The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1877-07-14
i, THE LAST BATTLES.
Wednesday and Thursday, July 4th and 5th.

Billy Baird with two men arrived
from Mt. Idaho to-day at noon, having
left the latter place Wednesday and ar.
rived at Cottonwood at about i p. NJ
From MIR. Morril who accompanied
Baird we obtained the following &C.
count ofthe sceaes Of Tuesday, Wed.
nesday and Thursday at and near Cot
tonvood. On Tuesday Whipple sent
out Bill Foster and Charley Blewett as
scouts to learn the whereabouts of the
Indians in the direction of Howard $
command at Craig's crossing of Salmon
river. They proceeded to lawyers
Canon along the road and then bore up
the canon to the south, had not pro-
eeeded far before they came upon a
large band of horses driven by one In
dian in sight. They soon saw three
Others in another direction. They put
their horses to their speed on retreat,
Foster being in advance. He soon
looked back and saw that his comradc
had become endorsed and separated
from him, he sung out to him to take
to the brush, and he would try to catch
the horse. The horse took down the
canon and he could not overtake him.
He then rode in haste to Whipple's
quarters. The command was soon or.
dered to be in readiness to move.
Meantime Lieut.. Rains with Foster and
eleven men was sent in advance to re.
connoiter. Rains and his men rode
over the first rise this side of Cotton.
wood and down into the side raw
inc where the road crosses before the
ascent Of Craig's mountain and were at
tackled. Before Whipple could get to
them after he had heard the firing
Rains and his whole party was killed
including Foster, who was shot in the
forehead , Whipp!e's command came
forward and formed line of battle on
the east side of the ravine and the In.
dams on the west All in open ground
about 700 yards apart only the ravine
between them. Here they remained
menacing each other for about two
hours till darkness came upon them and
Whipple retired to his camp aud the
Indians passed over to point on the
Cottonwood trails to Craig's crossing.
No more was done that night. The
next morning Whipple with his men
started this way to meet Col. Perry who
was expected with supply train from
Lapwai, and kept out his skirmIsh lines
along the route who saw no sign of an
Indian save horse on tae hill to the
right; suggestion was made to 20 and
see what was there with the horse, but
it was thought that possibly the horse
vas decoy and the command proceed
Cd. They met Perry with the train
near the Board House and escorted ,
him safely into camp on Cottonwood.
Rifle pits were thrown up on the first
bench this side the house and also on I
The highest point overlooking the prai- I
lie to the right Of the house and be-
7ond, and guns made ready in case of ,
N attack. Baird and his two men ar {
lived from Mt. Idaho after this work t
vas done and were intending to proceed a
Onward to Lewiston that night, but at s
little after p. NJ. Morrill, looks up /
Greek aud saw four or five
mounted Indians, soon others were seen {
. other directions and soon after it was 4
that their camp was nearly
by mounted Indians. The
HE pits were soon manned and the In
hans were endeavoring to approach p
rom every point, aud firing CON- Il
nsnced. The Sergeant in charge of v
ne Of the pits asked for one Of the Ii
'atling guns which was soon put A
. position at the pit, another was f
tainted on the bench this side. Nor Il
III says Perry remained at the house, h
hat one Indian on the opposite hill 0,
orth Of thA road calla3 ont sovar :,