Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/171

Rh to the want of a sagacious leader among the Indians."

The day, from three o'clock in the morning to late at night when the last footmen were in, had been spent in this first engagement of the cavalry with fierce and predatory Indians of the southern border, who for several years after occupied the regular army under its most noted Indian fighters with their subjugation.

Waymire's report of this days operations was, "the discovery of the nature and strength of the enemy and the whereabouts of his home, which information I trust will be of material benefit hereafter, in connection with operations to be carried on in that region. Our loss was very light. One of the citizens was wounded in the breast, but not seriously. Some of the horses were wounded, one of the cavalry horses severely. Several of the horses belonging to the citizen volunteers gave out and were left behind. As the enemy held his ground it was impossible to ascertain his loss. Many of the Indian warriors, and several of their horses, were seen to fall either killed or seriously wounded. Nothing has been seen of Sergeant Casteel's party since their departure. The morning following, Waymire, with a party of fourteen men on foot went in search of Casteel, following the trail made by them to the supposed fire, which proved to be steam from some hot springs, and back to the pass between the two valleys, where it ended. Nothing could be found of them or their remains. Another day was spent in camp hoping for their appearance, but imagination only pictured the fate of this little detachment.

Being upon half rations, and expecting pursuit, the command broke camp on the night of the ninth with the bells on the leading pack mules silenced, and the march to Harney Valley was begun in darkness. Meeting no opposition, by forced marches the volunteer and cavalry companies reached Canyon City on the fifteenth, where