The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-19

ties of their fiefenses. When the young
officer appeared among the hostiles he
was seized by some of the warriors, who
thrust him into the rihe-pits. He was fur
nished with blanket and told to keep
his head out of range, and was informed
that if he spoke or attempted to get
away he would be killed. The white flag
was hauled down, and the Indians once
more opened fire. During the night the
firing was incessant and several casual
ties occurred. Chief Joseph, wrapped
in his blankets, sat up until nearly
morning, watching the progress of the
fight. To Gen. Miles he repeated his
desire to surrender, and stated that he
would carry it into effect as soon as he
had been growing bitterly cold, and
early in the evening storm of sleet and
snow blew in the faces of the already
over-fatigued men as they lay in the
trenches. The blankets and heavy cloth
ing had been left with the wagons in the
rear, and the night passed miserably.
Many of the men, worn out by the ter
rife marches and loss of sleep, lay in
the rfle-pits unconscious of the roar of
musketry going on about them. At an
early hour in the morning Gen. Miles
succeeded in having two cannon, which
had been delayed with the wagon train,
brought up and placed in position COM
handing the gulch. One was a breech-
loading French gun, throwing four
pound shot, which was taken on the
trip to experiment with. The other was
rihed twelve-pounder, and pro-
vided with shell ammunition. The
day broke cold and dreary, with
two inches of snow on the ground. The
morning was heralded by sharp roar
from the French piece, which tore up
the ground in front of the Nez Perces'
works. 1t was followed at long intervals
during the day by heavier reports from
the other feld-piece. The musketry
fire increased as the morning advanced,
but the fire of the Indians had slackened
somewhat, and it was only occasionally
that report was heard from their works,
and then only as an incautious head ap-
peared above the Notifications. The
bodies of the dead and scme of the
wounded were exposed on the battle
field during the night, and, although
mitted none of the ghoulish deeds for
WulCl lllt OlOQA dLu OIHcI
tribes are noted None of the dead were
scalped and none of the wounded were
mutilated. The throat of one man,
who was known to have been wound
ed, was found cut in horrible man.
ner, following the first days battle, but
it is thought that he committed the deed
to end the pain brought on by his
wound and exposure. A little after 9
o'clock IN the morning the truce signal
was again displayed by the Indians. A
second lull followed, and an interpreter,
who went through the lines, reported that
they desired to effect an exchange of
Lieut. Jerome for Chief Joseph. The
matter was arranged and Joseph left the
white camp, promising to return with
his wife and child, and that he would
also bring in his warriors if they would
consent TO surrender. 1t was learned
through the interpreter that White Bird
had fought against such a course and
carried the young bucks with him. Jo-
seph remained in his own camp three
hours, during which time the flag of
truce was displayed, and, when Gen.
Miles saw the interpreter to inform 10,
seph that he must haul down the flag
or surrender, he was fired upon. The
roll of the musketry recommended and
continued without cessation during the
day.
The white flag was displayed again on
the fifth and last day of the engage
ment, when Joseph appeared in front of
his lines and advanced to meet Gen.
Miles, to whom he rendered his gun. He
was followed by sixty warriors, who also
turned over their arms and shook hands
with Miles as they passed.
The humanity displayed by the Nez
Perces during the fight was especially
marked. One wounded soldier lying on
the field was placed at the mercy of one
of the Indians. He made a motion of
despair as the savage approached but the
Indian spoke to him in English, p" 1 will
not kill you, you are wounded" This
incident is mentioned and vouched for
by the scout who brought the first in
telligence of the fight. A colloquy of a
different nature occurred during the adj
vance of the troops. The gallant Hale,
at the head of the Seventh Horse, gave
the word for charge. An Indian re-
piled, "Charge hell You,
you are not fighting Sioux"