The New York herald., 1877-10-11
at Cold Harbor. but they also dug deep burrows for


On the night Of September 20 the band OF Nez
Perces had ensconced itself in q ravine extending
down to Snake Creek, about fourteen miles from
Its mouth. which empties into MIX River This
position is among the foot hills OF the Bear
Paw Mountains cluster OF heights isolated from
the main range. but commanding distant view in
all directions and forming an almost impregnable
citadel. The region round about the Indian camp
is woodess and desolate at all times, and at this
season OF the year exceedingly dreary. The Bear
Paw peaks above 1t are crowned with snow; the
lower ridges are not clothed with a single
tree; few scanty rose bushes decorate
the edge OF the swarthy gullies and fringe the
immediate banks or the creeks and their tributary
brooks. Therefore the region, though broken, is
open in military sense. and the hiding places OF
the Nez Perccs were merely artificial. The grass
itself had been turned to a chocolate color by the
autumn winds, and across the brown slopes and
rolling hills the toes OF the moccasins and the cop
per-colorcd knuckles OF the savages could be dis
tnguished wherever exposed
GENERAL NILES ADVANCE.
this stronghold they travcrsed for day the garden
OF Montana. The gallant General had only marched
few days before he received news OF the where.
abouts OF Joseph from the West. Instantly from
his camp below the Missouri he gathered his men
to arms His force, the only really adequate one
yet brought against the bravest tribe OF
aborigines ever pitted against United states
troops consisted OF seven companies OF his
own infantry-the Fifth-three companies OF the
Seventh cavalry and three companies OF the Second
Miles at their head, these men made forced
marches from the Missouri around the group OF the
Little Rocky Mountains to the east, and from their
western spurs struck across above the snake
Buttes around, or rather beyond, the bleak ravines
where the Indians were encamped The grass
grew in great abundance there There the Nez
Perces fed their horses and during the night of
the Goth warriors and herders slept in fancied
curity. Long before dawn on she 3Oth Miles and
his men were up and doing. shah rccitc subse-
quent events very much in the manner Of the
scouts who have come out from the scene OF
battle, In which way alone It will be
possible to give Eastern readers a vivid
idea OF Indian fighting. The two scouts whom
have seen and interrogated separately are both
intelligent and do not diner in their stories one
from another or elthcr OF them in essential par
ticulars from General Miles, offcial report OF his
engagement. One is Charles x. Bucknam resident
OF Fort Benton; the other G. H. snow, formerly
REBEL and now one OF the most gallant 0. North.
western guides.
THE FIRST DASH
At dawn two OF the numerous scouts wn.cr
General Miles always keeps in front OF Tim on
marches through the Indian country, reported ths
positions OF the Nez Perces ana their herd Th
General urged everything forward The cavalr.
his own infantry mounted on Indian ponies. the
pack train and all moved briskly on. His approach
lay across the open, looking toward a hill.
The herd OF Indian horses, guarded by the
youngest boys or the tribe, came drst in
view. single dash OF the Second cavalry secured
200 ponies, almost before the warriors, concealed
beyond the herders, knew OF the proximity OF the
troops. The Indian boys in charge OF the herd
broke away with the rest OF the horses in wild
gallop to the right They were followed by all the
three companies OF the Second cavalry, which were
ordered by General Miles not only to capture as
many animals as possible, but to work around to
the rear OF Joseph's encampmcnt
"oHARGE THEM DAMN THEM ~
Then the General directed the opening charge
upon the Indians themselves. Mounted on his
horse, which he rode from first to last OF the BATTLE
he guided the engagement He looked the leader
that he was-rough, tough and ready. Weighing
nearly two hundred pounds he sat on his
charger like q centaur, his brown mustachc and
side whiskers, slightly mixed with gray, adorned
features that are heavy but pleasing, and were
overshadowed by broad-brimmed, slouched drab
hat wide blue ribbon encrced It's crown with
blue steamers behind. He wore red blanket,
frontier shirt and black necktie It's ends noating
over his shoulders; outside the shirt buckskin
coat, short at the hips and carelessly buttoned;
the light blue trousers Of private soldier, with
black stripes down the seams, and coarse boots
completed his attire. This bropzcd general OF the
frontier trotted forward to the head OF
the Seventh cavalry troop ut nine O'Clock
and shouted, "Charge them damn them y
The three companies OF the Seventh were
commanded by Brcvet Major Hale, one Of Custer,s
trusted lleutenants; by Captain Godfrey and by
Captain Moylan. Hale's first lieutenant was
young Bidde; Godfrey's first lieutenant was
Eckerson. At the time when Miles gave the order
to charge these companies were mounted, and they
rushed forward with glorious shout.
MAJOR nALEs soLDrERLy DEATH.
Their way seemed CLEAR, but suddenly their
horses halted in the midst OF gaop. At the edge
OF steep bank overlooking the ravlnc, at the bot
tom OF which stood the lodges OF the Nez Pcrces
the Officers oil the three companies called to their
men to dismount. They nung their brides and
m thax uf,,IC