Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/420



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When the Indians discovered the troops they were within three hundred yards of their camp, with the river between them. Instead of showing a disposition to fight, the Indians were thrown into confusion. Many had not yet come out of their wickiups. The women and children were running hither and thither, in alarm. To escape the heavy fire of the volunteers, these hid themselves in the timber in the rear of their camp; while a portion of their fighting force stationed themselves behind rocks and trees and fought in defense of their camp; and another portion took to the cover of the trees lining the river out of range of the volunteers guns, to watch .the movements of the attacking party.

So interested were they in these, that they failed to discover Major Bruce s detachment which had hastened to support Kelsey, until Captain George s company had de livered a fire into their midst. Bruce was then stationed on Kelsey s left, and firing was kept up all day, with the result of a very considerable loss to the Indians. Ap parently, nothing saved them from a total rout but the river; and on the other hand the river cut off their re treat. The loss to the volunteers in this engagement was one man wounded in Wilkinson s company Elias D. Mercer. That night the regiment encamped at the Big Meadows.

The following morning Colonel Kelsey and Major Lat- shaw took one hundred and fifty men and two canvas- boats two miles below the battle ground to look for a crossing of the river, with the design of scouring the mountains in the vicinity of the enemy s camp ; while Lieutenant-Colonel Chapman with an equal force took up the position occupied the previous day, to prevent the es cape of the Indians, as well as to divert their attention from the movement below.

When the colonel s command reached the river, how ever, he found that his purpose had been divined, and the Indians were stationed in the thick timber ready to receive