Following Orders

On the return of Lieutenant Davidson to Walla Walla with the supply train, as directed in Orders No. 3, Colonel Wright, being in readiness, moved forward with but brief delay. While yet at Walla Walla he issued the following orders for the government of the command throughout the coming campaign.

Orders No. 5.
Headquarters Expedition against Northern Indians
Camp Near Fort Walla Walla, W. T.
August 14, 1858

I. The residue of the troops for the northern expedition will march from Fort Walla Walla tomorrow, and unite with the advance at the Snake River.

II. Marching from Snake River, the order will be as follows:

1. The dragoons
2. The mountain howitzer company
3. The battalion of artillery serving as infantry
4. The rifle battalion of 9th infantry
5. Pack train of corps and headquarters
6. One company of infantry as rear guard
7. General trains of quartermaster and commissary.

III. The mounted troops will not precede the howitzer company more than four hundred yards, and on approaching canons or defiles where dragoons cannot operate on the flanks, they will be halted and the rifles advanced.

IV. No firearms of any description will be dis charged, either on the march or in camp, except in the line of duty, without the special authority of the commanding officer.

V. No person except the employees of the staff departments and officers' servants will be allowed to accompany the troops or to encamp with them without the written authority of the commanding officer.

VI. Habitually the guard will consist of one company, and mount at retreat.

VII. It is announced for general information that a body of friendly Nez Perces Indians have been engaged to serve .with the troops. These Indians have been equipped in soldiers' clothing in order to distinguish them from the hostiles. Company commanders will caution their men particularly in regard to these friendly Indians.
 
VIII. Whether in camp or on the march, the companies will parade with arms; at retreat and reveille roll calls the arms and ammunition will be inspected. The men will habitually wear and sleep in their belts.
 
By order of Colonel Wright
P. A. Owen, First Lieutenant 9th Infantry, A, A. A. G."

General Clarke was informed of Wright's intentions, his condition and his apprehensions, thus:

Headquarters Expedition against Northern Indians
Camp near Fort Walla Walla, W. T.
August 14, 1858.

Sir:
I march hence tomorrow against the hostile Indians beyond the Snake River. I have a body of troops, both officers and men, in the highest order, and on whom I feel that I can rely with perfect confidence; yet, with all these circumstances in my favor, I am greatly apprehensive that the results of the campaign may fall short of what is expected by the general and by the country. From all that I can learn, we must not expect the enemy to meet us in a pitched battle; although haughty, insolent, and boastful now, when I approach he will resort to a guerilla warfare, he will lay waste the country with fire, and endeavor by every means in his power to embarrass and cripple our operations. The season is too late for troops to operate in that country, the small streams and ponds are dried up, and the grass can easily be burnt. I have had several conversations with persons well acquainted with that country, and with the Indians. They say that the Indians will suffer us, to advance, probably as far as the Spokane, without firing the grass; that they will then burn the entire country in our rear. I have no doubt such may be their policy, and if they can accomplish it, serious consequences may follow. With all these difficulties before me, I shall advance into their country, and, if possible, chastise them severely; and should they burn all the grass in my rear, we can live on our animals, and if they die, we can take our provisions on our backs and march.

I have no doubt that we shall have some hard ships to undergo; but I shall advance cautiously and prudently, and try to do all that can be done at this season of the year, without sacrificing the means of prosecuting the war another season, should it be necessary.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Wright, Colonel 9th Infantry, Commanding.
Major W. W. Mackall, Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters of the Pacific, Fort Vancouver, W. T,"

Orders No. 6.
Headquarters Expedition against Northern Indians
Camp on Snake River, at Mouth of the Tucanon
August 19, 1858

I. The field work erected at this place will be called "Fort Taylor.¹

II. Captain Keys, commanding the battalion of the 3rd artillery, will designate a garrison for Fort Taylor, of one company, or at least sixty-five rank and file, exclusive of officers. The two six-pounders will be mounted in Fort Taylor. The two mountain howitzers, with ammunition, &c., complete for field service, will be turned over to an officer to be designated by Captain Keys.

III. Assistant Surgeon Brown is assigned to duty with the garrison of Fort Taylor.

IV. The troops of all arms will be held in readiness to cross the river as soon as the fort is completed.

By order of Colonel Wright
P. A. OWEN, First Lieutenant 9th Infantry, A. A. A. G."

Headquarters Expedition against Northern Indians
Camp on Snake River, at Mouth of Tucanon
August 19, 1858
Sir: I reached this point yesterday, and Captain Kirkham, with the pack train and residue of the supplies, arrived this morning. The field work at this place is progressing rapidly, and will be ready for occupancy within four days. On my march from Fort Walla Walla the weather was in tensely hot, and the dust suffocating; the footmen suffered severely. The grass, for the greater por tion of the way from the Touche, has been destroyed by fire, but at this point, and for miles up the Tu Canon, we have an abundance of grass, wood, and water. Fort Taylor is on the left bank of the Snake River, which is about two hundred and seventy-five yards wide. I apprehend no serious difficulty in making the passage; our artillery can cover the landing should there be any attempt made to oppose us. From the best information that can be obtained, the Indians are in considerable force, both on the Pelouse and some five days' march further north. What their designs are I cannot say. The friendly Indians say that they will fight, but I am inclined to the opinion that they will re tire as we advance, and burn all the grass. For several days past a large portion of the country to the north of us has been enveloped in flames. Possibly we may find sufficient grass left to subsist our animals. Should it prove otherwise, it would be worse than madness to plunge into that barren waste, the inevitable result of which must be the sacrifice of men and animals. I hope that our anticipations may not be realized. It will be mortifying, after all our preparations, to fail in accomplishing the objects of the expedition; but we cannot contend against the elements. We have a lake of fire before us, but no human effort will be spared to overcome all obstacles. I hope to march from the Snake River on the 25th.

The communication for Mr. Blankenship, at Fort Colville, will be forwarded by the earliest opportunity.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Wright, Colonel 9th Infantry, Commanding,
Major W. W. Mackall, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Headquarters Department of the Pacific,
Fort Vancouver, W. T.

On the night of the 21st of August a severe wind storm struck the camp. The air was so laden with sand and dust that it was difficult to see two feet ahead. The tents were leveled to the ground, and the boughs with which many of them had been covered as a protection to their occupants against the beating rays of the sun, were sent rolling and tumbling up the narrow valley. The wind storm was succeeded by a pouring rain which continued with greater or less severity during the 22nd, 23rd and 24th, and prevented the force from crossing the river. At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 25th, however, the rain having ceased and the sky become clear, the crossing of the river was begun. The artillery was the first to cross, followed by the sup plies and the infantry, and by night everything had been safely landed on the right bank, except the dragoons and a part of the quartermaster's train. These were crossed on the morning of the 26th. The horses and mules swam the swift current of the river, the Nez Perces swimming after and driving them. This performance on the part of Indians and animals was productive of great amusement among the soldiers.

Footnote:

1. Named in honor of Captain Taylor, who fell in Colonel Steptoe's engagement with the Northern Indians.

• Army Life on the Pacific, book by Lawrence Kip

Notes About the Book:

Source: The Indian Tribes of North America, by John R. Swanton, 1953, Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 145, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC.

Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and then ocr'd. Minimal editing has been done, and readers can and should expect some errors in the textual output.

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