Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-23
THE INDIAN OUTBREAK.
A Battle Fought.
TIE INDIANS TlCIO r.
xOJS.
The Volunteer Force Worse
Than Useless.
DESTINATION OF JOSEPH NOT
KNOWN.
THE INDIAN OUTBREAK.
A Battle Fought.

PORTLAND, Oregon, July 81. A Lewiston let
ter, July 10Th, from Wala Walla, says Capt.
Hunter of the Dayton volunteers, left camp at
karmah W edne sday, at $50 Z. NJ. From him it
was learned that The regular cavalry and Lewis
ton volunteers pursued and overlook the Indians
on Tuesday They came up with the Indians
near the Weiser Canas ground, amid much I'M
dergrowth.
The Indians fred and killed scout, and one
other, and wounded another scout. Another was
shot through the lungs. McConville, with eigh-
teen men in advance, were in position of much
danger, the Indians being concealed in the timber
on both sides OF them.
McConville soon saw :he regular cavalry flee
ing. The Indian scouts tEroughltheir tactics drew
the attention Of the hostiles so as to let McCon-
vile and his men out of the trap, and seeing that
the whole force of regulars had taken to flight, he
found il necessary to follow them rather than suf
fer his handful OF men to be cut off. The whole
pursuing force returned to Hannah, leaving JOS
eph's men masters Of the situation.
All the command has recrossed to the south side
Of the Clear Water, and were to move to Lapwa
except one hundred under Throckmorton, who,
with artillery, are to hold the position until Green
joins them.
Howard will return to Lapwai, and Hunter was
informed he intended to move north to the Spok-
ane country.
Volunteers will soon leave the field and return
to this place TO be disbanded
Hunter says no one can foretell whether or not
the war will end Many Indians who surrendered
are reservation Indians and acknowledged they
fought with Joseph. They are to be brought to
Lspwai for trial. No one seems to know for
what point Joseph W i'll make next
800 A. NJ. A dispatch is Just received, stating
Josephs warriors have reCrossed ella water, and
were at Lawyers canon Gen, Howard is at lap
wal. lie ordered troops arriving on the steamer
to proceed forthwith to said point He also sent
for General Suly TO meet him at Lapwai. There
is great demand for wagons to take infantry to
the front.
WAsHINGToN. July q. The following from
Gen. Mcdowell was received at the war depart
ment at midnight
San Francisco. July 90
The following, dated Lewiston, July 18th, is
Just received
No news from the front to-day. Nothing of i'm
portance should he expected for q day or two,
save such as refers to the struggling in of dis
couraged and repentant warriors. The Indians
had thirty-six hours start of the pursuing cav
airy.
| see by dispatches that you are about to raise
one hundred volunteers. This war being sub
staGtial!y over the regulars at hand and coming
VIII be ample for any probable emergency. Gen.
Sully, who telegraphed upon the subject of volun-
teers, wishes me to say he concurs in this view.
Volunteers of the character and status of those
operating with How ard would be worse than use
less. If you had been there during their opera
| tions am sure you would discourage the idea Of
| volunteers in any possible emergency.
The express value of Towards success IS not,
think, fully disclosed by his dispatches. The
successes of the Indians prior to the llth, eventu-
ated in disasters by making them bold and conf
| dent enough to make a stand and fight MS on
something like equal terms. 1t is thought that
otherwise they might in all probability have roved
around and eluded the troops for months.
| (Signed) KELLER, A. ID. {.
Please lay this before the secretary of war.
beg to add, the officer who makes this report was
| himself volunteer.
| (Signedl Mcdowell.