New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-16
THE INDIAN WAR.
ANIMPORTANT VICTORY.

A BATTLE FOUGHT NEAlk THE MOUTH OF THE COT
ToNwooD-JosEPHs BAND sHELLED FROM ITS
POSITION AND PUT TO PLfGHT-TwO OFFICERS
AND ELEVEN MEN REPORTED KILLED.
SAN FRANCISCO, July ia press dispatch
from Portland, Oregon gives the following official dis
patch, just received from Cen Howard:
HEApQuMTERs DEPARTMENT or Tue II, IoL1sBIs lamp
near the Cottonwood l. T., July l2,va Walla waa July
1f.-By making forced march, struck the enemy az
p Yesterday about 300 strong. in deep canon near
the mouth Of the Cottonwood, near the south FORK OF
Clear Water. and opened fire at once with howfzer.
succeeding in starting the Indians from their position
Passing around the transverse Of tue canon for milo
and haf began battle good earnest and dm0untng
We formed In ravnes and behind rocks B1rricades were
prepared For seven hours charge made gained
upon them sun at night our position was not very
good one. as the enemy lay contiguous 70 my
communications, and | was short OF rations.
ms morning by determined effort we regalned our
spring OF water from some sLarpshootcrs Ihis after
noon gaye our lines to the care Of CAPTAIN Perry com
manding the cavalry, anu captain Miles, commanding
the battalion OF Infantry | drew out Captain Mlers
were ready to recomncnce offensive work, Cap
tam Jackson ana the packiraln appeared IN
pushed out in strmlsh order, met the tran and es-
cOrted n successfully. They had hardly formed June
ton with when the artillery battalion, already beyond
tne eneinys nank, made RAPID movement taxing Cat
ling guns and howzer along with them. The Indians
and then gave way. Everything then pushed IN pur-
suit We sheed them rapidly from the high bluffs
lowed them escaping in every direction far "a tho
river and are now across and gong into camp 1880 p:
quite 2 large number Of wounded. We have
Cant. Bancroft, Lieut.. Williams aud IL enlisted
men killed and 20 wounded. The Indians aban-
dOned their camps great Taste, leaving much
plumber. They fought well as troops ever saw,
and 80 did our men, not one failing t. DO his duty.
now believe am in ne condition, just as soon Green
appears frOm Boise CITY TO make thorough work with
these Indians They making for the Snake country.
and for concentration at Mount Idaho. Troops have
never done barber more rapid campaigning or better
fighting than these.
An eye witness OF TIE lght on the South Fork OF tho
Clear Water gives the following details:
Lieut.. Fletcher aud A. ID. Chapman, guide found Chief
Joseph, after long and aduouS search, with his full
force, canned In almost inaccessible denlc between
two high mountains the river our command mum
ber"d 4OO and Joseph had 800 brave and determined
warri rs. The lighting carried very carefully
bOtn sides. TIE Indians fought III rccunbent position,
aud kept up steady fire from behind rocks, trees, and
every advantageous rise In the ground, ike skrmishers
and sharpsIOOters. Our men were forced Ia approach
through an Opeu table land aud receive CALLING ire.
There dcsuOry firing from The rna-pits all
day A sIuaw who fell into our hand, that
seven Indians were killed outright and the number
wounded i very large. She says hat the Chief wanted
10 ii-t and die 40 the River, bat the prevailed
ul on him to retreat.