River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-06-28
AN INDIAN MASSACRE.


AN INDIAN MASSACRE.
soldiers and Men, Women and SIhldrea
Atlied AndtscrksninatefS.
Gen. Sherman received at Washington
on the 9th, from Gen. Mcdowell M San
Francisco, the following dispatch from
Gen Howard at Fort Lapwai. Washing
ton Territory, the 10th inst:
The Indians began by numbering a
white man in revenge for murder Of his,
killing three others at the same time.
Since then they have begun war upon the
people near Mount Idaho. Col Perry
started with two companies for them.
Other troops are being brought forward
as fast as possible. Give me authority for
twenty-five Indian scouts. l think we
shall make short work of it.
(Signed) HOWARD"
SOME DETAILS.
A San Francisco telegram says, Friday
morning the news was received at Lewis
ton Fort LapwaD that the Salmon river
Indians and Joseph's band had assembled
on Camas prairie and four whites had
been killed on the Salmon river near
the mouth of White Bird creek The In
dians soon attacked the settlers on Camas
prairie, killed Benjamin Norton. his wife
and two or three others, attacked all the
teams on the road and had possession of
the whole prairie, except the town Of Mt.
Idaho, which they threatened. Friday
evening a force of 100 troops, 90 friendly
Indians and several citizens left Lapwai
garrison. under command of Col Perry,
for Mt. Idaho.
Soon after news was received that Capt
Jas. Baker, Samuel Benedict, wife and
childred, Harry Mason, Henry Filters and
Warren's eXpressman had buen killed on
Salmon river; also that pack train of 10
mules had been attacked near Cold
Spring and two whites named Davenport
and Ansley, killed and two half breed In
dams escaped. After the ARRIVAL Of Col
Perry a dispatch came through to the eff
feet that he arrived at Mt. Saturday fore
noon and found the reports of those
killed true. The Indians had gone 10
Salmon river and the troops were in pur-
suit. Messages from Kankai, brought by
Indian runners to the agency, state that
twenty -nine whites had been killed and
the whites had killed White Bird, chief
of the band and his family.
l.. T.. Mission has an organization of
sixty men, partly fitted for home duty in
case Of an emergency. Two companies
are expected on a steamer from Wallula
tonight and twenty-five cavalrymen from
Walla Walla tomorrow. Five hundred
Indians are on Hangmans Greek, but
there are no hostiles there vet.
The troops, with $50 men from Mt.
Idaho, encountered the Indians at the
head of White Bird canon. The troops
dismOunted and took few soldiers and
twenty friendly Indians TO hold the horses.
The hostile Indians opened fire on the
troops and the fighting was continued for
some time. The friendly Indians became
alarmed.
The soldiers guarding the horses could
see that the Indians were getting the best
of the fight and that the soldiers were re-
treating. The captain OF the citizens and
Sergeant Lyle, and one soldier were
known to be killed. The whole horse
guard, Indians and whites, broke and ran,
some for Mount Idaho and some for
Lapwai, leaving the horses to run loose
over the prairie Those coming to lap
wal never stopped till they reached the
post. Many houses on the prairie have
been burned.
Another soldier who reached the garri-
son at O'CLOCK ON the morning of the
18th, from the fight, reported that the
The WESTERN Union telegraph company s
troops were on foot and surrounded by
Indians in the canon, and in a hand-to-
hand fight. Col Perry and about one
hundred of the command were said to
have been killed and the remainder sur
rounded and fighting against odds when
the soldier left.
The Indians engaged in the fight are
non-treaty Nez Perces. They, together
with other disaffected tribes, numbered
about 1000 effective warriors. There
is a general uprising of the sava,yes and
the whole country is wild with algrm.
The Indians are massacreing men, wo-
men and children on Camas prairie, and
the settlers are fleeing in all directions
for safety.
CALL FOR AID.
The secretary of war has received the
following telegram from Gov. Brayman,
Idaho Territory, Boise City;
To War Department, Washington:
A disastrous Indian war has begun.
There is no territorial law creating militia,
and only twenty regulars are here. |
want authority to organize, mount and
provision volunteers at government ex-
pense Immediate action is necessary.
Signed, NJ. BRAYMAN,
Governor of Idaho.
To the telegram the secretary replied
that he had no authority TO authorize him
to organize, mount and provision yolun-
teers at government expense, but that
Gen. Howard has been fully naucted
and clothed with all authority the depart
ment can confer, and that he might
furnish arms and ammunition as provided
by law