Saint Croix Union

War in the Territories

From Oregon and Washington territories we learn that Indian depredations have reached such an alarming extent that a general war is considered most imminent. In Rogue River Valley the war had already commenced. A battle was fought on the 7th of October at the mouth of Butte Creek, in the vicinity of Fort Lane, between a volunteer force of one hundred men and a large party of Indians. The latter, who were most signally defeated, left forty of their number dead upon the field. This lesson, however, does not seem to have deterred the savages from renewing their outrages. An extra from the Portland Standard further informs us that Major Haller (who went out from the Dalles on the 4th of October with one hundred troops to punish the murderers of an Indian Agent) was in a most critical situation. His men had been for forty-eight hours without water, and were completely surrounded by a very large body of Indians, who kept constantly firing upon them. A messenger from Major Haller managed to escape through the ranks of the Indians, and reach the Dalles in safety, whence a party of a hundred and fifty men instantly started to relieve their beleaguered comrades. Major Haller it is understood, calls for a thousand men to aid him. An Indian war is also greatly apprehended in Washington territory, so much so that Acting Governor Mason has made requisition upon the garrison for a sufficient number of troops to march against the hostile tribes.