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Rivers； and were not less repulsive than those of their tribe we had
met before。 They were aware of the hostilities going on between the
Rogue Rivers and the whites； but claimed that they had not taken any
part in them。 I question if they had； but had our party been small；
I fear we should have been received at their village in a very
different manner。
》From the upper Klamath Lake we marched over the divide and down the
valley of the Des Chutes River to a point opposite the mountains
called the Three Sisters。 Here； on September 23； the party divided；
Williamson and I crossing through the crater of the Three Sisters and
along the western slope of the Cascade Range； until we struck the
trail on McKenzie River； which led us into the Willamette Valley not
far from Eugene City。 We then marched down the Willamette Valley to
Portland； Oregon； where we arrived October 9； 1855
The infantry portion of the command； escorting Lieutenant Henry L。
Abbot； followed farther down the Des Chutes River； to a point
opposite Mount Hood； from which it came into the Willamette Valley
and then marched to Portland。 At Portland we all united； and moving
across the point between the Willamette and Columbia rivers； encamped
opposite Fort Vancouver； on the south bank of the latter stream； on
the farm of an old settler named Switzler； who had located there many
years before。
CHAPTER IV。
〃OLD RED〃SKILLFUL SHOOTINGYAKIMAWARA LUDICROUS MISTAKE
〃CUT…MOUTH JOHN'S〃 ENCOUNTERFATHER PANDOZA'S MISSIONA SNOW…STORM…
…FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION。
Our camp on the Columbia； near Fort Vancouver； was beautifully
situated on a grassy sward close to the great river； andas little
duty was required of us after so long a journey； amusement of one
kind or another； and an interchange of visits with the officers at
the post； filled in the time acceptably。 We had in camp an old
mountaineer guide who had accompanied us on the recent march； and who
had received the sobriquet of 〃Old Red；〃 on account of the shocky and
tangled mass of red hair and beard； which covered his head and face
so completely that only his eyes could be seen。 His eccentricities
constantly supplied us with a variety of amusements。 Among the
pastimes he indulged in was one which exhibited his skill with the
rifle； and at the same time protected the camp from the intrusions
and ravages of a drove of razor…backed hogs which belonged to Mr。
Switzler。 These hogs were frequent visitors； and very destructive to
our grassy sward； rooting it up in front of our tents and all about
us； in pursuit of bulbous roots and offal from the camp。 Old Red
conceived the idea that it would be well to disable the pigs by
shooting off the tips of their snouts； and he proceeded to put his
conception into execution； and continued it daily whenever the hogs
made their appearance。 Of course their owner made a row about it；
but when Old Red daily settled for his fun by paying liberally with
gold…dust from some small bottles of the precious metal in his
possession； Switzler readily became contented； and I think even
encouraged the exhibitionsof skill。
It was at this period （October； 1855） that the Yakima Indian war
broke out； and I was detached from duty with the exploring party and
required by Major Gabriel J。 Rains； then commanding the district； to
join an expedition against the Yakimas。 They had some time before
killed their agent； and in consequence a force under Major Granville
O。 Haller had been sent out from the Dalles of the Columbia to
chastise them； but the expedition had not been successful； in fact；
it had been driven back； losing a number of men and two mountain
howitzers。
The object of the second expedition was to retrieve this disaster。
The force was composed of a small body of regular troops； and a
regiment of Oregon mounted volunteers under command of Colonel James
W。 Nesmithsubsequently for several years United States Senator from
Oregon。 The whole force was under the command of Major Rains； Fourth
Infantry； who； in order that he might rank Nesmith； by some
hocus…pocus had been made a brigadier…general； under an appointment
from the Governor of Washington Territory。
We started from the Dalles October 30； under conditions that were not
conducive to success。 The season was late for operations； and worse
still； the command was not in accord with the commanding officer；
because of general belief in his incompetency； and on account of the
fictitious rank he assumed。 On the second day out I struck a small
body of Indians with my detachment of dragoons； but was unable to do
them any particular injury beyond getting possession of a large
quantity of their winter food； which their hurried departure
compelled them to abandon。 This food consisted principally of dried
salmon…pulverized and packed in sacks made of grass…dried
huckleberries； and dried camas； the latter a bulbous root about the
size of a small onion； which； when roasted and ground； is made into
bread by the Indians and has a taste somewhat like cooked chestnuts。
Our objective point was Father Pandoza's Mission； in the Yakima
Valley； which could be reached by two different routes； and though
celerity of movement was essential； our commanding officer
〃strategically〃 adopted the longer route； and thus the Indians had
ample opportunity to get away with their horses； cattle； women and
children； and camp property。
After the encounter which I just now referred to； the command； which
had halted to learn the results of my chase； resumed its march to and
through the Klikitat canon； and into the lower Yakima Valley； in the
direction of the Yakima River。 I had charge at the head of the
column as it passed through the canon； and on entering the valley
beyond； saw in the distance five or six Indian scouts； whom I pressed
very closely； until after a run of several miles they escaped across
the Yakima River。
The soil in the valley was light and dry； and the movement of animals
over it raised great clouds of dust； that rendered it very difficult
to distinguish friend from foe； and as I was now separated from the
main column a considerable distance； I deemed it prudent to call a
halt until we could discover the direction taken by the principal
body of the Indians。 We soon learned that they had gone up the
valley； and looking that way； we discovered a column of alkali dust
approaching us； about a mile distant； interposing between my little
detachment and the point where I knew General Rains intended to
encamp for the night。 After hastily consulting with Lieutenant
Edward H。 Day； of the Third United States Artillery； who was with me；
we both concluded that the dust was caused by a body of the enemy
which had slipped in between us and our main force。 There seemed no
alternative left us but to get back to our friends by charging
through these Indians； and as their cloud of dust was much larger
than ours； this appeared a desperate chance。 Preparations to charge
were begun； however； but； much to our surprise； before they were
completed the approaching party halted for a moment and then
commenced to retreat。 This calmed the throbbing of our hearts； and
with a wild cheer we started in a hot pursuit； that continued for
about two miles； when to our great relief we discovered that we were
driving into Rains's camp a squadron of Nesmith's battalion of Oregon
volunteers that we had mistaken for Indians； and who in turn believed
us to be the enemy。 When camp was reached； we all indulged in a
hearty laugh ovor the affair； and at the fright each party had given
the other。 The explanations which ensued proved that the squadron of
volunteers had separated from the column at the same time that I had
when we debouched from the canon； and had pursued an intermediate
trail through the hills； which brought it into the valley of the
Yakima at a point higher up the river than where I had struck it。
Next day we resumed our march up the valley； parallel to the Yakima。
About 1 o'clock we saw a large body of Indians on the opposite side
of the river； and the general commanding made up his mind to cross
and attack them。 The stream was cold； deep； and swift； still I
succeeded in passing my dragoons over safely； but had hardly got them
well on the opposite bank when the Indians swooped down upon us。
Dismounting my men； we received the savages with a heavy fire； which
brought them to a halt with some damage and more or less confusion。
General Rains now became very much excited and alarmed about me； and
endeavored to ford the swift river with his infantry and artillery；
but soon had to abandon the attempt； as three or four of the poor
fellows were swept off their feet and drowned。 Meantime Nesmith came
up with his mounted force； crossed over； and joined me。
The Indians now fell back to a high ridge； on the crest of which they
marched and