, who will receive instruc- 
 tion in relation to their position.. &c. 
 
 (By order of Colonel Wright,) 
 
 P. A. Owen, 
 1st Lieut. 9th Inf., A. A. A. Gen. 
 
FORT TAYLOR. 47 
 
 August 2Bd. — We were to have crossed the river at day- 
 break this morning, but at reveille Colonel Wright sent 
 an order that the troops should not move until further 
 orders. The detention was caused by a violent wind and 
 rain storm. Colonel Wright sent a wagon this morning 
 back to Walla Walla for tents. Two evenings ago we had 
 one of the most severe storms I have ever witnessed. It 
 commenced about nine o'clock at night, and lasted until 
 morning. The tents were blown down, and the boughs 
 covering them scattered in every direction. The sand and 
 dust were so thick that we could with difficulty see two 
 feet ahead. 
 
 In the evening an express arrived, bringing the news 
 from Major Garnett's column of the capture of a party of 
 Indians, in effecting which Lieutenant J. K. Allen (Ninth 
 Infantry,) was mortally wounded. 
 
 August 24:th. — Still pouring in torrents, and our depar- 
 ture therefore postponed. At ten this morning an Indian 
 boy was brought into camp by one of the pickets. Upon 
 questioning him, he told so many different stories that we 
 all came to the conclusion he was not what he represented 
 himself, so he was confined in the guard tent. At one 
 time, preparations were made to hang him, under the sup- 
 position that he was a spy ; but the order was counter- 
 manded. 
 
 About the middle of the day we saw three Indians 
 riding down to the bank on the opposite side of the river, 
 waving a white flag. We sent a boat and brought over 
 one of them, who was taken to Colonel Wright's tent, and 
 questioned. He gave his name as Quil-quil-moses, and his 
 story was, that he was a Spokan, living twenty -five miles 
 this side of Colville, and had been told by the hostiles that 
 he must join them, as the soldiers would kill him under 
 any circumstances. Colonel Wright told him if he would 
 come, with his women and children, and deliver up his 
 
48 FORT TAYLOR. 
 
 arms, &c., he should not be harmed; but otherwise he 
 should be shot, which would be the fate of every Indian 
 taken with ar^is. He had with him another Spokan and 
 a Pelouze Indian. After the "talk," he was sent over to 
 the others who were waiting for him. His story may be 
 true, but more probably it is devised to gain admittance to 
 our camp. He told us, among other things, that the hos- 
 tiles. were encamped in strong force on the Spokan river, 
 a few days' march ahead. This is in accordance with the 
 news brought in by the Nez Perces scouts. 
 
 During the day two more boys were taken, one on the 
 other side of the river, and one on this. One of them was 
 driving a herd of about forty horses. We discovered that 
 the boy taken early in the morning, and these two, were 
 brothers, and had just escaped from the Spokans, carrying 
 these horses off with them. Their father had been killed, 
 and they taken prisoners, about five years ago. They 
 were originally from the Yakima country. 
 
 August 25ih. — The artillery began crossing at five o'clock 
 this morning. Everything crossed over in the course of 
 the day, except the dragoons and part of the quarter- 
 master's train. It was amusing to see between three and 
 four hundred animals swimming through the swift current, 
 with Indians swimming after and driving them. The men 
 and packs were crossed over in flat boats. 
 
 The horses taken yesterday, and the two eldest boys, 
 were sent to Walla Walla, under charge of two Nez Perces. 
 The other boy Lieutenant Mullan takes with him. 
 
 August 26ih. — The dragoons crossed over this morning; 
 also the rest of the supplies. Including dragoon horses 
 and mules, we have about seven hundred animals belonging 
 to the command. The artillery battalion was thoroughly 
 inspected this morning by Captain Keyes, to see if we were 
 ready for the field. 
 
VI. 
 
 BATTLE OF THE FOUR 
 LAKES. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 BATTLE OF THE FOUR LAKES. 
 
 XJGUST 27tli.— To-day we left tlie river. We 
 had reveille at half-past three in the morning, and 
 marched at five. We made fifteen miles, and en- 
 camped on the Pelouze river. 
 
 August 28th. — We made but five miles to-day, 
 encamping on Cheranna creek, where we found 
 plenty of wood, fine grass and water. We are all on the 
 alert, as any hour may find us in face of the enemy. 
 
 What the programme of the campaign is, none of us 
 know. We suppose, indeed, that our commander can 
 have no definite plan, as we are entering a country almost 
 entirely unknown to us, but he will have to be guided by 
 circumstances. An Indian war is a chapter of accidents. 
 The camp talk is, that we have stores for only forty days, 
 during which time we must find and beat the enemy. 
 
 August 29 til. — Marched at six o'clock this morning, and 
 made twenty miles, encamping on Cottonwood creek. 
 The country hitherto has been rocky and mountainous, 
 but to-day it became more level, and is thickly sprinkled 
 with timber. It has however been hard marching for the 
 men, the water being very scarce and poor when found, 
 This evening we came in sight of the Coeur d'Alene 
 mountains, and beyond them had a faint view of the Rocky 
 mountains. 
 
 August SOth. — Left camp at six o'clock, and marched 
 over a rocky, though for the most part level country. 
 Water was found every five or six miles, but not good. 
 
52 BATTLE OF THE FOUR LAKES. 
 
 In three places where we halted for water, we saw the re- 
 mains of Indian lodges. We made eighteen miles, to 
 Camp Pedrigal. 
 
 To-day we first saw the Indians in any force. "We had 
 just got into camp when two of the Nez Perces rode in, 
 announcing that a large body of Spokans were approach- 
 ing. The dragoons at once saddled their horses and held 
 them in readiness to mount at any moment. About half 
 an hour afterwards shots were heard exchanged between 
 the enemy and our advanced pickets. Two companies of 
 dragoons were at once sent out, followed by the howitzer 
 battery, two companies of artillery, and two of infantry. 
 The rest of the command were left to guard the camp. 
 We found however that the Indians had retreated before 
 the dragoons, who followed them for some distance with- 
 out being able to reach them. It was evidently a recon- 
 naissance of scouts belonging to some large force in the 
 neighborhood. 
 
 This afternoon two men of the artillery died from eating 
 poisonous roots. 
 
 August ^Ist — We left camp at eight o'clock, and marched 
 eighteen miles through a rather level country. Most of 
 our road lay through a cedar wood. On our right were 
 hills running parallel to the wood, and beyond was a 
 rolling country. We had not been out long when hostile 
 Indians appeared on the hills. The ISTez Perces rode in 
 and reported to us, when Colonel Wright ordered the 
 column to halt, the pack train to close up in our rear, and 
 two companies of dragoons to deploy towards the enemy. 
 In the mean time the Nez Perces had exchanged shots 
 with them. They retreated as the dragoons approached 
 them. In this way they accompanied us during the whole 
 day, keeping at all times some distance beyond gun-shot. 
 As we afterwards found, these small bodies were sent out 
 
BATTLE OF THE FOUR LAKES. 53 
 
 to decoy our troops on and to deceive them as to the num- 
 bers of the enem J. They had chosen their ground ahead, 
 in a strong position for attack, where the trail passes 
 through a defile ; and there they were awaiting the troops 
 with their whole force. 
 
 Just before getting into camp, the hostile Indians rode 
 up near our column, set fire to the grass, and fired upon 
 our rear guard. Their object was to make an attack under 
 cover of the smoke, but the grass was too green to burn 
 freely, and the maneuvres of the troops at once defeated 
 their intentions. As soon as the attack was made. Captain 
 Keyes ordered me forward to report the fact to Colonel 
 Wright, who, I found, had got into camp about half a mile 
 in advance. Captain Keyes then ordered Captain Winder's 
 company of rifles to deploy across the rear of the column, 
 at right angles to Lieutenant Ihrie's deployed on the right 
 and Captain Hardie's on the left, and parallel to the column, 
 thus forming a rectangle about the train. The Indians re- 
 treated after firing, and took up their position on the hills 
 on the right, overlooking our camp, where they remained 
 until dark. We knew that their main body could not be 
 far distant. The prompt movements of the troops on this 
 occasion showed that they were prepared for any emer- 
 gency. 
 
 We are now about twenty miles from Spokan river, 
 and it is the intention of Colonel Wright to remain for a 
 few days at this camp to allow the men and animals to 
 recruit. 
 
 September 1st — This morning, at daylight, we found the 
 Indians, increased in number, still posted on the hills over- 
 looking us. Their manner was defiant and insolent, and 
 they seemed to be inviting an attack. At eight o'clock 
 orders were issued to have the artillery battalion in readi- 
 ness, as it might be called out at any moment. Shortly after, 
 
54 BATTLE OF THE FOUR LAKES. 
 
 the dragoons, four companies of artillery, the howitzer 
 battery under Lieutenant White, and the two companies 
 of rifles, were ordered out to drive the Indians from the 
 hill and engage the main body, which we ascertained was 
 concentrated beyond it. They were formed into two 
 columns, — one of dragoons, numbering one hundred, — ^the 
 other of artillery and infantry, about two hundred and 
 twenty strong. 
 
 One company of artillery under Lieutenants Gibson and 
 Dandy, a detachment of dragoons, and the guard, consist- 
 ing of about fifty men, under Lieutenant Lyon, officer of 
 the guard, all under command of Captain Hardie, the 
 field officer of the day, were left to defend the camp. As 
 "We did not know the strength of the enemy, and had four 
 hundred mules and extensive stores, it became necessary 
 to leave this force to guard the camp, lest it should be at* 
 tacked in the absence of the main body. 
 
 After advancing about a mile and a half, we reached 
 the hill and prepared to dislodge the enemy from it. Major 
 Grier, w*ith the dragoons, marched to the left, while the 
 party of our Nez Perces, under the direction of Lieutenant 
 MuUan, wound round the hill and ascended at the right. 
 The main column came next, with Colonel Wright and 
 staff at its head, followed by Captain Keyes, commanding 
 the artillery, the third artillery, the rifles, and the how- 
 itzer battery. 
 
 As soon as the dragoons reached the top of the hill, 
 they dismounted, — one half holding the horses and the 
 others acting as skirmishers. After exchanging a volley 
 with the Indians, they drove them off the hill and held it 
 until the foot soldiers arrived. On our way up. Colonel 
 Wright received a message from Major Grier, stating that 
 the Indians were collected in large numbers, (about five 
 hundred it was thought,) at the foot of the hill, apparently 
 
BATTLE OF THE TOUR LAKES. 55 
 
 prepared to fight. Colonel Wright immediately advanced 
 the battalion rapidly forward, ordering Captain Ord's com- 
 pany to the left to be deployed as skirmishers. 
 
 My place, as adjutant of the artillery battalion was, of 
 course, with Captain Keyes. We rode to the top of the 
 hill, when the whole scene lay before us like a splendid 
 panorama. Below us lay "four lakes" — a large one at 
 the foot of the barren hill on which we were, and just be- 
 yond it three smaller ones, surrounded by rugged rocks, 
 and almost entirely fringed with pines. Between these 
 lakes, and beyond them to the north-west, stretched out a 
 plain for miles, terminated by bare grassy hills, one suc- 
 ceeding another as far as the eye could reach. In the far 
 distance was dimly seen a line of mountains covered with 
 the black pine. 
 
 On the plain below us we saw the enemy. Every spot 
 seemed alive with the wild warriors we had come so far 
 to meet. They were in the pines on the edge of the 
 lakes, in the ravines and gullies, on the opposite hill- 
 sides, and swarming over the plain. They seemed to 
 cover the country for some two miles. Mounted on their 
 fleet, hardy horses, the crowd swayed back and forth, 
 brandishing their weapons, shouting their war tries, and 
 keeping up a song of defiance. Most of them were armed 
 with Hudson Bay muskets, while others had bows and ar- 
 rows and long lances. They were in all the bravery of 
 their war array, gaudily painted and decorated with their 
 wild trappings. Their plumes fluttered above them, while 
 below skins and trinkets and all kinds of fantastic embel- 
 lishments flaunted in the sunshine. Their horses, too, 
 were arrayed in the most glaring finery. Some were even 
 painted, and with colors to form the greatest contrast ; the 
 white being smeared with crimson in fantastic figures, and 
 the dark colored streaked with white clay. Beads and 
 
56 BATTLE OF THE FOUR LAKES. 
 
 fringes of gaudy colors were hanging from their bridles, 
 while the plumes of eagles' feathers, interwoven with the 
 mane and tail, fluttered as the breeze swept over them, and 
 completed their wild and fantastic appearance. 
 
 " By heavens ! it was a glorious sight to see 
 The gay array of their wild chivalry." 
 
 But we had no time for mere admiration, for other work 
 was in hand. Orders were at once issued for the artillery 
 and infantry to be deployed as skirmishers and advance 
 down the hill, driving the Indians before them from their 
 coverts, until they reached the plain where the dragoons 
 could act against them. At the same time Lieutenant 
 White, with the howitzer battery, supported by Company 
 A., under Lieutenant Tyler, and the rifles, was sent to the 
 right to drive them out of the woods. The latter met 
 with a vigorous resistance, but a few discharges of the 
 howitzer, with their spirited attack, soon dislodged the 
 enemy, and compelled them to take refuge on the hills. 
 
 In the meanwhile the companies moved down the hill 
 with all the precision of a parade ; and as we rode along 
 the line, it was pleasant to see the enthusiasm of the men 
 to get within reach of the enemy. As soon as they were 
 within some six hundred yards, they opened their fire and 
 delivered it steadily as they advanced. Our soldiers aimed 
 regularly, though it was no easy task to hit their shifting 
 marks. The Indians acted as skirmishers, advancing rap- 
 idly and delivering their fire, and then retreating again 
 with a quickness and irregularity which rendered it difficult 
 to reach them. They were wheeling and dashing about, 
 always on the run, apparently each fighting on his own 
 account. 
 
 But minnie balls and long range rifles were things with 
 which now for the first time they were to be made acquaint- 
 
BATTLE OF THE FOUR LAKES. 57 
 
 ed. As the line advanced, first we saw one Indian reel in his 
 saddle and fall, — ^then, two or three, — then, half a dozen. 
 Then some horses would dash madly forward, showing 
 that the balls were telling upon them. The instant, how- 
 ever, that the "braves" fell, they were seized by their com- 
 panions and dragged to the rear, to be borne off. We saw 
 one Indian leading off a horse with two of his dead com- 
 panions tied on it. 
 
 But in a few minutes, as the line drew nearer, the fire 
 became too heavy, and the whole array broke and fled to- 
 wards the plain. This was the chance for which the dra- 
 goons had been impatiently waiting. As the line advanced 
 they had followed on behind it, leading their hoi'ses. Now 
 the order was given to mount, and they rode through 
 the company intervals to the froni In an instant was 
 heard the voice of Major Grrier ringing over the plain, as he 
 shouted — "Charge the rascals I" and on the dragoons went 
 at headlong speed. Taylor's and Gaston's companies were 
 there, burning for revenge, and soon they were on them. 
 We saw the flasn of their sabres as they cut them down. 
 Lieutenant Davidson shot one warrior from his saddle as 
 they charged up, and Lieutenant Gregg clove the skull of 
 another. Yells and shrieks and uplifted hands were of no 
 avail, as they rode over them. A number were left dead 
 upon the ground, when once more the crowd broke and 
 dashed forward to the hills. It was a race foi- life, as the 
 flying warriors streamed out of the glens and ravines and 
 over the open plain, and took refuge in the clumps of woods 
 or on the rising ground. 
 
 Here they were secure from the dragoons. Had the lat- 
 ter been well mounted, they would have made a terrible 
 slaughter. But their horses were too much worn out to 
 allow them to reach the main body. For twenty-eight days 
 they had been on their march, their horses saddled all day 
 4 
 
68 BATTLE X)F THE FOUR LAKES. 
 
 and engaged in constant scouting,— at night picketed, with 
 only a little grass after camping. Thej were obliged there- 
 fore to halt when they reached the hill-side, their horses 
 being entirely blown. 
 
 Then the line of foot once more passed them and advanc- 
 ed, renewing their fire, and driving the Indians over the 
 hills for about two miles. As we ascended, the men were 
 so totally exhausted that many had fallen out of the ranks, 
 and Captain Keyes was obliged to order a short halt to let 
 them come up. When a portion had joined, we resumed 
 our march. 
 
 The great mass of the Indians by this time had passed 
 over the crest of the hill, and when we rode to the top 
 but few of them were visible. Without again attempting 
 to make any head, they had taken refuge in the woods and 
 ravines, beyond the reach of the troops. A single group 
 was seen at some distance, apparently left to watch us, but 
 a shell fired from a howitzer by Lieutenant White, burst- 
 ing over their heads, soon sent them to seek refuge in the 
 ravines. 
 
 For a short time we remained on the hill,- but no new 
 demonstration having been made, Colonel Wright ordered 
 the recall to be sounded, and we marched back to the camp. 
 A number of our men had never before been under fire, 
 but begrimed and weary as they were, we could see in 
 their faces how much they enjoyed the excitement of the 
 fight. Certainly none could evince finer discipline or be- 
 have more coolly. We had been absent from the camp 
 about four hours, and had driven the enemy, from the 
 point where the attack was first made, about three miles 
 and a half 
 
 As we rode back, we saw on the plain the evidences of 
 the fight. In all directions were scattered the arms, mus- 
 kets, quivers, bows and arrows, blankets, robes, &c., which 
 
BATTLE OF THE FOUR LAKES. 59 
 
 had been thrown away by our flying enemies. Horses too 
 were roaming about, which our Indian allies were employ- 
 ed in catching. It was amusing to see the troops return- 
 ing with their trophies. One officer had two buffalo robes 
 and a blanket wrapped around himself and horse. 
 
 What the Indian loss was, we cannot exactly say, as 
 they carry off their dead. Some seventeen, however, were 
 seen to be killed, while there must have been between 
 forty and fifty wounded. Among those killed, we subse- 
 quently ascertained, were a brother and brother-in-law 
 of Gearry, the head chief of the Spokans. 
 
 Strange to say, not one of our men was injured. One 
 dragoon horse alone was wounded. This was owing to 
 the long range rifles now first used by our troops, and the 
 discipline which enabled them so admirably to use them. 
 Had the men been armed with those formerly used, the 
 result of the fight, as to the loss on our side, would have 
 been far different, for the enemy outnumbered us, and had 
 all the courage which we are accustomed to ascribe to In- 
 dian warriors. But they were panic-struck by the effect of 
 our fire at such great distances, and the steady advance of 
 the troops, unchecked by the constant fire kept up by 
 them. 
 
 The following is a list of the officers engaged in the 
 
 fight. 
 
 Field and Staff. 
 
 Colonel George Wright, Ninth Infmitry. 
 
 Lieutenant P. A. Owen, Ninth Infantry, Acting Assistant Adju- 
 tant General. 
 
 Captain R. W. Kirkham, Quarter-master and Commissary. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. F. Howard, ) 
 . . ^ , ^ IT ^ ^ )- Medical Department. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. F. Randolph, I 
 
 Lieutenant John Mullan, Second Artillery, Acting Topographical 
 Engineer. 
 
60 BATTLE OF THE FOUR LAKES. 
 
 First Dragoons. 
 
 TROOP I.— Brevet Major Wm. N. Grier. 
 TROOP E. — Lieutenant Henry B. Davidson. 
 TROOP C— Lieutenant Wm. D. Pender. 
 TROOP H. — Lieutenant David McM. Greqo. 
 
 Third Artillery. 
 , Captain Erasmus D. Keyes, Commanding. 
 Captain B. O. C. Ord, Commanding Company. 
 Lieutenant Robert 0. Tyler, Commanding Company. 
 Lieutenant Jambs L. White, Commanding Howitzer Detachment. 
 Lieutenant Dunbar R. Ransom, Commanding Company. 
 Lieutenant George P. Ihrie, Commanding Company. 
 Lieutenant Michael R. Morgan. 
 Lieutenant James Howard. 
 Lieutenant Lawrence Kip, Adjutant of the Battalion. 
 
 Rifles. — Ninth Infantry. 
 
 Captain Frederick T. Dent, Commanding.- 
 
 Captain Charles S. Winder, Commanding Company. 
 
 Lieutenant H. B. Fleming. 
 
 Captain J. A. Hardie, and Lieutenants Horatio G. Gibson, H. B. 
 Lyon and George F. B. Dandy, were with the Companies left as guard 
 to the camp. 
 
 After a while, our Indian allies began dropping in. 
 They had followed the hostiles eight or ten miles, and re- 
 turned loaded with their spoils, among which were some 
 scalps. Foremost among them, as indeed he had been in 
 the fight, was our friend Cutmouth John, waving a scalp, 
 and catching up loose horses. Our allies concluded the 
 day with a grand war dance about their camp fire, which 
 was protracted far into the night. 
 
VII. 
 
 BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN 
 
 PLAINS. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 
 
 ^OR three days after our last fight we remained in 
 camp, to recruit the animals of the command, ex- 
 hausted by their long march. The Nez Perces 
 were sent out to reconnoitre, but returned reporting 
 no Indians to be in sight. During this time the 
 weather entirely changed, growing damp and cold. 
 
 September 6ih. — We left camp at six o'clock in the morn- 
 ing, and after marching about five miles, saw the enemy 
 collecting in large bodies on our right. They rode along 
 parallel to us for some time, all the while increasing in 
 numbers and becoming bolder. We had just emerged 
 from the rough broken country and entered on a prairie, 
 when they were seen occupying the woods on the right 
 side of us, evidently about to make an attack. 
 
 We had nearly reached the woods when they advanced 
 in great force, and set fire to the dry grass of the prairie, 
 so that the wind blowing high and against us, we were 
 nearly enveloped by the flames. Under cover of the 
 smoke, they formed round us in one-third of a circle, and 
 poured in their fire upon us, apparently each one on his 
 own account. The pack train immediately closed up, 
 guarded by Captain Dent's company of rifles, a company 
 of the Third Artillery under Lieutenants Ihrie and How- 
 
64 BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 
 
 ard, and Lieutenant Davidson's company of dragoons, while 
 the command prepared to repulse the enemy. 
 
 It was curious to witness the scene, — the dust and smoke, 
 and the noise and shouting of the Mexican muleteers driv- 
 ing forward to the centre four hundred overloaded ani- 
 mals, while the troops were formed about them with as 
 mucli order and far greater rapidity than if no danger 
 threatened. Then on the hills to our right, if we could 
 have had time to have witnessed them, were feats of 
 horsemanship which we have never seen equalled. The 
 Indians would dash down a hill five hundred feet high 
 and with a slope of forty -five degrees, at the most headlong 
 speed, apparently with all the rapidity they could have 
 used on level ground. 
 
 Four companies of the Third Artillery, under Captains 
 Ord and Ilardie, and Lieutenants Gibson and Tyler, were 
 at once deployed on the right and left. The men, flushed 
 with their last victory, dashed through the flames, charged 
 and drove the enemy before them. As soon as they took 
 refuge in the timber, the howitzer under Lieutenant White 
 opened upon them with its shells. Then the foot charged 
 them again, driving them from cover to cover, from be- 
 hind the trees and rocks, and through the ravines and 
 canons, till the woods for more than four miles, which 
 lately seemed perfectly alive with their yelling and shout- 
 ing, were entirely cleared. Then they drove them over the 
 rocks and scaled the walls of pedigal, dislodging them 
 wherever they had collected. It was at this time that 
 among those who fell was a chief, killed by Lieutenant 
 Tyler's company, upon the saddle of whose horse was 
 found the pistol used by Lieutenant Gaston, when killed 
 in Colonel Steptoe's fight. 
 
 At length they were driven into the plain, when the 
 dragoons under Major Grier and Lieutenant Pender, who 
 
BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 65 
 
 had been slowly following the foot, rode through the in- 
 tervals of the skirmishes, the charge sounded, and they 
 swept the enemy before them. Among the incidents of 
 the fight was one which happened to Lieutenant Pender. 
 Firing his pistol as he charged, just as he dashed up to 
 the side of an Indian he discovered that his revolver had 
 caught on the lock and was useless. He had not time to 
 draw his sabre, and was obliged, therefore, to close v/ith 
 his enemy. He grappled the Indian and hurled him from 
 his horse, when a soldier behind dispatched him. 
 
 Yet our enemy could not thus leave the field, but groups 
 gathered, and the flying stragglers again united in the 
 woods which surrounded us on every side. Lieutenant 
 Tyler's company was therefore ordered to sweep a hill to 
 the right, while the companies of Captain Ord and Lieu- 
 tenant Gibson charged the woods till they drove the enemy 
 out, after a sharp contest. Towards the close of the en- 
 gagement, Lieutenant Ihrie's company cleared a hill to 
 the right and in advance of the column. A part of the 
 troops then rejoined the column, flankers were thrown 
 out, and the command continued to advance until we 
 reached the Spokan river, where we encamped. Skir- 
 mishing continued all the way, the howitzer scattering the 
 enemy whenever they collected in large numbers in the 
 woods, and the foot soldiers then advancing and chai'ging 
 them. We had marched during the day twenty-five miles, 
 the last fourteen miles fighting all the way. No water 
 could be procured for the whole distance, and the men by 
 the time they reached the river were entirely exhausted. 
 Nothing kept them up but the excitement of the contest. 
 
 We have again had a proof of the efficiency of the new 
 rifles, and the thorough discipline of the command, as but 
 one man was slightly wounded. 
 
 Some five hundred Indians are supposed to have been 
 4» 
 
66 BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 
 
 engaged in the fight. How many were, killed and wounded 
 we cannot tell, from their custom, — which I have men- 
 tioned before, — of carrying off their dead at once. They 
 were removed generally before the troops could cross the 
 ravines to get at them. We learned afterwards that Kam- 
 miaken, the great war chief of the Yakimas, was almost 
 killed. A shell bust in a tree near him, tearing off a 
 branch which struck him on the head, inflicting a wound. 
 
 We discovered that some of the hostile Nez Percys were 
 united with the enemy in this fight. A portion of the 
 tribe has not acceded to the alliance which the rest have 
 formed with us. The Indians apparently retreated but a 
 few miles, as after dark we saw their camp fires in the 
 distance, and also a great light which proved to be one of 
 their villages they were burning. 
 
 Septemher 6th. — We remained in our camp on Spokan 
 river to-day, to let the men ^nd animals rest, and to have 
 a reconnaisance made on the river. Indians were seen on 
 the opposite side, and in the afternoon some few came 
 over to our camp and professed friendship, showing us 
 where we could find a good crossing. 
 
 September 7ih. — Hearing that the enemy were in force 
 above on the Spokan, we broke up our camp this morning 
 at seven, and moved up the river about seven miles, when 
 we again encamped. Most of our way lay through the 
 wood skirting the river, the scenery around being very 
 beautiful. Just before reaching our camping-ground, we 
 passed the great Spokan falls. It is a high, narrow, 
 basaltic canon, where the whole river passes over an in- 
 clined ledge of rocks, with a fall of between forty and 
 fifty feet. The view from every point is exceedingly pic- 
 turesque. As high up as the falls, salmon are found in 
 great abundance, while above them trout are very plenty. 
 
 Sopn after leaving camp, we observed a small party of 
 
BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 67 
 
 Indians on the other side of the river, riding in the same 
 direction with us. When we had marched about three 
 miles, they stopped and had a talk across the narrow 
 river, when we found one of them was Gearry, one of the 
 head chiefs of the Spokans, who has received some educa- 
 tion from the priests in the Ked river country, and talks 
 English tolerably well. He expressed a wish to have a 
 " talk" with Colonel Wright, and was told by the Colonel 
 to meet him at the ford two miles above the falls. It is 
 evident their spirit is broken by the tw^ lessons they have 
 received. 
 
 Soon after we had halted at the ford, Gearry crossed 
 over and came into camp. lie said, " that he had always 
 been opposed to fighting, but that the yoang men and 
 many of the chiefs were against him, and he could not 
 control them." This, we have reason to believe, is true ; 
 for Dr. Perkins, in his narrative from which I have already 
 quoted, when at- Fort Colville, attended the Spokan council, 
 and makes the following mention of Gearry : — " He says 
 ' his heart is undecided ; he does not know which way to 
 go ; his friends arc fighting the whites, and he does not 
 like to join them ; but, if he does not, they will kill him. 
 During the whole time that we were in the council, Gearry 
 never said a word, but merely looked on." 
 
 The "talk" administered by Colonel Wright, in reply 
 to his excuses, was very plain, but by no means pleasing. 
 It was thus : — " I have met you in two battles ; you have 
 been badly whipped; you have had several chiefs and 
 many warriors killed or wounded ; I have not lost a man 
 or animal. I have a large force, and you, Spokans, Coeur 
 d'Alenes, Pelouzes, and Pend d'Orcilles may unite, and I 
 can defeat you as badly as before. I did not come into 
 the country to ask you to make peace ; I came here to 
 fight. Now, when you are tired of war and ask for peace, 
 
68 BATTLE or THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 
 
 I will tell yoii wliat you must do. You must come to me 
 with your arms, with your women and children, and every- 
 thing you have, and lay them at my feet. You must put 
 your faith in me and trust to my mercy. If you do this, 
 I shall then tell you the terms upon which I wdll give you 
 peace. If you do not do this, war will be made on you 
 this year and the next, and until your nations shall be ex- 
 terminated." 
 
 The Colonel ordered Gearry to communicate to all the 
 Indians he should fall in with, what he had said, and also 
 to tell them, if they did as he demanded, their lives should 
 be spared. He also directed him to send a messenger at 
 once to Moses and to Big Star, (other Spokan chiefs,) to 
 bring in their people, and to return himself to-morrow 
 with his people^ at one hour after sunrise. All this he 
 promised to do. Schroom, we hear, is at Gearry's lodge, 
 and Kamiaken is believed to be not far off. 
 
 At noon, the son of Big Star came, in the name of his 
 father, to ask for peace. After going into camp, nine war- 
 riors arrived to "talk" with Colonel Wright. He sent 
 two over the river to bring in their arms, which they had 
 left on the other side. After crossing, one mounted his 
 horse and rode off, probably not having nerve enough to 
 meet the Colonel again. The other returned, bringing the 
 guns, which were found to be of British manufacture, 
 marked London^ 1847, and had evidently been purchased 
 of the Hudson Bay Compan}^, at Colville. Colonel Wright 
 retained as hostages, their leader, who proved to be Po- 
 kantken, the head chief of the Spokans, who had been in 
 the fight against Colonel Steptoe, and was the leader in the 
 battles against us on the first and fifth, and also another 
 Indian, who is believed to have been engaged in the mur- 
 der of the miners in May last. 
 
 /September 8ih, — We left camp at sunrise, and marched 
 
BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 69 
 
 up the river on the Coeur d'Alene prairie. After advanc- 
 ing about ten miles, the Nez Perces (our usual scouts on 
 the march,) came in to say they had discovered Indians 
 on the right. At the same time we saw clouds of dust 
 between us and the mountain, as if some large bodies 
 were in motion. The column was halted, the train closed 
 up in the rear, and the artillery companies of Captain Ord 
 and Lieutenant Gibson, together with Lieutenant Gregg's 
 company of dragoons, were left to guard it. The rest of 
 the command then moved rapidly on, the dragoons under 
 Major Grier at a trot. 
 
 We found it difficult to advance as fast as we wished, 
 there being a very high hill to climb. The dragoons and 
 Nez Perces, therefore, outstripped us, and we soon saw 
 them passing over the hills. They had discovered that 
 the Lidians were driving off their stock to the mountains, 
 which they had nearly reached. Our horsemen were 
 obliged to dismount on account of the nature of the ground, 
 and, after a sharp skirmish, succeeded in capturing the 
 whole band, consisting of nine hundred horses. The In- 
 dians who had charge of them escaped to the mountains, 
 after exchanging a few shots with the Kez Percys. These 
 horses belonged to Tilkohitz, a Pelouze chief, and a noto- 
 rious freebooter, who has stolen a large number of cattle, 
 at different times, from the whites and from Walla Walla. 
 They were captured near a wide lake, to the right of the 
 great Coeur d'Alene trail, a place where large numbers of 
 the four tribes winter. When the foot passed the first 
 range of hills, they met the captured animals returning, 
 ■under charge of Lieutenant Davidson, with his dragoons 
 dismounted, and the Kez Perces. 
 
 When we resumed our march, as we had gone several 
 miles out of our road, an express was sent to Captain Ord 
 to march with his command and train along the river and 
 
70 BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 
 
 join US. After a march of four miles, we reached Spokan 
 river and encamped. 
 
 The Nez Perces having reported that there were some 
 cattle on the prairie above us, and some lodges filled with 
 wheat, after sundown. Colonel Wright dispatched two 
 companies of artillery and one of dragoons, to burn the 
 lodges and grain and drive in the cattle. They returned 
 in the night, reporting that the cattle proved to be so wild 
 that they could not be captured, but took to the moun- 
 tains. The lodges were burned. "We had marched to- 
 day twenty miles. 
 
 In the evening, the case of our Pelouze prisoner was 
 investigated, and it having been proved beyond doubt that 
 he was engaged in the murder of the miners in May last, 
 he was hung. 
 
 On leaving camp in the morning, we saw two Indians 
 on the opposite bank of the river, who were watching our 
 movements. During the morning they came down to the 
 river, where the train and its guard were waiting for us, 
 shouted over and demanded that the old Spokan chief 
 whom we had detained should be sent back. The answer 
 was a volley, wounding both of them, killing one horse 
 and wounding the other. The Indians, however, both 
 managed to escape. They were the sons of our Spokan 
 prisoner, and one of them was in our camp yesterday, when 
 his father was arrested. He then seemed very much ex- 
 cited, but we did not know of his relationship until he had 
 gone. 
 
 September 9lh. — This morning at daybreak, three com- 
 panies of dragoons were sent out, and destroyed seven 
 lodges used by the Indians as storehouses of wheat. Some 
 were filled ; from others the contents had been carried off 
 and probably cached. 
 
 At nine o'clock, Colonel Wright convened a board of 
 
BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 71 
 
 officers to determine wliat should be done with the cap- 
 tured horses. They decided that one hundred and thirty 
 should be selected for our use, and the rest shot. It was a 
 disagreeable necessity, but one which could not be avoided. 
 Most of them being wild, they could not be taken with us 
 on our march, and must be prevented from falling again 
 into the hands of their former owners. Nothing can more 
 effectually cripple the Indians than to deprive them of 
 their animals. 
 
 Two companies were therefore ordered out to perform 
 this duty. A corral (enclosure) was first made, into which 
 they were all driven. Then, one by one, they were lassoed 
 and dragged out, and dispatched by a single shot. About 
 two hundred and seventy were killed in this way. The 
 colts were led out and knocked in the head. It was dis- 
 tressing during all the following night, to hear the cries of 
 the brood mares whose young had thus been taken from 
 them. On the following day, to avoid the slow process of 
 killing them separately, the companies were ordered to 
 fire volleys into the corral. 
 
 During the afternoon, our herders shot five of the wild 
 beef cattle on the plains. 
 
 In the evening, two Indians, one of whom claimed to 
 be a chief, came into camp with a white flag. They said 
 they came from Big Star, and belonged to his party, — that 
 he had started to overtake Colonel Wright, but found the 
 command had moved on, and as they had lost their horses 
 they were obliged to travel on foot. Colonel Wright told 
 them to remain in camp to-night and return early in the 
 morning to Big Star, to inform him that he should remain 
 where he was, and when we came near his village he 
 should come in with his women and fiimilies. 
 
 In all these offers of submission, we see the effect of the 
 last battle on the Spokan plains. Defeated in the open 
 
72 BATTLE OF THE SPOKAN PLAINS. 
 
 country, at the Four Lakes, they determined to try it once 
 more, where they had the shelter of the forests from which 
 to annoy us. They had again the selection of their own 
 ground ; and this second lesson seems to have broken their 
 spirit, and it is doubtful whether they can again make 
 head with any force against us. 
 
VIII. 
 
 THE OCEUR D'ALENE MIS- 
 SION. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE CGEUR d'aLENE MISSION. 
 
 EPTEMBER 10th.— This morning an Indian run- 
 ner came in from the Coeur d'Alene mission, 
 bringing a letter from Father Joset to Colonel 
 Wright. Its import was, that the Indians were en- 
 tirely prostrate and desired peace ; and that they 
 had requested him (the priest) to intercede for them. A 
 few days' march will now bring us to the Mission. 
 
 To-day two companies more were detailed to shoot the 
 rest of the horses. The officers and others selected theirs, 
 about two hundred being saved in this way, and the re- 
 maining seven hundred shot. Most of those, however, 
 which were retained, were shot afterwards, or escaped from 
 us. They broke their fastenings or tore up the stakes to 
 which they were tied at night, and dashed back again to 
 their native wilds. They were entirely too wild to be of 
 any use. 
 
 "We learned subsequently, that nothing we had done so 
 much prostrated the Indians as this destruction of their 
 horses. At the time they were taken, there were some 
 Indians witnessed it from the neighboring hills, who said, 
 as we afterwards learned, " that it did not make a great 
 deal of difference, as they would get them all back in a few 
 days." Their plan would have been to stampede them, in 
 doing which they probably would have run off our animals 
 with them. They were therefore very much taken by 
 surprise, when, the next day they saw them killed. One 
 
76 THE CCEUR d'aLENE MISSION. 
 
 of the Jndians was watching us from the hilLtop through 
 a glass of one of the officers, which he had taken in Colonel 
 Steptoe's fight, and which was afterwards returned to us 
 at the Mission. Without horses these Indians are powerless. 
 
 September llth. — We began crossing the Spokan river 
 at five o'clock this morning. Each dragoon took a foot sol- 
 dier behind him, and in this way we crossed in about an hour 
 and a half. For a few miles our march was along the riv- 
 er and over the Spokan. plains, when we entered the pine 
 woods. We pf ssed a small fall, above which the river is 
 tranquil and sluggish, and there are indications of a lake 
 being not far distant. After a march of fifteen miles 
 through the pine forests, we reached the Cceur d'Alene 
 lake, on the borders of which we encamped. 
 
 At noon, we came across four Indian lodges, filled with 
 wheat, which we burned. Some caches^ filled with dried 
 cake and wild cherries^ were also discovered and destroyed. 
 This outbreak will bring upon the Indians a winter of 
 great suffering, from the destruction of their stores. 
 
 Just before reaching our camping-ground, we passed an 
 ludian burial-place. Each grave was covered with a low 
 log house, surmounted by a cross. The house answers both 
 as a monument, and a protection for the remains against the 
 wild animals. 
 
 It is a peculiarity, we were told, about these Indians, 
 that if one of their number is killed, his family have to 
 decide the question, whether or no't the tribe shall go to 
 war. The chiefs have no voice in the matter. If the 
 family decide for war, all the warriors have to go, as those 
 who refuse are outlawed. 
 
 September 12th. — When we were about to leave camp 
 this morning, Vincent, the head chief of the Coeur d'Alenes, 
 rode in, bringing a pass from the priest, giving his name, 
 and saying that he was on his way to bring the hostiles 
 into the Mission. 
 
77 
 
 All day we have toiled along, tlirougli beautiful scenery, 
 yet a country difficult for a force to make its way, as our 
 marcli has been through the forest in its primeval state. 
 For the first few miles along the borders of the lake, the 
 trees were scattered, but after leaving the shore the tim- 
 ber became so thick that the troops had to march in single 
 file. At this point Lieutenant Mullan had to abandon his 
 wagon, the only one with the command, and the howitzers 
 had to be packed on mules and the limber abandoned. 
 The forest seemed to become more dense as we advanced, 
 until we could see nothing about us but high hills and 
 deep caverns, with thick woods covering all, through 
 which we wound our way in a twilight gloom. 
 
 This is a splendid country as a home for the Indians, 
 and we cannot wonder that they are aroused when they 
 think the white men are intruding on them. The Coeur 
 d'Alene lake, one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, 
 with water clear as cr3^stal, is about fifteen miles in length, 
 buried, as it were, in the Coeur d'Alene mountains, which 
 rise around it on every side. The woods are full of ber- 
 ries, while in the Spokan river salmon abound below the 
 falls, and trout above. In the winter season, deer and elk 
 are found in the mountains. Many parts of the country 
 are good for grazing, while there are a sufficient number of 
 fertile spots where crops can easily be raised. When the 
 Indian thinks of the hunting-grounds to which he is look- 
 ing forwardin the Spirit Land, wo doubt whether he could 
 imagine anything more in accordance with his taste than 
 this reality. 
 
 At evening we encamped on Wolf's Lodge creek. 
 
 September ISih. — Our march all day over the Coeur 
 d'Alene mountains was similar to that of yesterday. In 
 some places the trail passed along the brink of precipices 
 apparently a thousand feet in depth. The forest was so 
 dense and full of fallen timber, that the pioneers had to be 
 
78 
 
 kept in advance, to cut with their axes a road for the ani- 
 mals. As seen from the tops of the mountains, Avhen we 
 crossed, the scenery was very grand, the densely covered 
 hills, interspersed with lakes, rolling, as far as the eye 
 could reach, to the horizon. Pleasing, however, as this 
 might be to the lovers of the picturesque, the march, al- 
 though only eighteen miles, was a very toilsome one to the 
 men and animals. The rear guard did not reach camp till 
 nine o'clock at night. 
 
 On these marches, the officers were mounted, and yet it 
 was not so exclusive a privilege as might be supposed. 
 When the march was long, and particularly during some 
 of the excessively sultry weather, some of the men who 
 were trudging along under the weight of their arms and 
 equipments, would give out from exhaustion. Every lit- 
 tle while one would fall out of the ranks. Then the sur- 
 geon stops, administers to him a restorative, and, as we 
 had been obliged to abandon the hospital wagon on cross- 
 ing Snake river, some officer dismounts and gives him his 
 horse. So it often happened that we went on foot for 
 half or even the whole of the day's march. 
 
 We first came in sight of the Coeur d'Alene mission 
 when about five miles off. It is situated in a beautiful val- 
 ley, surrounded by the Coeur d'Alene mountains. A pretty 
 stream, a branch of the Coeur d'Alene river, with clear 
 cold water, runs along side of it, furnishing means of irri- 
 gation. In the centre of the Mission stands the church, 
 and round it cluster the other buildings, — a mill, a couple of 
 houses for the priests, the dwellings of the Indian converts, 
 and some barns to store their produce. We encamped 
 about a quarter of a mile from it. The priests, in the 
 evening, sent a wagon fall of vegetables to the officers. 
 
 September 16th. — This morning, in company with several 
 other officers, I visited the Mission. There are two priests. 
 Fathers Joset and Minitre, with three lay brothers, attached 
 
THE CCEUR d'ALENE MISSION. 79 
 
 to it, by whom we were received with great kindness and 
 politeness, and all the information for which we asked, 
 both with regard to their mission and the Indians, was 
 readily given. 
 
 The Mission was established in 1846, and is an offshoot 
 of the Mission of St. Joseph, about thirty miles from here. 
 Their chapel is a prominent building, constructed of hewn 
 timber, and mortar mixed with straw. It will hold about 
 three hundred persons, but is still unfinished in the inside. 
 
 We found but about forty Indians living at the Mission, 
 who are instructed and employed by the priests. With 
 their own lodges and gardens about them, they appear to 
 be perfectly happy and contented. There is no doubt but 
 what the priests have had a most happy influence over 
 them. Most of the tribe, it is true, in a moment of excite- 
 ment, and, it is believed, in opposition to the priests, 
 rushed into this war, yet generally they are easily managed, 
 and no Indians with whom we have met have impressed 
 us so favorably. And so it may continue to be while they 
 are buried in these mountains. But as soon as the stream 
 of population flows up to them, they will be contaminated 
 by the vices of the white men, and their end will be that of 
 every other tribe which has been brought into contact with 
 civilization. At the same time, from their courage and 
 the natural defences of their country, they can prove most 
 dangerous enemies. 
 
 The priests told us that the Coeur d'Alenes cannot mus- 
 ter more than one hundred warriors, nor does the whole 
 tribe contain more than four hundred souls. Most of them 
 were engaged in the recent fights. The Spokans amount 
 to about four times that number. 
 
 Had we delayed our coming a few days longer, the 
 priests informed us, we should have found the Mission de- 
 serted, as they were ordered by their Superior to break it 
 up, if the Indians went out to fight. They were about 
 
80 THE CGSUR d'alene missio:^-. 
 
 removing into the Blackfeet country. If the Indians come 
 in and submit to the terms proposed, they will remain. 
 
 We learned too from them, that in one of the lodges 
 burned by the dragoons the night we were on Spokan 
 river, was the carriage belonging to one of the howitzers 
 taken in the fight with Colonel Step toe. 
 
 This afternoon Vincent returned and reported that the 
 Goeur d" Alenes were afraid to come in; but since then 
 some few have arrived. The priests will now be exceed- 
 ingly useful to us. The Indians, terrified by the lessons 
 they have had, although desirous of peace, seem afraid to 
 come near the whites to sue for it. They are scattered, and 
 hiding in the mountains and ravines, and it will be through 
 the agency and influence of their priests alone, that we 
 shall be able to reassure them and induce them to accede 
 to the necessary terms. 
 
 September 16th — We are waiting for the Indians. Some 
 Coeur d' Alenes came in to-day, and turned over to the 
 quarter-master all the property in their possession taken 
 in Colonel Steptoe's fight. It consisted of two horses, 
 two mules, and a variety of small articles. 
 
 September 16lh. — Our mail was sent out to-day in charge 
 of four Coeur d'Alene Indian runners. We must take 
 our risk of its reaching the settlements in safety, without 
 being intercepted by Indian parties," or perhaps carried off 
 by our new "mail agents." 
 
 Some few more Indians came in to-day. The old Spo- 
 kan chief was released this morning and sent to the Mission. 
 He promises to join his people and try to bring them in. 
 
 September 17th, — About a dozen Indians, with their fam- 
 ilies, came in this morning. Now that some have tried 
 the experiment and find themselves unharmed, we may 
 hope that the rest will follow their example. With some 
 other officers I made a visit to the Mission, and then re- 
 turned to attend the council. 
 
IX. 
 
 THE CCETJR D'ALENE 
 COUNCIL. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE CCEUR D^ALENECOUNCIL. 
 
 I HE Coeur d' Alenes have always been remarked 
 for their determined opposition to the whites. They 
 perseveringly set themselves against any intrusion 
 into their country, and if they had possessed 
 strength to carry out their wishes, their hunting- 
 grounds would never have been trodden by the 
 foot of a white man. It was from this trait that they re- 
 ceived their name — Coeur d'Alene — ^pointed hearts, or 
 hearts of arrows. They were now for the first time to 
 meet the whites in council, where their only hope was in 
 unqualified submission. It was the first meeting of the 
 kind on our expedition, and we were now to witness the ef- 
 fect of the severe lesson which the Indians had been taught. 
 The council met in front of Colonel Wright's tent. A 
 bower had been hastily constructed of branches of trees, 
 and in this sylvan saloon we were to meet the sons of the 
 forest. At one end was the Colonel, surrounded by his 
 officers, while the rest of the space was filled by the Coeur 
 d' Alenes, generally (as an Indian chief once expressed 
 it) " resting on the bosom of their mother earth." About 
 a hundred and fifty were present. Our two regular Inter- 
 preters were there, and also Father Joset from the Mission, 
 who lent us his aid in interpreting to Yincent, when the 
 latter repeated it to the other chiefs present. 
 
 The Council was opened by Vincent, the Coeur d'Alene 
 chief, who addressed Colonel Wright thus : 
 
 " I have committed a great crime. T am fully conscious 
 
84 THE CCEUR D'ALENE COUNCIL. 
 
 of it, and am deeply sorry for it. I and all my people are 
 rejoiced that you are willing to forgive ns. I have done." 
 
 Colonel Wright. (To the Indians.) "As your 
 chief has said, you have committed a great crime. It has 
 angered your Great Father, and I have been sent to punish 
 you. You attacked Colonel Steptoe when he was passing 
 peaceably through your country, and you have killed 
 some of his men. But you asked for peace, and you shall 
 have it, on certain conditions. 
 
 " You see that you fight against us hopelessly. I have a 
 great many soldiers. I have a great many men at Walla 
 Walla, and have a large body coming from Salt Lake 
 City. What can you do against us ? I can place my sol- 
 diers on your plains, by your fishing-grounds, and in the 
 mountains where you catch game, and your helpless fam- 
 ilies cannot run away. 
 
 " You shall have peace on the following conditions. You 
 must deliver to me, to take to the General, the men who 
 struck the first blow in the affair with Colonel Steptoe. 
 You must deliver to me to take to Walla Walla, one chief 
 and four warriors with their families. You must deliver 
 up to me all property taken in the affair with Colonel 
 Steptoe. You must allow all troops and other white men 
 to pass unmolested through your country. You must not 
 allow any hostile Indians to come into your country, and 
 not engage in any hostilities against any white man. I 
 promise you, that if you will comply with all my require- 
 ments, none of your people shall be harmed, but I will with- 
 draw from your country and you shall have peace forever. 
 
 " I also require that the hatchet shall be buried between 
 you and our friends, the Nez Perces." 
 
 The Nez Perces were called, and the part of the speech 
 referring to them was repeated to the Coeur d'Alenes in 
 their presence. 
 
 YiNCENT replied : — " I desire to hear what the Nez Per- 
 ces' heart is." 
 
THE CCEUR d'ALENE COUNCIL. 86 
 
 Haitzemaliken, (the chief of the Nez Percys,) stood 
 forth and said: — " You behold me before you, and I will 
 lay my heart open to you. I desire there shall be peace 
 between ns. It shall be as the Colonel says. I will never 
 wage war against any of the friends of the white man." 
 
 Vincent. " It does my heart good and makes also my 
 people glad, to hear you speak so. I have desired peace be- 
 tween us. _ There shall never be war between our people, 
 nor between us and the white men. The past is forgotten." 
 
 The propositions of the Colonel were then formally ac- 
 cepted, and having been signed by him and his offcers, 
 they were signed also by Vincent and the other chiefs and 
 head men. They then smoked the pipe of peace all round, 
 and the council broke up. 
 
 The old Spokan chief whom we formerly held as pris- 
 oner, was also there, and made a short speech, the import 
 of which was, that he was also satisfied, and would go and 
 try to bring in his people. He left the camp as soon as the 
 council had adjourned. 
 
 Everything seems to be settling down on quite a pacific 
 footing. The Indians, this afternoon, returned quite a 
 number of things taken in the fight with Colonel Steptoe. 
 Trading, too, goes on quite briskly. Blankets and shirts 
 are exchanged for robes, moccasins, and arms. The 
 Fathers send us vegetables every day, besides milk and 
 butter ; two luxuries which we have not seen for a longtime. 
 
 To-day we noticed at the Mission a number of women, 
 who were evidently in great distress and weeping bitterly. 
 Some were mourning for those who had fallen in battle, 
 and others for the hostages who were to be taken off by us. 
 
 The Indians seem amazed at our being so friendly with 
 them, after their hostilities. Father Joset told them, a| a 
 solution of the matter, that " the soldiers were like lions in 
 war and lambs in peace." 
 
 We find, from conversing with the Indians, what was 
 the system of tactics they had arranged for the campaign. 
 They expected to be attacked first by the dragoons, whom 
 
86 THE CCEUR d'ALENE COUNCIL. 
 
 they intended to figlit as they did Colonel Steptoe, and ex- 
 pected the same result. To this purpose they devoted 
 their powder and ball. Having disposed of the dragoons, 
 they would have the infantry in their power, cut off from 
 all succour in the midst of a hostile country. They were 
 then to keep riding round them, as they would have far 
 outnumbered them, and shooting them with their arrows. 
 They well knew, too, that their first success against our 
 force would have doubled their numbers. Indian runners 
 would at once have spread the news through the country, 
 the wavering and undecided would have cast in their lot 
 with them, warriors from the most distant tribes have hur- 
 ried on to share in the spoil, and on both sides of the 
 mountains we should have had on our hands a war of 
 extermination against the whites. 
 
 The long range rifles upset this beautiful scheme. They 
 expected, they told us, tliat as soon as the infantry fired 
 they would retire and load again. They were very much 
 surprised, therefore, to see them advance all the time, keep- 
 ing up a steady and uninterrupted fire. They compared the 
 soldiers to bears, that when they fired a shot, the soldiers 
 advanced always to the spot where it fell instead of retiring. 
 We learned that, on our march to the Mission, a war- 
 party of the Pelouzes were following in our rear, and when 
 Lieutenant Mullan's wagon and the limber of the Howitzer 
 battery were abandoned, they burned them. 
 
 September 18th. — This morning we resumed our march, 
 and once more plunged into the wilderness. We have 
 now reached the most distant point of our expedition, and 
 begin our retrograde movement. It is the object of Col. 
 Wright to look after the Spokans and other tribes, on his 
 march down through the country. We left the Mission at 
 seven o'clock, and after advancing about two miles, struck 
 the Cceur d'Alene river, our way at first for a few miles 
 passing through a thickly wooded country, and then over 
 an open bottom running along the bank of the river. The 
 
THE CCEUR D'ALENE COUNCIL. 87 
 
 Cceur d'Alene is narrow and winding, and deep enough, it 
 is said, for a line-of-battle ship, though not sufficiently wide. 
 
 Our march of the day was thirteen miles. Some of our 
 hostages and guides went with us, while others came down 
 the river in canoes and met us at our camp. 
 
 During the afternoon, one supply train, one company of 
 dragoons, and the howitzer battery, crossed the river. 
 They were taken over in two canvas boats belonging to 
 the quarter-master, assisted by the Indians in their canoes. 
 
 September 19th. — This morning the rest of the command 
 crossed the river. One dragoon horse and two mules 
 were drowned in making the passage. 
 
 jSept. 20th. — Marched at six this morning. About a mile 
 from the river we entered the thick timber, through which 
 we toiled with great exertions for nine miles, until we emerg- 
 ed once more on the banks of the St. Joseph's river. After 
 marching along its banks for about four miles, we encamped, 
 having advanced thirteen miles, the greater part of the way 
 through the dense forests. The St. Joseph's is a beautiful 
 stream, — narrow and deep, and its banks lined with timber. 
 
 Had we been in a mood for the picturesque, we might 
 have been delighted with the scenery through the day. 
 The views from the moimtains over which we passed, were 
 most beautiful. At times, a large number of lakes, streams 
 and ponds were in sight at once. Just before reaching the 
 river, we passed the spot where the Mission of the Sacred 
 Heart (to the Coeur d'Alenes,) formerly stood, before it 
 was removed to its present location. 
 
 This evening the express came in with the mails, bring- 
 ing us eighteen days later news from the regions of civiliza- 
 tion. The rest of our hostages came in to-day, having 
 been off to get their families and horses. They turned 
 over to our quarter-master some horses and mules taken 
 from Colonel Steptoe's command. 
 
 In the beginning of September, Donati's comet appeared, 
 and night after night it has been streaming above us in 
 all its glory. Strange as it may seem, it has exerted a 
 
88 
 
 powerful influence over the Indians, in our behalf. Ap- 
 pearing just as we entered the country, it seemed to them 
 like some huge besom to sweep them from the earth. The 
 effect was probably much increased by the fact, that it 
 disappeared about the time our campaign ended and the 
 treaties were formed. They must have imagined that it 
 had been sent home to their Great Father in Washington, 
 to be put away until required the next time. 
 
 September 21st. — Last evening the supply train was 
 crossed over the river, and this morning the rest of the 
 command made the passage. The Indians again did us 
 good service in pointing out the ford, and in helping across 
 the men and supplies. The whole command had reached 
 the other side by one in the afternoon. 
 
 "VYe crossed near a Coeur d'Alene village, which was the 
 residence of one of the hostages who was to accompany 
 us, and we witnessed his taking leave of his family. In 
 bidding them farewell, he evidently could not repress his 
 tears, and after looking back once more, by a great effort 
 he tore himself away and hurried from the spot. It was a 
 scene very different from the pictures of Mohegan indiffer- 
 ence given by Fenimore Cooper. 
 
 Since granting peace to the Coeur d'Alenes, we have 
 discovered, what we before suspected, that the discontented 
 portion of the Nez Perces had joined the enemy, and were 
 engaged in the two fights against us. The friendlj^ Indians 
 report there were about forty lodges. 
 
 As soon as we left the river, we entered the heavy tim- 
 ber, and after a march of about five miles reached a small 
 stream where we were obliged to encamp, for the sake of 
 the water, although it was scarce. In the afternoon a chief 
 with ten " braves" came into the camp. They represented 
 themselves as Nez Perces, though we found they in reality 
 were Pelouzes. They said they had been in the two fights 
 against us, but having heard that peace had been granted to 
 the Coeur d'Alenes, they wished it extended to them also. 
 
X. 
 
 THE SPOKAK COUNCIL. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE SPOKAN COUNCIL. 
 
 EPTEMBER 22d.— We left camp at half-past six 
 this morning, and marched seventeen miles through 
 a rolling country, occasionally diversified by open 
 timber. 
 
 When we reached camp, we found that the head 
 chiefs and warriors of the Spokans had come in, 
 accompanied by Father Joset. Kamiaken and Tilkohitz 
 were in last evening, but their courage seemed to have 
 failed before the time of meeting Colonel Wright, and they 
 went off again. Colonel Wright sent Gearry (the Spokan 
 chief) and Big Star out after Kamiaken, telling him to 
 come in and he should not be harmed ; but if he did not 
 surrender himself, he (the Colonel) would hunt him down 
 until he captured him, and then put him to death. 
 
 Kamiaken has been for years the most powerful chief 
 among all these tribes, and at the same time the most re- 
 lentless enemy of the whites. He is the head chief of the 
 Yakimas, his mother having been a Yakima, and his father 
 a Pelouze._ This gave him great influence with both these 
 tribes, and by his talents he has acquired authority with 
 all the northern Indian nations. He seems to occupy the 
 same position with them that Tecumpsah formerly did with 
 our north-western tribes. 
 
92 THE SPOKAN COUNCIL. 
 
 My first acquaintance with him was at the Walla "Walla 
 Council, three years before. There, it was evident that he 
 was the great impediment in the way of any cession of the 
 Indian lands. While the other chiefs, one by one, came 
 into the measure, and even Looking Glass, the war chief 
 of the JSTez Percys, at first entirely hostile, at last yielded 
 to the force of some peculiar arguments which are equally 
 potent with savages and white men, nothing could move 
 Kamiaken. With more far-reaching wisdom than the 
 rest, he probably saw that this surrender of their lands 
 and intrusion of the white men, would be the final step 
 in destroying the nation. Governor Stevens was unable 
 to induce him to express any opinion, but he sat in gloomy 
 silence. Several times, when the governor appealed to 
 him with the inquiry, — ^' We would like to know what is 
 the heart of Kamiaken," — his only answer was, — " What 
 have I to say I" He was the leader in the outbreak which 
 took place shortly after, when Major Haller's force was 
 defeated, and has been, we have no dbubt, the moving 
 spirit in arraying all these tribes against us this season, 
 and bringing on this open warfare. It is not to be won- 
 dered at, therefore, that he is afraid to put himself in the 
 power of the whites. 
 
 September 23c?. — We did not move camp this morning, as 
 it was the day appointed for the Council, which after 
 breakfast assembled in front of Colonel Wright's tent. 
 The Indians numbered one hundred and seven. Besides 
 the Spokans, were Pend d'Orcilles, Colvilles, lies des pier- 
 res, and delegates from other smaller tribes. 
 
 We heard to-day a fact, showing what will be the influ- 
 ence of our two fights even upon the Indian tribes which 
 were not engaged in them. One of the chiefs of the Col- 
 ville Indians, whose hunting-grounds are far north of the 
 Coeur d'Alenes, just on the borders of the British posses- 
 
THE SPOKAN COUNCIL. 93 
 
 sions, told his tribe that he had heard a great deal about 
 the soldiers, but never having seen them^ he would go 
 down and be a witness of the fight which they knew was 
 at hand. So he joined the other tribes, and was present at 
 the battle of the " Four Lakes." When the fight was 
 over, he turned his horse and rode until he reached his 
 own people. There he called his tribe together, and told 
 them he had seen the soldiers, but never wished to see 
 them again ; that they stood as firm as the oaks when the 
 Indians fired at them ; that they could march faster and 
 further in a day than horses j that their guns carried a 
 mile, more than half way as far again as those of the In- 
 dians, and he ended by advising them always to remain 
 friends with the whites. 
 
 The Spokans being assembled at the Council, Colonel 
 Wright addressed them. He promised them peace on the 
 same conditions he had imposed on theCoeur d'Alenes,and 
 announced that he expected to see them come forward like 
 men. The Cceur d'Alenes had done so, and were now the 
 friends of the government. Besides, this was the last treaty 
 which would be made, and he wished the friendly Nez 
 Perces Indians to be included in it. The hostile N'ez Per- 
 ces, who had engaged in the war against us, he would 
 have driven out of the Spokan country ; that the govern- 
 ment would make roads through their country^ where and 
 whenever it pleased, and the workmen employed on them 
 must not be molested. 
 
 The Spokan Chief replied: — "I am sorry for what 
 has been done, and glad of the opportunity now offered to 
 make peace with our Great Father. We promise to obey 
 and fulfil these terms in every point," 
 
 Another old Spokan Chief said: — "My heart is the 
 same. I trust everybody is included in the Colonel's 
 mercy." 
 
94 THE SPOKAN COUNCIL. 
 
 Colonel Wright. " It embraces everybody, and those 
 who go with me to Walla Walla as hostages for the good 
 behavior of the nation shall not be hurt the least, but well 
 taken care of until their safe return at the expiration of 
 one year." 
 
 The treaty was then signed by all the chiefs present, 
 on the part of the Spokans. 
 
 During the council, Gearry and Big Star returned, and 
 reported that they had been hunting all night for Kamia- 
 ken without success, when at daybreak they found him, 
 and Schroom, his brother, on the other side of Spokan 
 river. They were unable, however, to induce him to come 
 in, as he said he was afraid he should be taken to Walla 
 Walla. 
 
 The conditions of peace were then interpreted to these 
 two chiefs, and the treaty signed by them. 
 
 Among those present at the council, was Milcapzy, a 
 Coeur d'Alene chief, who was not at the treaty made with 
 his own nation. As the council was closing. Colonel 
 Wright singled him out and addressed him thus : — 
 
 " Milcapzy ! I saw your letter to General Clarke. You 
 say to the General, — ' Perhaps you think that we are poor 
 and want peace. We are neither poor nor do we want 
 peace. If you want peace, you must come and ask for it. 
 And take care that you do not come beyond the battle 
 ground.' 
 
 "Who now asks for peace? I do not. And where 
 stands the battle ground? Milcapzy thinks he is rich. 
 He has bands of horses, and houses, and farms, and lodges 
 full of grain. Let him remember that riches sometimes 
 take wings and fly away. Tilkohitz"^ was rich once, but 
 
 * Tilkohitz was the owner of the nine hundred horses captured by us 
 and shot, September 9th. 
 
THE SPOKAN COUNCIL. 95 
 
 is poor now. Milcapzy ! look upon tlie banks of the Spo- 
 kan. I should like to hear Milcapzy speak." 
 
 Milcapzy reflected for a moment, spoke a few words to 
 another warrior at his side, arranged his head-dress, and 
 rising, said : — 
 
 " I am aware that I have committed a great crime. I 
 am very sorry for it. My heart is cast down. But I have 
 heard your talk jast made in this council. I have confi- 
 dence in what you say, and I thank you for it. I am 
 ready to abide by the terms you propose." 
 
 The priest then explained to him the conditions on 
 which peace had been granted to the Coeur d'Alenes, and 
 he expressed his willingness to sign the treaty. The coun- 
 cil was then dissolved. 
 
 Among the chiefs at this council, were Polatkin, the 
 head chief of the Spokans, whom we formerly held as a 
 prisoner, and released, — and one of his sons, the one who 
 visited our camp on the Spokan the day his father was 
 detained. His brother and himself were the Indians who 
 were fired at by the guard, across the river, when demand- 
 ing the release of the old chief. He is one of the most 
 splendid looking men I have ever seen. He was shot in 
 the arm below the elbow, and his brother was shot through 
 the body. From what we could leara of him, he will 
 probably not recover. 
 
 One of our hostages is Anthony, a Coeur d'Alene chief, 
 who was in the fight with Colonel Steptoe. When Lieu- 
 tenant Gaston fell, he took his body and covered it with 
 leaves, intending afterwards to go back and bury him. 
 When, however, he returned, he found the body had been 
 removed. 
 
XI. 
 
 OWHI AND QUALCHIEN. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 OWHI AND QtJALCHIEN. 
 
 HIS evening, Owhi, the brother-in-law of Kamia- 
 ken, came into camp, as he said, to make peace. I 
 first saw him, as I did Kamiaken, three years ago 
 at the Walla Walla council, where he opposed all 
 treaties to cede their country, not only with great 
 zeal but with much ability. His speech, of which 
 I took notes at the time, particularly impressed me. It 
 was thus : 
 
 " We are talking together, and the Great Spirit hears all 
 that we say to-day. The_ Great Spirit gave us the land, 
 and measured the land to us. This is the reason that I am 
 afraid to say anything about this land. I am afraid of the 
 laws of the Great Spirit. This is the reason of my heart 
 being sad. This is the reason I cannot give you an answer. 
 I am afraid of the Great Spirit. Shall I steal this land 
 and sell it ? or, what shall I do ? This is the reason why 
 my heart is sad. Th§ Great Spirit made our friends, but 
 the Great Spirit made our bodies from the earth, as if they 
 were different from the whites. What shall I do ? Shall 
 I give the land which is a part of my body, and leave my- 
 self poor and destitute ? Shall I say, I will give you my 
 land ? I cannot say so. I am afraid of the Great Spirit. 
 I love my life. The reason why I do not give my land away 
 is, I am afraid I shall be sent to hell. I love my friends. 
 
100 OWHI AND QUALCHIEN. 
 
 I love my life. This is the reason why I do not give my 
 land away. I have one word more to say. My people 
 are far away. They do not know your words. This is 
 the reason I cannot give you an answer. I show you my 
 heart. This is all I have to say." 
 
 Defeated at the council, and the other chiefs agreeing to 
 the cession of their lands, his next move was, in conjunc- 
 tion with his son Qualchien and Kamiaken, to organize the 
 outbreak which took place the following winter. That 
 was repressed, and now he has probably been one of the 
 instigators of these last hostihties. 
 
 His greeting by Colonel Wright was stern, and the ex- 
 amination brief A priest was sent for to act as interpreter, 
 and give his answers. Colonel Wright had seen him three 
 years before, in the former war, in the Yakima country, 
 when he was treated with a leniency which, it was proved 
 by the result, only enboldened him to further outrages. 
 He then made pledges which he never fulfilled, and on this 
 point he was taken to task. The Colonel has a peculiarly 
 nervous way of putting questions. 
 
 Colonel. " Where did he see me last?" 
 
 Pkiest. " He saw you in his country." 
 
 Colonel. ' " Whereabout in his country ?" 
 
 Priest. '' On the ISTatchess river." 
 
 Colonel. " What did he promise me at that time?" 
 
 Owhi looked exceedingly pale and confused. 
 
 Priest. "That he would come in with his people in 
 some days." 
 
 Colonel. " Why did he not do so ? (Aside. Tell the 
 
 officer of the guard to bring a file of his men ; and Captain 
 Kirkham, you will have some iron shackles made ready.") 
 
 Owhi huDg his head and looked still more confused. 
 
 Priest. " He says, he did do so." 
 
 Colonel. " Where is he from now ?" 
 
OWHI AND QUALCHIEN. 101 
 
 Peiest. " From the mouth of the Spokan." 
 
 Colonel. " How long has he been away from there?" 
 
 Priest. " Two days." 
 
 Colonel. "Where is Qualchien?" 
 
 Priest. " At the mouth of the Spokan." 
 
 Colonel. " Tell Owhi, that I will send a message to 
 Qualchien. Tell him, he too shall send a message, and if 
 Qualchien does not join me before I cross the Snake river, 
 in four days, I will hang Owhi." 
 
 When this communication was made to him^ he appear- 
 ed to lose all power over himself. He sank on the ground, 
 and the perspiration came out on him in large drops. He 
 took out a book of prayers, and in much confusion turned 
 over the leaves for a moment, looking at the pictures appar- 
 ently without knowing what he was doing, and handed it 
 to the priest who was standing by him. He was then 
 taken off by the guard and put in irons. When the mes* 
 senger went ofP, he said he did not think Qualchien would 
 come in. 
 
 Owhi and his son Qualchien, are probably the two 
 worst Indians this side of the Rocky mountains. The son 
 is even more notorious than the father, and therefore Colo- 
 nel Wright has been particularly anxious to secure him. 
 He has kept the whole country, on both sides of the moun- 
 tains, in confusion for years. They are Yakimas, but are 
 in this country a great deal, where they have much influ- 
 ence with the surrounding tribes. They are both known to 
 have been engaged in a number of murders. The coat 
 Owhi wore when he came in, was recognized by one of 
 our herders as belonging to a miner who was murdered 
 last spring. The herder was with his party, but escaped. 
 During the evening a party of miners arrived from Col- 
 ville. They brought very unfavorable news with regard 
 to the Indians, — that they could not keep any cattle, for 
 
102 OWHI AND QUALCHIEN. 
 
 they were at once stolen. These Indians belong to small 
 bands, consisting principally of Okenagans, but including 
 renegades and outlawed Indians from every tribe. They 
 would not attack a party of any size, but cut off stray in- 
 dividuals. It is impossible, therefore, to bring them to a 
 fight, but they will have to be hunted down like bandits. 
 
 September 24dh, — About twelve o'clock to-day, there trot- 
 ted out from a canon near our camp two Indian braves and 
 a fine looking squaw. The three rode abreast, and a little 
 way behind rode an Indian hunchback whom we had be- 
 fore seen in our camp. The three principal personages 
 were gaily dressed, and had a most dashing air. They 
 all had on a great deal of scarlet, and the squaw wore two 
 ornamental scarfs passing over the right shoulder and un- 
 der the right arm. She also carried, resting across in front 
 of her saddle, a long lance, the handle of which was com- 
 pletely wound with various colored beads, and from the 
 end of which depended two long tippets of beaver skins. 
 The two braves had rifles, and one, who was evidently the 
 leader of the party, carried an ornamented tomahawk. 
 With the utmost boldness they rode directly up to Colonel 
 Wright's tent.* 
 
 Captain Keyes, who was standing at the time in front 
 of the tent, pulled aside the opening, remarking, as he did 
 so : — "Colonel, we have distinguished visitors here !" The 
 Colonel came out, and after a short conversation, to his sur- 
 prise, recognized in the leader of the party, Qualchien, 
 the son of Owhi, and one of the most desperate murderers 
 on this coast. For a few moments Qualchien stood talking 
 with Colonel Wright, with his rifle standing by his side. 
 His bearing was so defiant, that Captain Keyes, thinking 
 
 * For this description, as well as some other facts in this chapter, I am in- 
 debted to the notes of Captain Keyea 
 
OWHI AND QUALCHIEN. 103 
 
 he might meditate some desperate act, placed himself on 
 his right, a little in the rear, with his eye fixed on Qual- 
 chien's rifle, ready to spring upon him on the slightest de- 
 monstration. 
 
 In a short time Colonel Wright mentioned Ovvhi's name. 
 At this Qualchien started, and exclaimed, — " Car f where?' 
 The Colonel answered, — " Owhi^ mittite yawa. Owhi is over 
 there !" When this was communicated, I was standing 
 near him, and he seemed to be paralyzed. His whole ex- 
 pression changed as though he had been stunned. He 
 gazed about him and repeated mechanically, — '^ Owhi, mit- 
 tite yawa! OwM^ mittite yawaP'' In a moment he made a 
 motion as if he would use the rifle he held in his hand, 
 and advanced toward his horse. He evidently saw at once 
 that he had run into the toils of his enemies. The guard, 
 however, had by this time arrived, and he was at once dis- 
 armed. On him was found a fine pistol, capped and load- 
 ed, and plenty of ammunition. Colonel Wright told him 
 to go with the guard, to which he consented with silent 
 reluctance, hanging back as he was pulled along, but evi- 
 dently undecided what to do. He had not recovered from 
 the stupifying effect of the news of his father's captivity. 
 
 Qualchien was finely shaped, with a broad chest and 
 muscular limbs, and small hands and feet. When taken 
 to the guard tent, it required six men to tie his hands and 
 feet, so violent were his struggles, notwithstanding he had 
 at the time, an unhealed wound through the lower part of 
 his body. 
 
 In all the battles, forays, and disturbances in Washington 
 Territory, Qualchien has been one of the leading spirits. 
 The influence for evil which he exerted was probably 
 greater even than that of either Owhi or Kamiaken. Of 
 the three, he was the most addicted to fighting and blood- 
 shed. He has been directly charged with the murder of 
 
104 OWHI AND QUALCHIEN. 
 
 nine wliite men at various times. In the action of March 
 1st, 1856, on White river, Puget Sound District, in which 
 Captain Keyes commanded, Qualchien was present with 
 fifty Yakima warriors. Of these seven were killed. He 
 went over the mountains, — ^lie said, — "to learn to fight at 
 night!" 
 
 Fifteen minutes after his capture, the officer of the day 
 received an order from Colonel Wright, to have him hung 
 immediately. When his fate was made known to him, he 
 began cursing Kamiaken. A file of the guard at once 
 marched him to a neighboring tree, where, on attempting 
 to put the rope round his neck, the contest was again re- 
 newed. Bound as his arms were, he fought and struggled 
 till they were obliged to throw him down on his back to 
 fix the noose, he shrieking all the while : — " Copet six — 
 stop, my friends ; Wake mameloose nika^ — do not kill me ; 
 nika potlatch liiyou chickamen, hiyou k)^ta7i, — I will give M. 
 much money, a great many horses; spore nika mama- 
 loose^ nika hiyou siwashe silex, — if you kill me, a great 
 many Indians will be angry ; copet six, — stop, my friends!" 
 The rope was thrown over the limb of a tree, and he was 
 run up. Among those who assisted with great alacrity in 
 hauling him up, were two miners, now in the quarter-mas- 
 ter's employ, who had been with the party which was at- 
 tacked by Qualchien and his band some months before- 
 His last words, as the noose tightened, were a curse upon 
 Kamiaken. 
 
 It is supposed from this, that he was sent by Kamiaken 
 into the camp, as a spy, to ascertain what we would do, and 
 he looked upon him, therefore, as the author of his death. 
 He died like a coward, and very differently from the man- 
 ncr in which the Indians generally meet their fate. So 
 loud indeed were his cries, that they were heard by Owhi, 
 who was confined not far from him. The old chief, in dis- 
 
OWHI AND QUALCHIEN. 105 
 
 gust, disowned him, saying, — " lie is not my son, but the 
 son of Kamiaken," — meaning, that he had followed the 
 counsels of Kamiaken. 
 
 We have reason to believe there was some treachery in 
 his coming in, for he had not met the messenger sent out 
 to him, but had either come in of his own accord, or had 
 been lured by the little imp of a hunchback, for some pur- 
 pose of his own. His expression, especially that of his 
 eyes, betokened a diabolical satisfaction. As soon as Qual- 
 chien was placed in charge of the guard, the hunchback 
 galloped on to the upper end of the camp, where he re- 
 lated to his people with savage glee the part he had taken 
 in guiding the chief to our quarters. So notorious, however, 
 was the character of Qualchien, that his execution seems 
 to meet with the unanimous approval of the Indians them- 
 selves. When informed of it, their first exclamation al- 
 ways is : — " It is right ! It is right !" 
 
 The squaw proved to be his wife, the daughter of Polot- 
 kin. She was suffered to depart, and rode off with his 
 companion. 
 
 It was reported next day in the camp, that Qualchien had 
 a large sum of money concealed on his person. An order 
 was therefore given to have him disinterred and examined, 
 to prevent this from falling into the hands of the Indians. 
 This was done, but nothing of any value was found upon 
 him. 
 
 Is may be well here to anticipate in our narration, and 
 give the fate of Owhi. After the execution of his son it 
 was announced to him that he would be taken with the 
 other prisoners and hostages to Walla Walla. He showed 
 no signs of opposition to his being retained, but seemed to 
 be contented with the arrangements made with regard to 
 him. He therefore accompanied us on our march back to 
 Fort Taylor, and crossed Snake river. Just afterwards, 
 6 
 
106 OWHI AND QUALCHIEN. 
 
 however, about ten days after his son's death, one evening 
 as we were crossing a small stream he became separated 
 from the guard for a moment and left alone with Lieuten- 
 ant Morgan, by whose side he was riding. Suddenly, he 
 sprang from him and dashed into the thick underwood. 
 Quick as thought, the Lieutenant's revolver was out, and he 
 fired three shots, each taking effect, and wounding both 
 Owhi and his horse. By this time, a private in the dra. 
 goons reached the spot, and gave Owhi the coup de grace 
 by shooting him through the head. He died in about two 
 hours. 
 
 Nothing has been done in this campaign so effectually 
 to secure the future peace of the country, as the death of 
 these two chiefs. 
 
XII. 
 
 THE DEAD OF THE BATTLE 
 FIELD. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE DEAD OF THE BATTLE FIELD. 
 
 HTr/pOjg are now only about ten miles from Colonel 
 Steptoe's battle ground, and this morning a small 
 force was dispatclied to the place to try and re- 
 cover the remains of the gallant men who were 
 killed in that action, that with proper ceremonies 
 their comrades may commit them to earth, paying to them 
 the last honors which a soldier can have. ,They are also 
 to search for the two howitzers which were cached in the 
 neighborhood. 
 
 The party will be gone about two days, and consists of 
 three companies of dragoons, — Major Grier's, Lieutenants 
 Gregg's and Pender's, — together with Lieutenant White, 
 with the howitzer mules, to bring in the guns. Dr. Ran 
 dolph, who (as well as Lieutenant Gregg) was in the bat- 
 tle, accompanied the command. Lieutenant Howard was 
 also Avith them, together with Lieutenant Mullan and his 
 party. The latter, as Topographical Engineer, was sent 
 to determine the position of the battle ground, while his 
 assistants will make a map and sketches of the place. Some 
 Spokans and Coeur d'Alenes went as guides. 
 
 To-day the Colonel had brought before him the Pelouze 
 chief and ten warriors, who came into the camp on the 
 21st, representing themselves to be ISTez Perces, They 
 are such a worthless set, that there is no idea of treating 
 them with the consideration shown to the other Indian 
 
110 THE DEAD OF THE BATTLE-FIELD. 
 
 tribes. The Colonel, therefore, told them, — " thej had no 
 business to fight against the soldiers, and he was going to 
 punish them." He then put the chief and two others in 
 irons, and told the rest to go and bring in their people, 
 and if they did not deliver themselves up before he crossed 
 Snake river, he would hang these three. 
 
 The rest of the Indians who had been in camp to at- 
 tend the council, took their leave to-day and departed for 
 their homes. 
 
 In the afternoon an express arrived from Lieutenant 
 MuUan at Steptoe's battle ground, to inform Colonel 
 Wright that they had been entirely successful in the object 
 of their expedition. 
 
 September 26th. — This morning six or seven Walla 
 Walla Indians came into camp. They said they had come 
 from the camp of Kamiaken and Tilkohitz, that they 
 had a letter from the priest, but it had been lost, and one 
 of their number had gone back to look for it. They ac- 
 knowledged having been in the recent fight against us. 
 Being unarmed, the Colonel asked them where were their 
 arms ? They said they had left them at home. He then 
 ordered two of their number to- be put in irons, and dis- 
 missed the rest, telling them if they did not bring in their 
 arms before night he would hang these two. One of them 
 claimed to be related to Tilkohitz by marriage. 
 
 The miners from Colville left to-day. Their object in 
 coming was to ask the Colonel to send troops up to their 
 " diggings." But as they acknowledged the Indians would 
 not fight, and were merely the thieving vagabonds of the 
 different tribes, the soldiers could effect nothing. The 
 miners must rely for their protection upon their own rifles 
 and vigilance. 
 
 In the middle of the day, two Pelouze Indians came in 
 bringing a letter from the priest. They were followed 
 
THE DEAD OF THE BATTLE-FIELD. Ill 
 
 shortly after by seven or eight more. The whole party 
 were at once taken to the guard-house and ironed. At 
 evening they were brought up for examination, and be- 
 ing convicted of having been engaged in various atroci- 
 ties, six of them were at once hung. One of them was 
 proved to be the Indian who killed Sergeant "Williams at 
 Snake river, when, after being wounded in Colonel Step- 
 toe's affair, he was trying to make his way back to Walla 
 Walla. 
 
 At noon the dragoons returned from their expedition to 
 the battle field. They reached there at twelve o'clock the 
 day before, and found the hills which on that sad day were 
 swarming with their excited foes, now as silent and de- 
 serted as a city of the dead. The whole battle field pre- 
 sented a scene of desolation. In the heat of battle but 
 few of the bodies of the fallen could be recovered, and in 
 the night, before their retreat, these were the only ones 
 which could receive a hasty burial. The rest had to be 
 left on the field where they met their fate. The wolves 
 and the birds of prey had held their festival, and for nearly 
 six: months the sun and rain had bleached the whitened 
 bones which were scattered around. 
 
 As Lieutenant Gregg and Dr. Eandolph rode over the 
 field, they could point out to the other officers the scene 
 of each event in that day's hard fight, — where the battle 
 began, where charge after charge was made to drive 
 back the foes who so far outnumbered them, where Tay- 
 lor and Gaston fell in the desperate attack at the head of 
 their men, and where they were gathered in the night 
 for the brief consultation, worn out with the contest, yet 
 seventy-five miles of country to be passed over before they 
 could place the river between them and their exulting 
 enemies. . 
 
 The remains of the two officers were found, and the 
 
112 THE DEAD OF THE BATTLE-FIELD. 
 
 scattered bones of tlie men gathered up, to be broiight back. 
 The two howitzers were found, also, where they had been 
 buried. The Indians had not disturbed them, but con- 
 tented themselves with carrying off the gun carriages, 
 which they afterwards burned. 
 
 One thing more remained to be done. Among the arti- 
 cles left on the ground was a pair of shafts belonging to 
 one of the guns. These were taken and fashioned into a 
 rude cross, which was set up in the midst of the battle 
 field, to remind all future travellers of the sad event of 
 which this had been the scene. "And then, after deposit- 
 ing around it all that could be gathered up from the relics 
 scattered over the hill-sides and wherever the fight was 
 waged, they left the field in solemn silence. 
 
 Poor Gaston ! my parting with him was at West Point, 
 when full of life and spirits and bright anticipations of his 
 future career. My last recollection of him, is in his grey 
 Cadet uniform. I never saw him after, until I thus stood 
 by his remains to-day. He was every inch a soldier ; and 
 when, during the last year, ill health weighed him down, 
 and he feared the approach of that feebleness which would 
 withdraw him from his duties, his military spirit seemed 
 to be the strongest impulse he felt. He often expressed 
 the hope that he might die in battle, and thus it was that 
 his wish was gratified. He had a soldier's death, and will 
 have a soldier's burial and grave, — 
 
 " The fresh turf, and not the feverish bed.'* 
 
XIII. 
 
 THE PELOUZE COUNCIL. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE PELOUZE COUNCIL. 
 
 EPTEMBER 26th.— Left camp at half-past six this 
 morning, and marched over a rolling, grazing 
 country. By the side of a small cotton wood grove 
 we saw the remains of thirty-fonr Indian lodges, 
 probably deserted on the first advance of the troops 
 into this country. Some of the lodge poles, from their 
 magnitude, showed that the lodges must have been of con- 
 siderable size. We marched fifteen miles and encamped 
 on Silseepovestlem creek, where the water was good, but 
 not plentiful. To-day was the coldest we have had on 
 our march. 
 
 September 21th. — We broke up camp between six and 
 seven in the morning, and marched ten miles. The day 
 was exceedingly cold, and it rained hard all the time. The 
 men, however, bore it cheerfully, for their faces were home- 
 ward, and in a few days they expect to reach Fort Taylor. 
 For a few miles our way lay through the open timber, by 
 the side of a large lake. We camped on a small stream. 
 
 September 2Sth. — Began our march at six o'clock this 
 morning through a level, rocky country. We made about 
 twenty -five miles during the day, finding water plentiful, 
 our way, at one time, being along the banks of a lake. 
 The grass for most of the distance of our route had been 
 burned off*. Through the whole day the weather was 
 
116 THE PELOUZE COUNCIL. 
 
 threatening, and before night the rain began pouring down. 
 "We encamped on a tributary of the Peiouze, about two 
 miles above its junction. 
 
 Just before going into camp, we passed the grave of 
 some distinguished Indian chief It was large, covered 
 with stones, and surrounded with a wooden paling. On 
 a long stick, just within the paling, was a tin cup, and un- ' 
 derneath was tied some horse hair. Outside the paling, 
 from a pole supported by two other poles, was hanging 
 the tail of a horse. It is a common custom among these 
 Indians when a chief dies, to kill his favorite horse and 
 bury him near him. 
 
 September 29th. — Moved from camp at six this morning, 
 and after marching about two miles, struck the Peiouze 
 river, along which we marched fifteen miles and encamped 
 on its bank. Our march was over a rocky, hilly country. 
 About an hour after leaving camp the express overtook 
 us, bringing the mail. Our place of encamping seems to 
 have been an old battle ground of the Indians, as arrow 
 heads, and remains of other weapons, are scattered about. 
 
 A short time before reaching camp, a band of the Pe- 
 iouze Indians, about nineteen in number, came in. 
 
 September SOih. — We did not march to-day. Early this 
 morning a large number of the Peiouze Indians arrived 
 with their families, and the Colonel determined, therefore, 
 to hold the council. At ten o'clock the Indians assembled 
 in front of his tent for their "talk." The Interpreter be- 
 ing present. Colonel Wright delivered to him the following 
 complimentary and gratifying address, to be communicated 
 to them : — 
 
 " Tell them they are a set of rascals, and deserve to be 
 hung; that if I should hang them all, I should not do 
 wrong. Tell them I have made a written treaty with the 
 Cceur dAlenes and the Spokans, but I will not make a 
 
THE PELOUZE COUNCIL. 117 
 
 written treaty with them ; and if I catcli one of them on 
 the other side cf Snake river, I will hang him. Tell them 
 they shall not go into the Coeur d'Alene country, nor into 
 the Spokan country, nor shall they allow the Walla "Walla 
 In(^ians to come into their country. If they behave them- 
 selves and do all that I direct them, I will make a written 
 treaty with them next spring. If I do, there will be no 
 more war between us. If they do not submit to these 
 terms, I will make war on them ; and if I come here again 
 to war, I will hang them all, men, women, and children. 
 
 " Tell them that live moons ago two of their tribe killed 
 some miners. The murderers must immediately be deliv- 
 ered up." 
 
 There was a brief consultation among the Indians, which 
 resulted in one of them coming forward. He was at once 
 bound, and turned over to the guard to be hung. The 
 other had disappeared, to the evident annoyance of his 
 countrymen. 
 
 Colonel. " Tell them they must deliver up the six 
 men who stole our beef cattle at Walla Walla." 
 
 This was at once assented to, and after another consulta- 
 tion the offenders were brought forward and immediately 
 handed over to the guard. 
 
 Colonel. " Tell them they must allow all white men 
 to pass unmolested through their country, and must de- 
 liver up to me one chief and four warriors, with their 
 families, to go with me to Walla Walla as hostages." 
 
 All these terms were at once agreed to, and the " talk " 
 ended. Before, however, the council closed, four of the 
 Indians, — the murderer, and three others who had been 
 selected as notorious marauders, — were marched by the 
 guard to a tree several hundred yards distant, and there 
 hung. 
 
XIV. 
 
 THE RETURN. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE RETURN. 
 
 CTOBER 1st.— The artillery battalion, one troop 
 of dragoons, the commissary and quarter-master's 
 train, and the Indians and hostages under charge 
 of Lieutenant Fleming, all under the command 
 of Captain Keyes, left the camp on Pelouze river 
 about six in the morning, and after marching eighteen 
 miles, reached Snake river at noon and crossed over to Fort 
 Taylor. We encamped on exactly the ^ame ground we had 
 occupied before the campaign. At the Fort, Major Wyse 
 and Dr. Brown received us with the greatest hospitality. 
 
 Optoher 2d. — This morning we took leave, with many re- 
 grets, of Lieutenants Mullan and Owen. The former is under 
 orders for Fort Yancouver, and the latter for Fort Dalles, 
 to resume his duties as Adjutant of the Mnth Infantry. 
 
 At noon, Colonel AVright, with the rest of the com- 
 mand, arrived at the river, and crossing over, encamped 
 half a mile up the Tucanon. A salute was fired from 
 Fort Taylor, in honor of Colonel Wright, as soon as he 
 appeared on the opposite side. 
 
 October 8d — Orders had been received for us to remain on 
 Snake river, and we supposed, therefore, that for the present 
 we had finished our march. Early this morning, how- 
 ever, an express arrived rescinding the former orders, and 
 making Fort Yancouver the place of our destination. 
 
 The camp was tlierefore broken up, and we marched 
 two miles and encamped on the Tucanon. In the after- 
 noon Major Wyse joined us with his command, Fort Tay 
 
122 THE RETURN. 
 
 lor having been abandoned by the troops. It was left in 
 charge of an old Pelouze chief, named Slaviarchy. 
 
 October 4:th. — ^Left camp at half-past six this morning. 
 Until eleven o'clock the weather was very cold and windy. 
 It then moderated and changed to rain. The troops, how- 
 ever, made a long march of twenty-six miles, and encamped 
 on Tonch^ river. 
 
 October 6th. — We were on our march this morning, by 
 six o'clock, through a country which was familiar to us. On 
 reaching Dry creek, a distance of ten miles, the command 
 was halted, and the pack train ordered to the rear. We 
 then resumed our march and arrived at Fort Walla Walla 
 at twelve, having been absent just sixty marching days. 
 
 The four companies of dragoons came first ; then our 
 thirty Nez Perces allies ; then the hostages, drawn up in 
 two ranks, under the command of Lieutenant Fleming ; 
 then the two rifle companies ; then Major Wyse's com 
 pany and battery of six pounders ; then the howitzer bat- 
 tery, under Lieutenant White ; and, lastly, the artillery 
 battalion. By far the most conspicuous and distingue 
 looking person in the command was Cutmouth John. He 
 rode generally by the side of the Nez Percys, dressed in a 
 red blanket, his head surmounted by a large skin cap, and 
 holding in his hand a long pole, from the end of which dan- 
 gled a scalp he had taken in the battle of the " Four Lakes." 
 
 The Inspector General, Colonel Mansfield, had arrived 
 a few days before, and it was determined that he should 
 exercise the duties of his office on the spot. As soon 
 therefore as we reached the parade-ground, the column 
 halted, the ranks opened, and Colonel Mansfield, with 
 Colonel Wright and his staff, made a thorough inspection. 
 There was nothing about the command, of the " pomp and 
 circumstance of glorious war." During two months no 
 one had slept under a roof, and all were begrimed with 
 mud and rain and dust. The artillery and infantry wore 
 
THE RETUEN. 123 
 
 blue flannel shirts drawn over their uniforms and belted 
 at the waist ; the dragoons had a similar dress of grey 
 flannel. The officers had adopted the same, with slouched 
 hats. The only marks of their rank were the shoulder- 
 straps sewed on to the flannel. Yet all this was showing 
 the reality of service. If there was little display of uni- 
 forms, the arms were in perfect order, and we believe the 
 troops had never been in a higher state of discipline, or a 
 more efficient condition for action. At all events, Colonel 
 Mansfield expressed himself highly gratified with the re- 
 sult of his inspection. 
 
 After the troops were dismissed, we were most hospi- 
 tably entertained by the officers of the post. 
 
 October 6th. — This morning notice was received from 
 Colonel Wright, that all the officers should meet at Colonel 
 Steptoe's quarters to pay their respects to the Inspector 
 General. We met there at twelve o'clock, when a hand- 
 some collation was provided, and a couple of hours spent 
 in pleasant intercourse. 
 
 October 7th. — To-day we turned to more solemn duties. 
 At ten o'clock took place the burial of Captain Taylor, 
 Lieutenant Gaston, and the remains of the men which had 
 been found on Colonel Steptoe's battle-ground. It was 
 from this post they had marched forth, and here they were 
 to be laid to their rest. They were of course buried with 
 military honors, the ceremony being invested with all the 
 pageantry which was possible, to show respect to the 
 memory of our gallant comrades. All the officers, thirty- 
 nine in number, and the troops at the post, amounting to 
 eight hundred, (reinforcements having arrived since our 
 departure,) were present and took part in the ceremonies. 
 The horses of the dead, draped in black, having on them 
 the officers' swords and boots, were led behind the coffins. 
 The remains were taken about half a mile from the post, 
 and there interred. Three volleys were fired over them, 
 
124 THE RETURN. 
 
 nnd we left them wliere day after day tlie notes of tlie 
 bugle will be borne over their graves, while we cherish 
 their memories as those who laid down their young lives 
 in the battle-field for their country. 
 
 "With this scene this journal might fitly close. It began 
 with the death of those whom we have now seen placed 
 in a soldier's grave. 
 
 There was but one more incident connected with the 
 campaign. Two days afterwards, Colonel Wright had a 
 " talk" with the Walla Walla Indians. The tribe is one 
 much reduced in numbers and importance since the pio- 
 neer trappers first came among them. They range through 
 the valley for thirty miles, to old Fort Walla Walla, once 
 a central trading post of the Hudson Bay Company, on 
 the left bank of the Columbia river, near where the Walla 
 Walla empties into it. 
 
 They have been exceedingly troublesome, and it was 
 necessary to teach them a lesson. The colonel told them 
 he knew that some of them had been engaged in the recent 
 fights, and that every one who was in the two battles must 
 stand up. Thirty -five stood up at once. From these the 
 colonel selected four, who were known to have been en- 
 gaged in several murders in the valley. One Indian, by the 
 name of Wyecat, was particularly notorious. They were 
 handed over to the guard and hung on the spot. I believe 
 that sixteen of the Indians have been executed in this way. 
 
 On the 9th, the artillery battalion, under Captain Keyes, 
 left Walla Walla, and after a march of eight days reached 
 the Dalles. The distance being about a hundred and 
 seventy-three miles, we have averaged twenty -two miles a 
 day. It is exactly three months and nine days since we left 
 there, and during that time we have marched seven hun- 
 dred and sixty miles. On the 18th we reached Fort Vancou- 
 ver,' where we first landed in setting out on the campaign. 
 
XV. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 'HE older officers regard the campaign we have 
 just past through, as one remarkable in many re- 
 spects. 
 
 One is, the little loss which has been sus- 
 tained. But two men have died, and those from 
 eating poisonous roots. But one man has been 
 wounded in action ; and we have lost, by all the difficul- 
 ties of marching through the forests and crossing rivers^ 
 but three horses and about fifty mules. It is a proof of 
 the skill and judgment with which the expedition has 
 been conducted. 
 
 For our freedom from loss in the two battles, I have 
 already stated we are indebted to the fine discipline of the 
 men, the skill of the commanders, and to the long range 
 of our rifles. Had we been armed with the old muskets, 
 the result might have been very different. The whole 
 campaign, indeed, would undoubtedly have ended, as it 
 now has done, in the humbling of the Indian tribes, but 
 we should probably have missed many from our ranks, 
 when the column marched back to Walla Walla, 
 
 The object, too, was most thoroughly accomplished. The 
 Indian tribes, hitherto so troublesome and defiant, have 
 been entirely subjected. They have been taught the power 
 of the government, their worst chiefs have been cut off, 
 
128 . CONCLUSION. 
 
 and hostages given sufficient to keep them in obedience. 
 Of their head men who are hostile, none remain but Kam- 
 iaken, and Schroom, his brother. The former is reported 
 to have fled into the Blackfeet country, and the latter is 
 probably with him. They will certainly have no disposi- 
 tion to place themselves again in collision with the whites. 
 It is probable, too, that among their own countrymen their 
 influence and authority are gone. The tribes have suffered 
 too much again to submit to their counsels. 
 
 That immense tract of splendid country over which we 
 marched, is now opened to the white man, and the time is 
 not far distant when settlers will begin to occupy it, and 
 the farmer will discover that he can reap his harvest^ and 
 the miner explore its ores, without danger from their 
 former savage foe. An Oregon paper, (and the newspa- 
 pers are not accustomed to indulge in any unnecessary 
 laudation of the Eegular Army,) after the battle of the 
 " Four Lakes," says : — "No event has ever done so much 
 to secure the safety of our settlers as this victory. The 
 people of this Territory owe a debt of gratitude to the 
 officers and soldiers under Colonel Wright." 
 
 For this success, we are indebted to the energetic meas- 
 ures of General Clarke, concentrating at once, even from 
 the banks of the Colorado, so strong a force in the coun- 
 try of the hostile Indians, and mapping out the campaign, 
 the result of which proved the foresight and wisdom by 
 which it was dictated. 
 
 For the conduct of the column when once it was on its 
 march, none could have won "golden opinions" more 
 thoroughly than Colonel Wright. Entering an unknown 
 country, everything depended on his energy and talents. 
 Of these I need say nothing, for they are shown in the 
 history of our march, the arrangement of the two bat- 
 tles, the decision with which the Indian Councils were 
 
CONCLUSION. 129 
 
 conducted, and the entire success with which all was 
 crowned. 
 
 I might speak of the gallantry of my comrades, but this 
 is recorded in the official reports of their superior officers. 
 But none who had an opportunity of witnessing these bat- 
 tles, and seeing the steady advance of the Third Artillery 
 and Kifles, as they drove the enemy on, mile after mile, 
 from point to point, the gallant charges made by the 
 Dragoons under Major Grier, and the conduct of the 
 Howitzer Battery under Lieutenant White, can forget 
 the admiration they felt at the perfect manner in which 
 all was accomplished. 
 
 In our own battalion, — the Third Artillery, — but few 
 of the men had ever before been under fire, yet no vete- 
 rans could have shown greater coolness. This was the 
 result of discipline, for which they were indebted to the 
 untiring energy of our Commander, Captain (now Major) 
 Keyes. Through his exertions the battalion had been 
 brought to the highest point of discipline ; and in the 
 hour of battle, by his presence everywhere at the right 
 moment, he contributed materially to secure the victory. 
 
 The column has now been scattered, and the officers 
 have been dispersed to their different posts, yet they all 
 look back with pleasure to this campaign, when they re- 
 member the unity of feeling by which it was marked. 
 Seldom, indeed, has an expedition been undertaken, the 
 recollection of which is invested with so much that is 
 agreeable, as that against the JSTpbt^ern Indians. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 I. 
 
 OFFICIAL REPORT OF COLOKEL WRIGHT, 
 
 APTEK THE BATTLE OP THE "FOUE LAKES." 
 
 Head Quarters, Expedition against Northern Indians, Camp at 
 
 "Four Lakes," W. T. 
 
 Lat. 47" 82 north. Long. 117" 89 west 
 
 September 2d, 1858. 
 
 Sir: — 
 
 I have the honor to submit the following Report of 
 the battle of the " Four Lakes," fought and won, by the 
 troops under my command, on the 1st inst; Our enemies 
 were the Spokan, Coeur d'Alene, and Pelouze Indians. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 1st, I observed the Indians 
 collecting on the summit of a high hill, about two miles dis- 
 tant, and I immediately ordered the troops under arms, with 
 a view of driving the enemy from his position, and making a 
 a reconnaissance of the country in advance. At halt-past 9 
 A. M. I marched from my camp with two squadrons of the 
 1st dragoons, commanded by Brevet Major W. N. Grier, 
 four companies of the third artillery, armed with rifle mus- 
 kets, commanded by Capt. E. D. Keyes ; and the rifle bat- 
 talion of two companies of the 9th infantry, commanded by 
 Capt. F. T. Dent ; also one mountain howitzer, under com- 
 mand of Lieut. J. L. White, 3rd artillery, and thirty friendly 
 Nez Perces Indian allies, under command of Lieut. John 
 MuUan, 2nd artillery. I left in camp all the equipage and 
 supplies, strongly guarded by company " M," 3rd artillery, 
 commanded by Lieuts. H. G. Gibson and G. B. Dandy, one 
 mountain howitzer manned, and in addition a guard of fifty- 
 four men under Lieut. H. B. Lyon, the whole commanded by 
 Captain J. A. Hardie, the Field officer of the day. 
 
 I ordered Brevet Major Grier to advance to the north and 
 east, around the base of the hill occupied by the Indians, with 
 a view to intercept their retreat when driven from the sum- 
 
132 APPENDIX. 
 
 mit by the foot troops. I marched with the artillery and 
 rifle battalion and Nez Perces to the right of the hill, in or- 
 der to gain a position where the ascent was more easy, and 
 also to push the Indians in the direction of the dragoons. 
 Arriving within 600 yards of the Indians, I ordered Captain 
 Keyes to advance a company of his battalion deployed, and 
 drive the Indians from the hill. This service was gallantly ac- 
 complished by Captain Ord and Lieutenant Morgan, with 
 Company" K," 8rd artillery, in cooperation with the 2nd squad- 
 ron of dragoons under Lieutenant Davidson ; the Indians were 
 driven to the foot of the hill, and there rallied under cover 
 of ravines, trees and bushes. 
 
 On reaching the crest of the hill I saw at once that the In- 
 dians were determined to measure their strength with us, 
 showing no disposition to avoid a combat, and firmly main- 
 taining their position at the base of the hill, keeping up a 
 constant fire upon the two squadrons of dragoons, who were 
 awaiting the arrival of the foot troops. In front of us lay a 
 vast plain, with some 4 or 500 mounted warriors, rushing to 
 and fro, wild with excitement, and apparently eager for the 
 fray ; to the right, at the foot of the hill, in the pine forest, 
 the Indians were also seen in large numbers. 
 
 With all I have described, in plain view, a tyro in the art of 
 war could not have hesitated a moment as to the plan of battle. 
 
 Captain Keyes, with two companies of his battalion, com- 
 manded by Lieutenants Ransom and Ihrie, with Lieutenant 
 Howard, was ordered to deploy along the crest of the hill, in 
 rear of the dragoons, and facing the plain. The rifle bat- 
 talion under Captain Dent, composed of two companies of 
 the 9th Infantry under Captain Winder and Lieutenant Flem- 
 ing, was ordered to move to the right and deploy in front of 
 the pine forest ; and the howitzer under Lieutenant White, 
 supported by a company of artillery under Lieutenant Tyler, 
 was advanced to a lower plateau, in order to gain a position 
 where it could be fired with effect. 
 
 In five minutes the troops were deployed, I ordered the 
 advance. Captain Keyes moved steadily down the long slope, 
 passed the dragoons, and opened a sharp, well-directed fire, 
 which drove the Indians to the plains and pine forest. At the 
 same time Captain Dent with the rifle battalion. Lieutenant 
 White with the howitzer, and Lieutenant Tyler with his com- 
 pany, were hotly engaged with the Indians in the pine forest, 
 constantly increasing by fugitives from the left. 
 ^ Captain Keyes continued to advance, the Indians retiring 
 
APPENDIX. s 133 
 
 slowly ; Major Grier, with both squadrons, quietly leading his 
 horses in the rear. At a signal they mount, they rush with 
 lightning speed through the intervals of skirmishers, and 
 charge the Indians on the plain, overwhelm them entirely, 
 kill many, defeat and disperse them all, and in five minutes 
 not a hostile Indian was to be seen on the plain. While this 
 scene was enacting, Dent, Winder, and Fleming, with the 
 rifle battalion, and Tyler and White with Company " A" and 
 the ho"vvitzer, had pushed rapidly forward and driven the In- 
 dians out of the forest beyond view. 
 
 After the charge of the dragoons, and pursuit for over a 
 mile on the hills, they were halted, their horses being com- 
 pletely exhausted, and the foot troops again passed them 
 about a thousand yards ; but finding only a few Indians, in 
 front of us, on remote hill-tops, I would not pursue them 
 with my tired soldiers ; a couple of shots from the howitzer 
 sent them out of sight. The battle was won. I sounded 
 the recall, assembled the troops, and returned to our camp 
 at 2 P. M. 
 
 It affords me the highest gratification to report, that we 
 did not lose a man either killed or wounded during the action, 
 attributable, I doubt not, in a great measure, to the fact that 
 our long range rifles can reach the enemy, where he cannot 
 reach us. 
 
 The enemy lost some eighteen or twenty men killed, and 
 many wounded. 
 
 I take great pleasure in commending to the Department 
 the coolness and gallantry displayed by every officer and sol- 
 dier engaged in this battle. 
 
 1st. Brevet Major Grier conducted his squadrons with great 
 skill, and at the decisive moment, after Captain Keyes had 
 driven the Indians to the plain, made the most brilliant, gallant, 
 and successful charge I have ever beheld. The Major com- 
 mends particularly the coolness and gallantry of Lieutenants 
 Davidson, Pender, and Gregg, each in command of a troop, 
 for the handsome and skilful manner in which they brought 
 their men into and conducted them through the fight. 
 
 The Major also speaks in the highest terms of Assistant 
 Surgeon Randolph, who was with the 2nd squadron during 
 the action, exhibiting great coolness and courage, and ever 
 ready to attend to his professional duties. 
 
 Major Grier also reports the following named men of his 
 squadrons, as having been mentioned by their company com- 
 manders for distinguished conduct. 
 
134 APPENDIX. 
 
 "C" Tkoop, 1st Deagooxs. 
 1st Sergeant James A. Hall; Sergeants Bernard Korton, 
 and Patrick Byrne ; Bugler Robert A. Magan ; and privates 
 James Kearney and MicHael Meara. 
 
 "E" Tkoop, 1st Dragoons. 
 1st Sergeant C. Goetz; Sergeant J. F. Maguire; and privates 
 J. G. Trimbell, J. Buckley, Wm. Ramage and F. W. Smith. 
 
 " H " Troop, 1st Dragoons. 
 1st Sergeant E. Ball ; Sergeant M. M. Walker ; and Bugler 
 Jacob Muller. 
 
 " J " Troop, 1st Dragoons. 
 
 1st Sergeant W. H. Ingerton; and Sergeant Wm. Dean. 
 
 Lieutenant Davidson reports of 1st Sergeant E. Ball, " I 
 saw him charge upon some Indians, unhorse one of them, dis- 
 mount himself, and kill him." 
 
 2nd. Captain E. D. Keyes, commanding the 3rd Artillery, 
 brought his battalion into action with great skill, and after 
 deploying, made a gallant and successful charge in advance 
 of the dragoons, driving the Indians from the hill-sides far 
 into the plain; and again, after the dragoon charge. Captain 
 Keyes pushed vigorously forward in pursuit as long as an 
 enemy was to be seen. 
 
 Captain Keyes reports the gallantry of the officers and men 
 of his battalion as admirable, and so uniform among the offi- 
 cers, that he cannot attempt to discriminate ; the position of 
 some of the officers, however, brought their conduct under 
 the special notice of the Captain, and in that connection he 
 mentions Lieutenants Tyler, White, and Ihrie. The Captain also 
 says, — " The activity and intelligence displayed by Lieutenant 
 Kip, Adjutant of the battalion, in transmitting my orders to 
 all parts of the line, were most commendable." 
 
 3rd. Captain F. T. Dent, commanding the rifles, composed 
 of two Companies " B" and " E," 8th Infantrv, with Captain 
 Winder and Lieutenant Fleming, brought his battalion into 
 action with great spirit, and after deploying on the hill in front 
 of the pine forest, dashed gallantly forward, and sweeping 
 through the woods, drove the Indians before him, and came 
 out on the plain, forming the right wing of the whole line of 
 foot troops. 
 
 Captain Dent speaks in high terms of Captian Winder and 
 Lieutenant Fleming, and the men of both companies, for the 
 intelligent and fearless manner in which they behaved through- 
 
APPENDIX. 185 
 
 out the battle, and further says, " I feel I have a right to be 
 proud of my battalion." 
 
 4th. Lieutenant John Mullan, 2nd Artillery, Top. Engr., and 
 commanding the friendly Nez Perce Indians, moyed gallantly 
 forward in advance, and to the right of the foot troops, in 
 the early part of the action, giving and receiving from the 
 enemy a volley as he skirted the brush to the east of the 
 main hill. 
 
 Lieutenant Mullan speaks in glowing terms of the Nez Perces 
 throughout the action, at one time charging the enemy lurk- 
 ing in the brush and timber on the Spokan plain, driving him 
 out, and pursuing him beyond view ; and again a small party 
 under the chief Hutis-e-mah-li-kaw, and Captain John, met 
 and engaged the enemy, that were endeavoring to attack our 
 rear ; recapturing a horse left by an officer, while moving 
 over the rocks and ravines. 
 
 Lieutenant Mullan expresses his approbation of the good con- 
 duct generally of this band of friendly Nez Perces, and mentions 
 Hutis-e-mah-li-kaw, Captain John, Edward, and We-ash-kot, 
 as worthy of special notice for their bravery. 
 
 5th. It aflfords me additional pleasure to present to the De- 
 partment, the gentleman on my staff — 
 
 1st Lieutenant P. A. Owen, 9th Inf. Acting Assist. Adjt. 
 General. 
 
 1st Lieutenant J. Mullan, 2nd Arty. Engineer officer. 
 
 Captain R. W. Kirkham, Assist. Quar. Master. 
 
 Assist. Surg. J. F. Hammond, Chief of the Med. Dept. 
 
 These gentlemen were with me on the field, cool and col- 
 lected, ever ready to convey my orders to every part of the 
 line, or to attend to their professional duties as circumstances 
 might require. 
 
 Their good conduct and gallantry commend them to the 
 Dept. Inclosed herewith is a topographical sketch of the 
 battle field, prepared by Lieut. Mullan, illustrating the tacti- 
 cal part of this Report. 
 
 Very respectfully your obt. servt. 
 
 G. Weight, Col. 9th Inf'y Commanding. 
 Major W. W. Mackall, Assist. Adjt. Gen. 
 
 Head Quar. Dept. of the Pacific, 
 Fort Vancouver, W. T. 
 
n. 
 
 OFFICIAL REPOET OF COLONEL WRIGHT. 
 
 Head Quarters, Expedition against Northern Indians, 
 Camp on Spokan River ^ W. T.^ 12 miles below the Falls. 
 
 September 6, 1858. 
 
 To Maj.W. Mackall, Assistant Adj't. General U. S. Army : — 
 Sir : — I have the honor to submit the following report of 
 the battle of the Spokan Indians fought by the troops under 
 my command on the 5th inst. Our enemies were the Spokans, 
 Coeur d'Alenes, Pelouses and Pend d'Oreilles, numbering 
 from five to seven hundred warriors. 
 
 Leaving my camp at the " Four Lakes" at 6^ A. M. on the 
 5th, our route lay along the margin of a lake for about three 
 miles, and thence for two miles over a broken country thinly 
 scattered with pines, when emerging on to the open prairie, 
 the hostile Indians were discovered about three miles to our 
 right and in advance, moving rapidly along the skirt of the 
 woods, and apparently with a view of intercepting our line 
 of march before we should reach the timbers. After halting 
 and closing up our long pack train, I moved forward, and 
 soon found that the Indians were setting fire to the grass at 
 various points in front and on my right flank. Capt. Keyes 
 was now directed to advance three of his companies, deployed 
 as skirmishers, to the fi-ont and right. This order was promptly 
 obeyed, and Capt. Ord with Company K, Lieut. Gibson with 
 Company M, and Lieut. Tyler with Company A, 3d Artillery, 
 were thrown forward. At the same time Capt. Hardie, Com- 
 pany G, 3d Artillery, was deployed to the left, and the how- 
 itzer under Lieut. White, supported by Company E, 9th In- 
 fantry, were advanced to the Ime of skirmishers. The firing 
 now became brisk on both sides, the Indians attacking us in 
 front and on both flanks. The fires on the prairie nearly en- 
 veloped us, and were rapidly approaching our troops and 
 the pack train. Not a moment was to be lost. I ordered 
 
138 APPENDIX. 
 
 the advance. The skirmishers,* the howitzer, and the 1st 
 squadron of Dragoons under Major Grier, dashed gallantly 
 through the roaring flames, and the Indians were driven to 
 seek shelter in the forest and rocks. As soon as a suitable 
 position could be obtained, the howitzer under White opened 
 fire with shell. The Indians were again routed from their 
 cover, closely pursued by our skirmishers, and followed by 
 Grier, with his squadron leading. 
 
 All this time our pack train was concentrated as much as 
 possible, and guarded by Capt. Dent, 9th Infantry, with his 
 Co. B, Lieut. Davidson, 1st Dragoons, with his Company E, 
 and Lieut. Ihrie, 3d Artillery, with his Company B, advancing. 
 The trail bore off to the right, which threw Ord and Tyler 
 with their skirmishers to the left. A heavy body of Indians 
 had concentrated on our left, when our whole line moved 
 quickly forward, and the firing became general throughout 
 the front, occupied by Ord, Hardie and Tyler, and the how- 
 itzer under White, supported by Winder, with Gregg's 
 troop of Dragoons following in rear, waiting for a favor- 
 able opportunity to make a dash. At the same time, Gibson, 
 with Company M, 3d Artillery, drove the Indians on the 
 right front ; an open plain here intervening. Major Grier 
 passed the skirmishers with his own and Lieutenant Pender's 
 troop, and charged the Indians, killing two and wounding 
 three. Our whole line and train advanced steadily, driving 
 the Indians over rocks and through ravines. Our point of 
 direction having been changed to the right. Captain Ord 
 found himself alone with his company, on the extreme left 
 of the skirmisherg, and opposed by a large body of the en- 
 emy. They were gallantly charged by Captain Ord, and 
 driven successfully from the high table rocks where they had 
 taken refuge. Captain Ord pursued the Indians, until ap- 
 proaching the train he occupied the left flank. 
 
 Moving forward tow'ards the Spokan river, the Indians still 
 in front. Lieutenants Ihrie and Howard with Company B, 3d 
 Artillery, were throAvn out on the right flank and instantly clear- 
 ed the Avay. And after a continuous fight for seven hours, over 
 a distance of fourteen miles, we encamped on the banks of 
 the Spokan river-^the troops exhausted by a long and fati- 
 guing march, twenty-five toiles without water, and for two- 
 thirds of the distance under fire. The battle was won, two 
 chiefs and two brothers of the chief Gearry killed, f besides 
 
 * The three companies of 3d Artillery above mentioned. 
 
 + Since the battle we learn that Kamiakcn^ war chief of Yakimas, was nearly killed by 
 a shell. 
 
APPENDIX. 139 
 
 rnauy of lesser note either killed or wounded. A kind Prov- 
 idence again protected us ; although at many times the balls 
 flew thick and fast through our ranks, yet strange to say, we 
 had but one man slightly wounded. 
 
 Again it affords me the highest pleasure to bear witness to 
 the zeal, energy, gallantry and perseverance displayed by the 
 officers and men during this protracted battle. 
 
 Brevet Major W. N. Grier, commanding a squadron of 1st 
 Dragoons, composed of his own Company and that of Lieu- 
 tenant Pender, made a gallant charge at the right moment, 
 killing two and wounding three of the enemy. The Major 
 speaks in the highest terms of the gallantry of Lieutenant 
 Pender, commanding Company " C." 
 
 Lieutenant Davidson with Company " E " was rear guard 
 to the general train, and that duty was well performed. 
 Lieutenant Gregg with Company " H " was posted in rear of 
 the howitzer, with a view of making a dash at the enemy, but 
 the ground was so broken that dragoons could not operate 
 effectively. 
 
 Captain E. D. Keyes, 3d Artillery, commanding battalioii 
 pursuing, was energetic and gallant throughout. Although 
 the troops extended over a mile, yet the Captain was always 
 in the right place at the right time. 
 
 Captain Keyes reports the folloAving companies and officers 
 as particularly distinguished. 
 
 Company " K," Captain E. O. C. Ord and Lieutenant M. 
 R. Morgan. 
 
 Company " G," Captain J. A. Hardie and Lieutenant Ran- 
 som. 
 
 Company " M," Lieutenants Gibson and Dandy. 
 
 Company " A," Lieutenants Tyler and Lyon. 
 
 The howitzer battery under Lieutenant White, with detach- 
 ment of 20 men Company " D," 3d artillery, behaved most 
 gallantly throughout the action. Eight shells were thrown 
 into the midst of the enemy during the fight, and with effect. 
 
 The conduct of Lieutenant Kip, Adjutant, of artillery bat- 
 tahon, is noticed by Captain Keyes as having been excellent 
 throughout the day. 
 
 The rifle battalion, companies " B" and " E," 9th infantry, 
 under Captain Dent. Captain Dent with his company was on 
 the rear guard to protect the pack train. This duty was 
 handsomely performed, and the train moved along uiiharmed 
 by the enemy or the fires._ 
 
 Captain Winder was detached with Lieutenant Fleming and 
 
140 APPENDIX. 
 
 Company " E " to Isupport the howitzer battery. This ser- 
 vice was admirably performed, bravely advancing and pouring 
 in a fire with their rifles when opportunity ofiered, till the 
 close of the battle. 
 
 The friendly Nez Perces were employed chiefly as spies and 
 guides, as well as guards to pack train. As usual they be- 
 haved well. 
 
 Again I have the pleasure of presenting to the Department 
 the gentlemen of my staff": 
 
 1st Lieutenant P. A. Owen, Adjt. 9th Infantry, &c., 
 1st Lieutenant J. MuUan, Acting Engineer, &c., 
 Captain R. Kirkham, A. Q. M., ^ — 
 Assistant Surgeon J. F. Hamm^jid, U. S. A., 
 Assistant Surgeon J. F. Randol]3h, U. S. A. 
 These gentlemen were all on the^^eld, cool, energetic and 
 brave, whether conveying orders to distant points of the line, 
 or attending to their professional duties. 
 
 A memoir and topographical sketch of the battle by Lieu- 
 tenant MuUan, Engineer officer, is herewith enclosed. 
 Respectfully, &c., 
 
 G. Weight, Col. 9th Inf'y, Com'g. 
 
 ,<r' 
 
III. 
 
 EXTRACT EROM THE "GENERAL ORDERS." 
 
 INDIAN BATTLES FOE THE PAST YEAE AND THE OFFICEES ENGAGED. 
 
 6EKBBAI. 0EDEB8, NO. 22. 
 
 Head Quarters of the Army, 
 
 New York, Nov. 10, 1858. 
 
 The following combats with hostile Indians — in which the 
 conduct of the troops, including volunteers and employes in 
 the United States military service, is deserving of high praise 
 for gallantry and hardships — have occurred, or been brought 
 to the notice of the General-in-Chief, since the publication of 
 General order, No. 14, of 1857, viz : 
 
 T* •!€ JjC •!» ^ ^ t* 
 
 XrV. September 1, 1858. — The expedition under Colonel 
 Wright, 9th infantry, composed of companies C, E, H and I, 
 1st dragoons ; A, B, G, K and M, 3d artillery ; and B and E, 
 9th infantry — aggregate five hundred and seventy — with a 
 company of thirty Nez Perces Indians, marched from Fort 
 Walla Walla, Oregon, on the 7th and 15th of August ; cross- 
 ed Snake river on the 25th and 26th ; established a post at 
 the crossing, which was left in charge of Brevet Major Wyse 
 and his company D, 3d artillery ; and, after a march of nearly 
 a hundred miles, mostly* over a forbidding country, during 
 which they were twice attacked, came upon a large body of 
 united Spokan, Coeur d'Al^ne and Pelouse Indians, of which 
 some four hundred were mounted. 
 
 After securing his baggage and supplies, by leaving them 
 under the guard of Company M, 3d artilJery, with a mountain 
 howitzer, and a detachment of fifty-four men, commanded by 
 Lieutenants H. G. Gibson, G. B. Dandy and Lyon, the whole 
 under Captain Ilardie, 3d artillery. Colonel Wright moved 
 with the rest of his force against the Indians, who had taken 
 possession of a high hill and an adjoining wood, and awaited 
 his attack. They were driven by the foot troops^from both 
 
142 ^ APPENDIX. 
 
 their positions into the plain, and then charged and utterly 
 routed by the dragoons, with a loss of some seventeen killed 
 and many wounded. 
 
 The troops sustained no loss in either killed or wounded. 
 
 Colonel Wright mentions the following as entitled to credit 
 for their coolness and gallantry : 
 
 Brevet Major Grier, 1st dragoons ; Captain Keyes, 3d ar- 
 tillery; Captain Dent, 9th infantry; 1st Lieutenant Mullan, 
 2d artillery, acting as topographical engineer and command- 
 ing the friendly Nez Perces ; 1st Lieutenant P. A. Owen, 9th 
 infantry; Acting Assistant Adjutant General; Captain Kirk- 
 ham, Assistant Quarter-master ; and Assistant Surgeon J. F. 
 Hammond, Medical Department. 
 
 The following are also mentioned as having been highly 
 commended by their immediate commanders : 
 
 Medical Department. — Assistant Surgeon Randolph. 
 
 1st Dragoons. — Lieutenants Davidson, Pender, and 2d Lieu- 
 tenant Gregg. 
 
 1st Sergeant James A. Hall ; Sergeants Bernard Korton 
 and Patrick Byrne ; Bugler Robert A. Magan, and privates 
 James Kearney and Michael Meara, Company C. 
 
 1st Sergeant C. Goetz; Sergeant J. F. Maguire; and Pri- 
 vates J. G. Trimbell, J. Buckley, Wm. Ramage and T. W. 
 Smith, Company E. 
 
 1st Sergeant E. Ball; Sergeant M.M.Walker; and Bugler 
 Jacob MuUer, Company H. 
 
 1st Sergeant W. H. Ingerton ; and Sergeant Wm. Davis, 
 Company I. 
 
 Zrd Artillery. — 1st Lieutenants Tyler, White and Ihrie, and 
 2d Lieutenant Kip. 
 
 ^th Infantry. — Captain Winder and Lieutenant Fleming. 
 
 Nez Perces. — Hute-E-Mah-li-kah, Captain John, Edward 
 and We-ash-kot. 
 
 XV. September ^th to 15i5/i.— Colonel Wright, 9th Infantry, 
 after defeating the united hostile tribes at the Four Lakes, 
 in Washington Territory, on the 1st (as noticed above, par. 
 XIV.), continued to advance in the Indian country with the 
 same force, and on the 5th of September, was again met by 
 the Spokan, Pelouse and Ccuur d'Alene Indians who had been 
 joined by the Pend d'Orcilles. 
 
 After a continuous conflict of seven hours, over a distance 
 of fourteen miles, and a fatiguing march, in all, of twenty-five, 
 the Indians were completely routed with the loss of two chiefs 
 — two brothers of the Chief Gearry — and many others of 
 
APPENDIX. 143 
 
 lesser note killed and wounded. The troops had but one man 
 — name not given— wounded, and he but slightly. 
 
 Colonel Wright bears witness to the zeal, energy, persever- 
 ance and gallantry of his officers and men. He specially 
 mentions the following : 
 
 Brevet Major Grier, 1st Dragoons, commanding squadron ; 
 Captain Keyes, 3d Artillery, commanding artillery battalion, 
 acting as infantry ; Captain Winder and Lieutenant Fleming, 
 9th Infantry, detached to support the howitzer battery : 1st 
 Lieutenant and Adjutant Owen, 9th Infantry, Acting Assist. 
 Adjutant General ; Captain Kirkham, Assistant Quarter-mas- 
 ter ; Assistant Surgeons J. F. Hammond and J. F. Randolph ; 
 and 1st Lieutenant Mullan, 2d Artillery, acting as engineer 
 officer and commanding the friendly Indians. 
 
 The following officers are spoken of in the highest terms 
 by their several immediate commanders, viz : 
 
 \st Dragoons. — Lieutenant Pender. 
 
 Zd Artillery. — Company K, Captain E. O. C. Ord and Lieu- 
 tenant Morgan ; Company G, Captain J. A. Hardie and 1st 
 Lieutenant Ransom ; Company M, 1st Lieutenant Gibson and 
 2d Lieutenant Dandy ; Company A, 1st Lieutenant Tyler and 
 2d Lieutenant Lyon. 
 
 1st Lieutenant White, commanding howitzer battery — com- 
 posed of a detachment from Company D, 3d Artillery — and 
 2d Lieutenant Kip, Adjutant of Keyes' battalion. 
 
 Captam Dent, 9th Infantry, with his Company (B), and 1st 
 Lieutenant Davidson, 1st Dragoons, commanding Company E, 
 together with the friendly Nez Perces, guarded the train 
 effectually. 
 
 After resting on the 6th, Colonel Wright continued his pur- 
 suit of the Indians through their country, arriving at the Cceur 
 d'Alene Mission on the 15th of September. During this 
 march he had a skirmish with the enemy, on the 8th of Sep- 
 tember, took from them some nine hundred horses, a large 
 number of cattle, with quantities of wheat, oats, roots, &c., 
 &c., all of which were converted to the use of the troops or 
 destroyed. 
 
 Those severe blows resulted in the unqualified submission 
 of the Coeur D'Alenes, the dispersion of the other tribes, and, 
 it is not doubted, ere this in the subjugation of the whole 
 alliance. 
 
 Results so important, without the loss of a man or animal, 
 gained over tribes brave, well armed, confident in themselves 
 from a recent .iccidental success, and aided by the many difficul- 
 
144 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ties presented by the country invaded, reflect high credit on 
 all concerned. 
 
 Colonel Wright is much to be commended for the zeal, 
 perseverance and gallantry he has exhibited. 
 
 To Brigadier General Clarke, commanding the Department 
 of the Pacific, credit is primarily and eminently due for the 
 sound judgment shown in planning and organizing the cam- 
 paign (including Major Garnett's simultaneous expedition), 
 as well as for his promptness and energy in gathering, from 
 remote points in his extended command, the forces, supplies, 
 &c., necessary for its successful prosecution. 
 
 In this merited tribute to the General his staff is included. 
 
 By command Brevet Lieutenant General Scott. 
 
 L. Thomas, Assistant Adjutant General. 
 
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