The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1877-07-21
JOSEPH ASKS TO SURREN.
DER, a FSUSE.
Monday, July l6, 5 p. NJ.

at 4 p. NJ. to the effect that on the
morning of the 18th Joseph sent word
to Howard that he wanted to surrender
himself, that he was not to blame in this
war, that he was forced into it. He
did not speak for the rest of the hostiles
We did not sec Howard's dispatch but
are informed that Howard did not place
much confidence in Joseph's sincerely
in the proposition. The above we
gather from official circles.
BY Mute Thomas who left McCon-
ville's volunteers at 6 P. NJ. yesterday
we learn the following. to wit:
He says substantially that McCon-
Vile with his volunteers, and jackson
with his cavalry were ordered to pro-
coed down the Clearwater to Dunwells
Ferry and cross and come up behind
Joseph, that they had proceeded about
five miles this side Of Kamia when a
messenger overlook them from Gen.
Howard with dispatch saying that JOS
eph had sent in word to Howard that
he wanted to surrender himself and 60
upon the reservation, and upon the re-
ceipt of this halt was ordered, aud
that before Thomas left at q
p. NJ. word had come that while
Joseph and Howard were parleying
Joseph's force made their escape and
Joseph himself. followed them. 1t was
thought by some that they had gone
via the Lo Lo trail, and by the greater
part that they had crossed the Weipe
camas grounds and gone towards the
forks of Clearwater, that Howard now
had become convinced that Joseph S
proposition to surrender was only aruse
to gain time for his force to get away.
Thomas says that James Lawyer does
all the carrying Of messages between
Howard and Joseph. Thomas was with
McConville on the night Of the 10th
whea the Indians attacked the volun-
teer5 at J past Il with about ll6 warrl-
ors and fought till daylight, stampedlng
43 of their horses leaving most Of them
on foot. The evening before the attack
the friendly Indians notified them that
Joseph was going to attack them and
cut them off that night, the next day
he was going to attack Howard and
whip hiY, then they were going to
LapwaiH and Lewiston and clean them
all out and then go back to Salmon
river. On the receipt of this news of a
purpose to attack McConville fortified
on a small hill, preparing several rife
pits and bringing his animals inside his
fortified lines, and all hands waited the
attack. It was made and the boys hav-
ing the advantage of position stood them.
The Indians fired about 100 shots
the first volley, but without any
other effect than to SO frighten the
horses that they broke their ropes and
stampeded. Several Of them being
killed. The next morning the boys
counted l16 as they rode off towards
Joseph's camp. Finding themselves
foot they sent to Jim Lawyer to fur
nish them other horses from his band
Of the friendlies, and received the an-
swer that Joseph had forbidden his do
ing so on the penalty of his attacking
the friendlies and cleaning them out at
Kamia At one p. NJ. on the l1th Jo-
seph attacked Howard, the result of
which attack We have given. Thomas
says in the two days fight II soldiers
were killed and 2S wounded, two of the
wounded died before they arrived at
Grangeville.
The Kamia Indians report from IL
to 20 of the hostiles killed. No soldiers
saw more than four dead Indians.
Thomas says that while coming in he