Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-07-19
IDAHO INDIAN WAR.
General Howard Whips the Indians
Handsomely at Last i'm il Pitched
Battle.

Battle.
/ san FRANCISCO, July IA press dis
patch from Portland says, the following
official dispatch has just been received
i from General Howard: Headquarters,
department Columbia, Camp Williams,
/ left bank South Fork, Clearwater, near
mouth of the Cottonwood, |. T. July u,
via Walla Walla, July 14.-By making
a forced march struck the enemy at |
/ p. m. yesterday about three hundred
strong in Il deep canon near the mouth
! of the Cottonwood, near the South Fork
Of Clearwater, and opened fire at once
with hOWitzer and succeeded in start
ing the Indians from their position,
passing around TRAVERSE canon for a
mile and Il half, and began battle in
| good earnest, and dismounting, formed
in ravines and behind rocks, barricades
well prepared. For seven hours every
| charge we made gained on them. Still
at night our position was not a very
1 good one, as the enemy lay contiguous
! to my communications and [ was on
short ratiOns This morning by Il de-
termlned effort we regained our spring
OF water from some sharp-shooters.
This afternoon | gave our lines to the
care of Capt. Perry, commanding the
cavalry. Capt. Miles battalion of in
fantry | drew out, Capt Millers battal-
ion OF artillery acting as infantry. Just
as we were ready to recommence often
sive work Capt. jackson and his pack
train appeared in sight beyond the In
dians position. Miller pushed out in
skirmish order and met the train and
! cd ~ 1,,l1I H., I,
ly formed Il junction with us when the
artillery battalion already beyond the
enemN's flank, made a rapid movement
taking the Gatling guns and howitzer
along. The Indians made one desper-
ate effort TO flank Miller but failed and
/ then gave way everything, and was then
pushed i'll pursuit. We shelled them
rapidly from high bluffs as they escaped
from the left bank of the river and fol
lowed them escaping in every direction
as far as the river, and are now cross
ing and going into camp at $50 p. m.
The losses of Indians appear to be
thirteen killed and quite large num-
Der wounded. We have Capt Bancroft
Lieut.. Williams and eleven enlisted men
killed and twenty-four wounded. Their
camps were abandoned in great haste,
leaving much plunder. The Indians
/ fought as we'll as any troops | ever saw,
and SO did ours, not one man failing in
duty, and [ now believe that am in
fine condition, and just as soon as Green
appears from Boise, to make thorough
work with these Indians. They are
making for the Snake country, and for
concentration at Mounl Idaho. The
troops have never done harder or more
rapid campaigning or better fighting
than these.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 14-News to the
following effect has been received here
to-day from Walla Walla, dated July 49,
On the 10th inst, Joseph and his band
surprised party of thirty-one China
men who were coming down Clearwater
in Canoes and for mere pastime and re-
creation inhumanlv killed the whole
party but one, who managed to elude
them and escaped. These are the first
/ Cinnamon who have been molested of
late, and many of them are frightened
out of their senses and are leaving for
the upper country.
In letter dated July 11th, Leland, of
! Lewiston, says: The enemy's opera
tiOns have been about 90 or 100 miles III
! the rear of General HOward's move
ments and the man9uvreings of the lat
ter are entirely too slow and Joseph is
smart enough to take advantage of him
and flank him at all times
The general impression here is that
the hundred Flathead Indians that Jo-
seph had received were Kanawha reser-
vation Indians. The Governor of Mon
tana says the Flatheads are going East
I on their annual buffalo hunt toward the
Yellowstone instead of coming this way.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE following
dispatch was received by Gen Vincent,
acting adiutant general:
San FRANCISCO, July 11-T0 4dj,aa1at
GeReulQf the Army, Washington: [ hasten
to send for the information of the sec
retary and president the following i'm
pOrtant telegram from my aid-de-camp,
whom had sent to Gen. Howard
FIELD NEAR MOUTH OF CoTroNwooD
CREEK, Z 2. NJ, July l., VIA WALLA
WAIIA, July 14.-To Gen. 1IcDoUeN, San
Francisco Have been with Gen Howard
in the battle of to-day which he reports
in detail Iconsider this most import
ant success. Joseph is in full flight
westward. Nothing can surpass the
vigor Olsen. Howard's movement and
action Signed keller, A d. C.
Ny aid is an officer of experience in
actual service and his judgment is en-
titled to consideration. L am therefore
infinitely relieved and rejoiced to hear