James A. Hardie, U.s. Army, March 31, 1861

SIR:

I have the honor to report for your information that a drunken

row occurred on the 18th instant between some miners, eleven in num: ber, and some Lake Indians, nine in number, on the Columbia River,

immediately above the forty-ninth parallel, which resulted in the death of two miners, two severely and two slightly wounded. Four Indians were killed and one wounded. The remaining whites and Indians both retreated, the Indians to the mouth of the Kootenay, and the miners to the opposite side of the river from the fight, both parties being very much frightened. I immediately sent Captain Archer with a detachment of sixty men from his company (I, Ninth Infantry) to the scene of action for the purpose of quieting the miners and Indians, and ascertaining the facts in the case. The detachment has not yet returned, but Bvt. Second Lieut. S. S. Marsh, Ninth Infantry, who accompanied Captain Archer, returned this morning and reports everything quiet. I anticipate no difficulty in settling this affair, but I regret to say that Similar occurrences may take place at any time, so long as liquor is introduced into the Indian country, and Indian testimony will not be taken to convict whisky dealers of selling liquor to Indians. From all I can learn, the whites brought on the fight by crossing over the Columbia River for the purpose, as they expressed it, of “rushing the Indian village.” I am, sir,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,