The New York herald., 1877-09-10

Killed, twice that number wounded and thirty
General Howard's loss fourteen killed and twenty
i've ndcd.
General Howard displayed true military genius IN
the way which he opened tho BATTLE in the dsposi-
tion OF his troops, &C.. well as tho personal bravery
exhibited by him, being several times under fire while
giving orders and INSTRUCTIONS the officers On
whole IT can be safely and truly asserted that braver
indians or soldiers never met aud fought before
HowARD's WEARING STERN CHASE.
CAMP EPSTEIN, HESRy's LAkE, L. L,(
August 20, 1877.
Fror the leighoorhood OF Bannock, IN Montana
around 70 pgasant Valley in this Territory, lust
ae ioss The h .Ary line our pursuit ot Joseph aud
his nimo!e eai has been tiresome jog trot
iron sAe ;.9p' (, tho sun to the going down Of the
sane. would occasionally bring US in word
], nii nostiles' pranks, such AZ cutting the
~ IA wire, "cleaning out' stage stations steal
.0g horses which would inspire oot.sore and
leg-weary horses with spasm0dic energy and
the command would give another squirt"
but generally our marches have been tire.
some and accomplished only with much fatigue.
Just here wish TO volunteer the remark that Gen.
sra Howard had beon properly supported by the
manders OF the different departments through which
he has chased The Indians, II only IN efforts to delay
their progress, this intermiuabe pursuit would long
since have had most satisfactory termination. "a
stern chase 49," most truly, "a long chase and when
tho pursued have faculty Of stealing fresh horses
from the settlers whenever needed whilo tho pursuers
compelled TO bsstrde the same tagged mails
from beginning end, 1t is wonder that ever
caught up with them at all. l
UNRKLLABLE VOLUNTEERS.
To add to the bitterness of seoine the poo.
pie and department. commanders almost In
different to success bands aud armed
men, styling themselves volunteers, have
every and then In cloud of 10 our as
sistance and whom assigned position in the line
not to their liking or promised that within two days
We should overtake ihe Indians and they should havo
chance hght iney would play tho Arab trick Of
folding their tents and silently stealing away Tn
doubledly thero some intelligent and courag eous
mon among these gapss-gangs which sampled
IRON three Terrftores-bu, taken az body, tn o
frontiersman volunteer Of to-day Is an undoubtcd
fraud having almost little pluck princpie and
moagro conception Of discipline . back
| woods schoo.master One band OF men from
Washington Territory, who represented them
solves as thirsting tor Ncz Perc6 gore, turned
out 10 be a gang of organized horse thovcs Another
| crowd OF eighty, made up OF Idaho and Wasninpton
Territory rner the Clearwater Creek the
second day OF our fight. in full view OF camp aud
resolved 60 back to Mount idaho, instead OF coming
assistance fearing that the Indians would over.
power U.S. In Montana the volunteers join us merely
say they would like to fight but their horses are
out, that they spare only day that thcy
subject TO commands and otner similar absurd
ties The bravo froutiersman OF my boyish fancy the
man who would 1gh. Indians Ia Indian style and stand
exposure we'll as they and ohccriuly. is thing
| Of tho past dying with such men rs Kit Carson
| and Danel Boone.
| MEADOWS
On the night OF the 10Th inst arrived at prairie
called Camas Meadows, about one hundred miles south
OF Bannock City, the east sido of which We
! pitched our camp knoll Of lava rocks. Through
tho centre OF the plain two small streams, run
ming in different directions, though in parallel chan
nels both fringed with a heavy growth OF stunted
willows. To the east lay ridges of lava rock running
side by sidc short distances, covered with sage
brush for lew miles and then with pine timber for
considerably greater distance. To the south were
baro sand hills, separated from by willow for.
ests, and to the north tho praire stretching
the of the Rocky Mountains about six miles
distant With plenty OF water and rich grass and a
naturally fortified camp General Howard rightly fol
he had struck upon an admirable place in when To
spend the night lhe mules OF the pack train let
loose, the bell marcs being however, ''hobbied" To
prevent the herd sirayns away too lar, and all the
panies allowed to follow suit. Feeling the thorough
security OF our camp many OF us uDdresscd on going
to bed, Tor The hrst time in weeks, while all
reposed with a cOnsciOusness of safety and deter
| mInaton TO have II good rest
4 About four O'CLOCK IN the morning the camp
aroused with the rattle OF rines sounding like tho
discharge OF several Calling guns, and tho
iaminar and horrible Indian war whoop.
We all hurried into such of our clol ing
aswas within reach, and, with the expectation tnat wo
about to b attacked in force, took up position
In the gray dawn could distinguish running horses
ncghing as II IN stampede, ana then IT was tnut
discovered that band OF screaiIng Indians bs-
| hind our entire mule train 10 in number and our
loose horses. As rapidly as possible the cavalry
mounted aud as quickly as light sufficient upon
the PLAIN Colonel Sanford, with three companies OF
Ilu harI ~
tain Carr, of the FIRST cavalry, succeeded cut
ting Oh few mules and horses, which was
Attcr riding about eight miles alter the
Indians Colonel Sanford discovered the hosliles TO
be in force IN strong position IN the timber to the
OF our camp. He soDt back word to General
Howard, who sci out with all the available troops TO
join the attack. The Indians scattered great deal
eacn ono lighting at times apparently on his own
sponsiby aud all at the next moment joining forcos
in severe attacks our Hanks. As the firing very
hot, aud General Howard did not desire to prccip
itate an engagement Colonel Sandiord gave The or
der lor his men To fall back which was obeyed by all
! except Captain Norwood of tho second cavalry who
sent word that II would be impossible Tor hm 10 carry
tho ordor immediately without dcmoraIizng his
men account OF his exposed position Ho therefore
! gave the order TO dsmount and galntly maintained
MS position undcr Calling fire ram tho
inlrcnchcd Indians. 1t was here that Lieutenant
Benson, oil the seventh infantry, was wounded while
! IN the very act oil taking ann at wbooping rascal.
All the meu wounded IN the skrnsh received Their
lead this place. with the exception OF Captain jack
| sons young buglcr OF the FIRST cavalry.
JosEPns STRATEGY
| Looking at the stampede Of our mules, which
pccuniay loss oil $40 000 and the necessity of
cavalry falling back alter chasing the redskins for
weeks and weary miles. II must be admitted that
Joseph worstcd An Indian who had been travelling
| with our command AZ hcrder met ono OF
Josophs men tho day oil The skirmish near
| Camas Meadows and learned that Joseph
led the who stole the mules and that has plan
TO got woakcn our camp by sending after tue
Indians VINO bad possession oi our runaway herd and
then rusn upon and capture our stores. Our
| hcrder also lcarued that the willy Ia-poo-hoo-
shutc was not killed IN The Gibbons hght though
thirty bucks were wounded. which very much impeded
| their progress
ARRIVAL REINFoRCENESTS
The nisht after tho agnt Colonel Marcus Miller and
tho infantry and artillery caught up TO us after march
| OF forty -one miles having averaged about twenty
live mcs day from time they left 0 I,o trail The
ncxt morning started again after Joseph camping
his FIRST resting place Shot Gun Greek. Here
We were joined by about seventy -nvc Bannock
| Indians from Fort Hail. and gorgeous
warriors never Some carried long poles,