Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-10-13

terrific marches and loss Of slesp, lay is the
rifle pits unconscious of the roar Of musketry
going on about them. At an early hour in
the morning Gen. Miles succeeded in hsv-
ing two cannon, which had been delayed
with the wagon train, brought up and placed
in position commanding the gulch. One
was breech-loading French gun, throwing
q four-pound ehot, which was taken on the
trip to experiment with. The other va. .
shell ammunition. The day broke cold and
ground. The morning was heralded BY al
sharp roar from the French piece which
tore up the ground in front Of the
Nez Perces' works. 1t was followed 1t
long Intervals during the dav by heavier
reports from the other field piece. The
musketry fire Increased % the morning I'D.
vanced, but the fire Of the Indians had
Stacked somewhat, and it WAS only occa-
sionallv that report was heard from their
works, and then only as an incsutious head
appeared above the Notifications. The
bodies Of the dead and some of the wound.
ed we.e exposed on the battle field during
the night. and although within reach Of II e
Indians. they committed none n the ghoul-
ish deeds for which the Sioux and other
northern tribes are noted. None Of the
dead were scalped. and none of the wound.
ed we're mutilated. The thr oat If one man.
who was known to have been wounded,
was found cut in horrible manner, follow
ing the first days battle. but it is thought
that he committed the deed TO end the pain,
brought on nv his wound and the exposure.
A little after 0 o'clock in the morning the
truce signal was again displayed by the In.
disns. A second lull followed, and an in
terpreser, who went through the lines, re-
ported that they desired an exchange of
Lieut.. Jerome for Chief Joseph. The mat.
ter wss arranged and Joseph left the white
camp. promising to return with bis wife
and child, and that he would also bring 10
bis warriors If they would consent tn sur
render. 1t was learned through the inter
prefer that White Bird had fought against
such course. and carried the young bucks
with him. Joseph remained In his own
camp three hours, Curing which time the
f1ag Of truce WAS dtaplayed. and when Gen.
hat be must haul down the truce or sur
render, he was fired upon. The roll If the
musketry recommended and continued
without cessation during the day. The ex
act fighting force of the Nez Perces cannot
be stated. The hostile camp numbers be
tween five and six hundred people, which
includes everybody. The number of war
riors Is placed at about two hundred and
forty. The force under Miles opposed TO
them is placed at about five hundred. No
word has been received from Sturgis for
more than week. but he is moving north,
and has undoubted reached the battle.
ground with eight companies of cavalry
before now. 1t is possible also that How
ard will be the surrender.
Fort Benton, Montana. Oct. 8, via Hcle-
eral Miles LATHE field one hour ago,
bringing the intelligence that Joseph
with his entire band had surrendered The
capitulation occurred at 2 O'Clock on the
afternoon Of the 9th. The
savages gave up their guns
and ammunition, passing in solemn
review before Gen. Miles and accepting
an unconditional surrender. The troops
at once occupied the Indians intreuchments
aud the first victory over the redskins dur.
ing the past two years wss signalized. In the
charge uoon the Indian camp on the first
day sixty -four officers and men were killed
and wounded. After the camp bad been
surrounded, and the soldiers had secured
defensive positions, 1alF fsar casualties
occurred. The soldiers closed To upon the
savsges slowly but surely after the first day
all the time extending their line of rifle
pits. 1t was the purpose Of Gen. Mifes to
lose no more men In the attack. How
known. On the last day of the fight the
troops had succeeded in securing q position
which commanded the stream which
flowed ir front al the rif1e-pits occupied
I 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 the white flag fol-
the third time. and through an Interpreter
who advanced toward his camp and offered
to 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 on the fifth
and last day of the engagement wheu
Joseph appeared in front o
his lines and advanced to meet Gen. Mile,
to whom be rendered his gun. He Wal
,, followed by sixty warriors Who also turnet
over their arms and shook hands with l(ilel
as they passed. When the troops entered
the rihe-pits forty warrioris were discovered
and al the attention which vas Given to tn.
/ The number Of :Lndians killed il
not known, y thay hs1 already buried thei,
, dead. 1t is suproasd In. they lost an equa
! noon ON yesterday foe eYSnxue river. takin,
with him his deadsnd wounded and aurrer
dered band. Gen. SurRis did mot arrive 1
. time to take hand In the fight, and th
. glory of the magnificent attack rests viii
hiles.