The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-10-18
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GEN. NILES VICTORY.
Detailed Account OF the Three Days
Eight with the Nex Perces-;The Subj
sequens Surrender OF Chief Joseph
and His Followers.
The Chicago Times of the 10th pub
fishes the following special telegram
= II @t fs. fse
4eys 1gh 4 teen 6en< Mildsf com
lar am ckhk Nex Pe1ees IAden& at
Bear Paw:
After leaving the mouth Of the Musselshell
Gen. Miles marched night and day in the hope
OF oyertaking the hostile band befors itreaeAed
the Canadian line, and finally came upon the
| trail on the east bank OF Snake Creek, on the
| afternoon of the 10Th ult. He followed the
trail late into the night, aud took up his line
sIIaI :ss2 .es s9SglRs 5Ri.Bg sS ssIs IN
eight miles from its mouth, where it empties
into the Milk River. The three companies which
were in advance moved forward at trot, and
when the village came in view were ordered
to charge. ThecOmpapiesAd advanced alta gallop,
Capt. Owen Hale's company leading, The
Indians were aware of their approach, and at
distance of 800 Yards sent in u calling fire,
causing number Of empty saddles. Capt.
x ss slsSANeIsklEss + lEsssS Sgss u EagI.
ward got his death-wound. His other officer,
Second Lieut.. James A. Biddle, Was killed al
most at the same instant. The Indians who
were firing upon the advancing columns were
protected by bank twenty feet high, upon
reaching which the cayalrymen were compelled
to dismount and advance on foot. There was
no hesitation on the part of the men, and they
scrambled drdown. the bank to engage in hand
|to7hsQAeq6nb The Indians retired slowly,
|a1d IN the time deadly fire played upon the
diAnfO0kted troops. The Indians finally made
stand, and by well-directed effort pressed
the troops very closely, and the advantage
turned in their favor.
While this sharp engagement was taking
place. one company of the Fifth Infantry,
which had been sent to their support, rushed
through the woods on the left, stood and de-
liyered a straight volley into the ranks OF the
the Indians, and caused them to stampede and
retire to their camp, located in a narrow
gulch and facing the stream. The three COM
panies of the Seventh came out of the fight
with loss of two officers killed, two wound
ed. and a loss of forty-four men killed and
wounded AZ the fire of the savages slack
ened the troops succeeded in getting under
-cover, and throwing up hasty breastworks,
we're comparatively safe. from the bullets OF
tlles enemy The wounded were placed behind
the earthworks, and pits were dug for them
for greater safety, as it would have been inf
possible to have removed them while in range
of the guns of the Nez Perces.
When the companies of the Seventh dashed
down the ravine commotion was observed in
the Indian'camp, and party Of forty warriors
were observed urging the large herd OF ponies
down the ravine. The movement was Observed
by Gen. Miles, and the three companies of the
Second Cavalry under command ot Capt. Iy.
them and secure the herd. Fhey went at
hard gallop for three miles, and succeeded in
cutting out the1arger portion Of the herd after.
sharp eonfict with the Indians. One OF the
companies pressed closely on the rear of the
herd, and empfied their reyolvers on the red,
! skins. The other two companies rode-for the
head Of the herd, and finally succeeded in
turning their lead.t The Indians when closely
pressed, abandoned the main herd and with
300 of their war ponies escaped. They fired
parting shots at their pursuers without any
effect ,fafi
r This detachment Of cavalry, after detailing
strong guard upon the 700 captured ponies,
returned upTthe stream, driving back some of
the Struggling Nez Perces, but encounteredno
large forces, and, when within range of the
JIl1ian camp, dismounted, and, after skirmisf-s
hnsthougiis The sgoOds, took t1pxa pesitionl IL.
the north of the camp, and, throwing up proper
defenses, settled down to the siege. BY
rapid deployment, Gen. Miles succeeded in
placing the companies of the Fifth Infantryon
either side of the camp, and twas surrounded
The infantry fought for close quarters and
threw up defensive lines within sight Of the
Indian village, and kept closing in until they
could see the blue smoke curling from the
rifie-pits. go 'lai, el. 90
The entire movement on the part of the
troops was well executed, and, but for the ter
rible slaughter of the companies of the Seventh
Cavalry, which was unforeseen and could
scarcely have been guarded against, was well
PLANNED and sp16bdidly carried out. Frem the
moment when the first attack was made, the
scene, in the Indian village WAS one of the
greatest animation. After the first shock, a
definite plan of action appeared to have beer
decided upon, and after the escape of theparty
of young bucks with the ponies, there was moth
ipg to INDICATE asstampsde, SThssame body of
warriors who first showed ressistancetO to the adj
vance of the Seventh Cavalry remained behind
some high ground at the mouth of the gulch, and
delivered steady and murderous fire at the
advancing columns. The, main body Of the
braves, with the sqliaws and children, were en-
Gaged in the ackgxaund -thraXipg up cagern
.0uNFifs pits These ranged along the guleh,
and were thrown up with marvellous rapiditY.s
Great holes were dug in the ground, in which
Aefe p4&d the s4uaws and children for their
8eaert l{StectionS Bf the slime the frodps
were in positions to prosecute the siege, the
Indians had made their defenses very complete,
and could not easily be assailed.
Dufing theAday an ipcessant ire. was. main
tSined by theitf0ops, cldsiha gIadually N upon
the sayages. The troops, although greatly
food until toward evening, when white flag
was raised from one of the Indian rife-pits. A.
hostile calip for nc meaning 81 the truce.
Soon EsEri95 u dsl YER costume lost me
vance within the white lines. 1t was Joseph
himself, and, inqulring for Gen. Miles head
quaYters,E was directedAS to sthe6 General,
mounted on his black pony in the rear of the
lines. HI, stated that he desired to- surrender,
'aiidt oA2fed u tnrlf sovea ALI his arms and
ammunition and place himself at the mercyiof
Gsa Gh Sa Ms fea Jerome M Mas eoesalsitGn
the Indian lines, with instructions to learn the
strength of the savages and any of the peculi-
arities of their defenses. When the young
officef ApPeared among the hostiles he was
sseized by some OF the Warriors who thrust him
hs kseu was Is hssa furnished ant Il with
and was informed that if he spoke or attempted
to get away he would be killed. The white
fSS was hauled down and the Indians once
more opened fire.
During the might the firing was incessant
and several casualties occurred Chief Joseph,
= 4ped In his blankets, sat up until nearly
6Fl1ng, watching the progress Of the fight,
80 Gen. Miles he repeated his desire TO sur
der, end stated that he would carry It into
bctaq Las he could return to his own
'&kmp. day had been growing bitterly
cold, and erly IN the evening storm of sleet
0Fer-fatigued men as they lay in the trenches.
e yheir blankets and heavy clothing had been