The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-10-26
JOE's SURRENDER.
"Details of the Last BattIe-The Saw
ages Accept an Unconditional Sur
render.

The capitulation of Joseph and his band
of Nez Perces occurred at two o'clock on
the afternoon of the fifth. The savages
gave up their guns and ammunition
passing in solemn review before General
Miles, and accepting an unconditional
surrender. The troops at once occupied
the Indians intrenchments, and the hrst
victory over the redskin during the past
few DAYS was signalized In q charge
upon the Indian camp on the hrst day
sixty-four officers and men were killed
and wounded. After the camp had been
surrendered, and the soldiers had secured
defensive positions, only four casualties
occurred To soldiers closed in upon
the savages slowly but surely after the
first day. all the time extending their
| line of rife-pits. II was the purpose OF
Miles to lose no more men in the attack.
How admirab'1 the plan succeeded is
already known. On the last day of the
/ fight the troops had succeeded in secur-
/ ing a position which commanded the
stream which flowed in front of the rife
pits occupied by the enemy, and had the
battle lasted another day their supply OF
water would have been exhausted, and
surrender have become imperative. On
the fourth day of the fight, Joseph raised
a white flag for the third time, and,
through an interpreter, who advanced
| toward his camp, offered 70 surrender
provided they were allowed to keep their
guns. Miles sent word back that he
must surrender without any reserve, and
the battle was taken up again. The
white flag was displayed again the fifth
and last day of thtNbattle, when Joseph
appeared in front of his lines and ad-
vanceG to meet General 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. When the troops entered
the riAe-pits, forty warriors were dis
covered disabled by wounds. They were
removed to the camp-hospital, and re-
ceived all the attention that WAS given to
the troops. The number of Indians
killed is not knewn, as they had already
buried their dead. 1t is supposed they
had an equal number with the soldiers.
General Miles left for Tongue river, tax
ing with him his dead and wounded and
the surrendered band. General Sturgis
did not arrive in time to take hand in
the fight, and the glory of the mGgnifi-
cent attack rests with Miles. General
Howard, with an escort of seventeen men,
arrived on the field on the morning OF
the surrender. He lett his small force OF
N antry at the Missouri river, and with
this small escort of cavalry proceeded to
he scene of the battle. The intrench-
meuts occupied by the Indians were
admirably constructed for defense. They
aSied in all over one hundred and
: s.rf2 rifle-pits, which communicates
with each other, so that assistance could
be rendered, if necessary. The squaW'
fought by the warriors, took care OF the
wounded. and buried the dead. WheI
the history of the unparalleled march o
the Nez Perces is written, they will b'
accredited with great gallantry in the
field, and wonderful humanity. Theil
defense could not have been exceiled by
any body of men, nor their generosity
Seven wosnded men, lying under the
intrenchment during the entire battle
live to corroborate this. They tool
away the guns and ammunition from the
disabled troops, but did not offer t.
molest them.-C Cincinnati Enquirer.