Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/513

Rh Indians was eighteen or twenty killed and many wounded. For three days Wright rested unmolested in camp, resuming his march on the fifth of September. In about five miles he came upon the Indians collected to oppose his progress. They moved in a line parallel to the troops, their number continually increasing, until on coming to a plain bordered by a wood they were seen to be stationed in the timber awaiting a moment to attack.

As Wright's column approached the grass was fired, which burned fiercely, the wind carrying it in the direction of the troops. Under cover of the smoke the Indians spread themselves out in a crescent, half enclosing it. A strong guard was placed about the pack train, and the battle opened. The companies deployed right and left, and the men flushed with their recent victory, dashed through the smoke and flames, driving the Indians to the cover of the timber. Here they were assailed by shells from the howitzers, and as they fled the foot soldiers charged them. Again and again they were driven to cover, and from cover for a distance of four miles, until they were forced upon a plain, where a cavalry charge repeated the scenes of Four lakes.

Still the Indians fought with obstinacy. The route of Wright's march lay through a pine forest, and they formed parties at different points to annoy him, also occupying a hill by which he must pass; but the riflemen and howitzers again dispersed them. However, the fighting was kept up for a distance of fourteen miles. That afternoon Wright reached the Spokane river, his command having marched twenty-five miles without water. One soldier only was wounded slightly. Two chiefs of the Cœur d'Alenes were killed, two chiefs of the Spokanes, and Kamiakin of the Yakimas was hit on the head by a falling tree-top, which a shell had blown off. The total loss of the Indians was not known, as they carried off the slain. They burned one of their villages to prevent the soldiers pillaging it, and in every way showed great courage and patriotism.