Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/485

Rh schooner and batteaux which had left the lower cascades the previous day, the men on them volunteering to return with him and fight, which offer was accepted. At ten o'clock in the forenoon the Belle reached her destination, finding the place totally destroyed, and making a landing on the Oregon side.

From here Sheridan, with a part of his command, proceeded up the river on foot to a point opposite the upper town to reconnoiter. On his way he learned from the Cascade Indians the condition of affairs both at the upper town and the blockhouse. He then returned and landed his men on the Washington side, at the same time dispatching a canoe to Vancouver for more ammunition. But the Indians did not wait to be attacked. While the troops and howitzer were being disembarked on a sand island two of the men were shot down, and Sheridan was compelled to retreat some distance from the cover of the Indians, the steamer dropping down in company. A council of war was then held, and it was decided to maintain their ground, which was done with much difficulty through the remainder of the day. An advance to the blockhouse could not be made, though the diversion effected by the presence of troops was a relief to the garrison, as has been shown by their immunity from harm on the afternoon of the twenty-seventh.

Meantime, a volunteer company raised in Portland on the night of the twenty-sixth, and commanded by L. G. Powell, consisting of thirty men of that place, and about an equal number from Vancouver, proceeded in the steamer Fashion, arriving at the lower cascades soon after the Belle, but finding themselves unable to advance up the river against a numerous concealed enemy in front. They landed, however, and by their presence may be presumed to have had an influence in arresting the designs of the Indians. The Fashion returned to Portland and brought up on the next morning forty more volunteers, enrolled by Colonel A. P. Dennison, aid to Governor Curry,