The New York herald., 1877-07-11
Captain Randall Morta|Iy Wounded
in a Charge.
THE INDIANS BOLD And VICTORIOUS.
!BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HEEALp.l
CAMP RAiSs July 1, 1877,
JUNCTION ROCKY CAxyoN AND CANOE
EScAMPMENT TRAILS,


care to risk battle with greatly superior numbers.
The Dayton lw. IT, Volunteers and the Lewiston
ID. IT, volunteers, were ordered by General Howard
to reinforce the regular troops We will hurry
along with the infantry and the rest OF the COM
mani 10 press upon those in our iront Although
Joseph took over 5000 head OF cattle from Camas
Prairie he now has none nor no squaw in sight.
If this lie Joseph he will never he able to reach the
Walla waa valley The Indians challenged the
troops TO fight last night.
CONCERNING JOSEPH.
Jim Rueben. a friendly Indian. has lust brought
to Crag's Ferry, Salmon River, n message from
Cottonwood that Perry ana Whpple have joined
forces and pushed Joseph back toward Rocky
Canyon, on Camas Prairie. The fight lasted from
twelve O'Clock yesterday until dark. Several In
dams were killed. General Howard Is building
floats here TO cross, as to reach Masons, near
Lapwai or Cottonwood, to morrow. II is reported
that Lieutenant Rains, ten soldiers and four citi
zcns were Killed while scouting.
THE REDSKINS ON TIE OFFENSIVE NOT WATT
ING TO DE ATTACKED. BUT FORCING THE
FIGHTINa--.soME ACCOUNT OF LIEUTENANT
RAINS DEATH
SAN FRANCISCO, July 10, 1877
Dispatches from Lewiston, via Portland give
Sd, 4th and 5th Inst, near Cottonwood.
On Tuesday Colonel Whipp.e sent out Foster and
Baird scouting for indians In the direction OF
General Towards camp OH Salmon River. They
had not gone far when they met three or four In
dians, who ran them back toward camp. Baird
was unhorsed. but escaped. Foster reached camp
Whippie ordered his command in readiness TO
move, AMI in the meantime Lieutenant Rains,
with Foster and eleven men, was sent
In advance to reconnoitre. Rains and his men rode
over the nrst rise TINS side or Cottonwood and
down into Il side ravinc, where the road
crosses before the ascent of craig's Noun
tain, and were attacked before Whippe
could get TO them after he heard the
firing. Rains and his whole party were killed,
including Foster whIppcs command came
forward and formed in line OF battle,
on the east side OF the ravine, and the Indians ON
the west, ali in open ground, about one thousand
yards apart and with only the ravinc between
them Here they remained menacing each other
Tor about two hours until darkness came. Whipple
retired to his camp and the Indians passed to
a point on the Cottonwood trail to Craig's
Crossing. No more was done that night.
slORMING THE RIFLE PITS.
The next morning Whipplc with his men, started
this way to meet Colonel Perry, VINO was expected
with supply train from Tapwai, and kept out his
skirmish lines along the route. They met Colonel
Perry with his train near Board House. and
escorted him to the camp on Cot ottonwo0d
Creek. Bar'l and two men arrived from Mount
Idaho soon after, and about five +. NJ
rifle pits were manned ana two Gatlings
placed In position. The Indians made several at
tempts to storm the rife pits, but were kept at Il
distance. About nine O'Clock T. NJ firing ceased
for the night. ON the morning OF the 9Th two
couriers arrived from Howard, chased into
the camp by Indians. soon after the Indians moved
their camp with abont ,oC0 head Of stock. across
the prairie in the direction OF the Cottonwood.
No movement was made TO intercept them. Soon
aftcr Captain Randall and sixteen volunteers from
Mount Idaho appeared. About $50 Indians inter
cepted them at the junction of the Elk City trail
with the stage rold. They were seen from Perry's
position the hill at the rife pits and the Colonel
was urged to go with the troops to their rescue.
He replied that 1t no usc they were gone,
ana he would not oftlcr his men TO The rescue.
CAPTAIN RANDALL's DARING; DASH.
The volunteers say that their captain seeing his
position ordered them to charge and break the
line Of the Indians, dash over toward the creek
bottom, disinount and return the Indian fire ard
hold their position, partly under cover OF a small
hi until the force ~ the Cottonwood could
reach them. Tic command was no sooner given
than Captain Randall and his sixteen men made the
charge, broke through The Indian line, reached the
position named, dismountcd and returned. fire.
In the charge Captain Randall was mortaly
wounded, benjamin Evans killed and three OF the
Others wounded They fought there for nearly an
hour and kept the Indians at bay. In about half
an hour atcr II was known tIat The Indians had the
volunteers in tight place Coonc! Perry ordered
llny men 10 so to their relief The order was
quickly obcycd anh they were relieved in about one
hour.
TIRE INDIANS 90 UXPuNisHED.
After the chargr pursuit OF the Indians was
ordered but retreat was made to camp. and no
pursuit had been made since up TO the time OF
Morrills leaving on the night oi the 9th. Tie vol
un'ecrs say they know they Killed several indians
anj wounded many others, they saw Indians
packing OF their dead ana wounded. on the same
night McConNic with the volunteer iorcc arrived
at Cottonwood IRON Towards command ON the
9th detachment of scvenry-nvc men under Nc
Convilc was sent IA all escort TO wagon carry
Inr the killed and wounded to Mount Idaho. Nor
rIll says that Randall, after he was mortay
wounded and had got into his position, sat upon
the ground and nrcd many shots at the Indians,
the last one not more than i've minutes before he
fell back dead. Not one OF these seventeen ialtcred
Ia the least or showed the white feather, though
hard pressed by 100 Indians, did one OF them
seek to run for the Cottonwood after they had
broken tho Indian line, but strictly obeycd orders
to hold their ground
THE PLuCKy vOIryTEgRs.
The following are the names Of the memorable
scventcen:-.D. B. Randall and u. r. Evans killed;
u. II. IIouser, A. Blendand and Charles Johnson,
woundcd J. Scarly, James buchanan, william
Bccmer, Charles Case, Ephraim Bunker, l.. p. VIII.
mot Frank vancisc, G. NJ. bay, George Riggings, 4.
y. BARLEY, II. G. Johnson and r. A. Fem When
Baird and Morrill, left, the Indians wero
In full possession OF Camas Prairie, except
Mount Idaho, GrangcviIlc and the camp at the
Cottonwood. Yesterday several fires were seen
In dircrcnt directions, some about three miles from
the creek, and The appearances were that houses,
barns and haystacks were burning. From Lapwal
u is reported that the Indians crossed the Clear.
water yesterday at IL a. NJ near kamie with their
stock. Tho settlers are being pundetcd and
robbed on Cow Creek, on the Convillc and Walia
Wslla road FORTY In sivtv IA. va