The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-07-14
TIE 1nAHn INDIAN WAR.

tract known rs Wallowa valley, on the west
bank of Snake river, in Uuion county, Ore
gon, southeast of Lewiston. BY treaty with
the Nez Perces in 1868, Il reservation OF 100
OGO acres were secured to them, including
this valley. Afterwards, however, white set
tiers came to the valley, and then trouble be.
gan. In 1874 the government sent commits
sioners to the valley to appraise the property
of the settlers and by buying them out, induce
them to leave The commissioners performed
their duty and valued the property of the
settlers at 100000. But government took no
action on the report and the settlers remain,
ed. Had congress promptly paid the money,
many millions Of dollars and hundreds OF
lives that will now be spent IN bloody, desc
lating war would have been saved.
A year ago one of Joscph's band OF Ne2
Perces was killed in the valley, and after that
il was only a question of time when hostili.
ties would begin Instead Of arresting and
punlshing the murderer, Gen. Howard, under
instructions from the Interior Department,
undertook to negotiate with Joseph tor the
REIMBURSEMENT OF his claim to the valley
but the wiley chief was wholly intractable
Things went from bad to worse, until aboat
the 18Th ult, when, on account OF alleged cat
tie stealing and other complaints, the Indians
fell on the whites at Mount Idaho and mas
sacred abouttwenty OF them. Two days later
Col. Perry, in command at Fort Lapwai, left
the fort with about 1870 men. including 90
friendly Indians, and next day reached Mt
Idaho, where they found the enemy well
posted in q deep ravlne at the head Of White
Bird canon. The troops dsmounted and
made an attack. The fight lasted less than
an hour, during which Lieut.. Trailer and 83
regulars were killed, the whites being glad to
make their escape by leaving their dead on
the ground. Gen. Howard meantime was at
Walla Walla, trying to negotiate terms with
the non.treaty savages The news walked him
as from dream. HIS first movem ent was to
order every available man in his department
TO Lewiston, and he made an urgent demand
on Gen. Mcdowell, at San Francisco, for all
the troops within reach Gov. Brayman, of
Idaho also called out 100 volunteers from
that territory In this way, IN a week Gen,
Howard had aUtut 400 men with five rnoun.
tain howltzers in the field, with which he adj
vanced to Salmon river, where Joseph and
his band were now encamred. He found
them IN position Of great natural strength,
and receiving daily reintorcements, How.
ards entire strength, whcn all the California
troops, volunteers, &c, are gathered, cannot
exceed 1900 met, while Joseph, who has al
ready been probably joined by Looking Glass,
Eagle OF the Light, and other CHIEFS can mus
ter from 5000 to 5000 well armed savages.
Other fighting, since the affair near Mount
Idaho. occurred about the 81 INST. at Clear
Creek, between Col. WhlpIles command and
band under Looking Glass, on their way TO
join Joseph. The Indians opened the fight
but soon broke for the hills. 1t is not known
how many they lost, as they always carry
their killed and wounded with them. zone
account says they lost ~. No whites were
killed. The command captured the Indian
camp, burned all their provisions and plum
der, and took about thousand head of Indian
horses About the same day Capt. Elliott, of
the Idaho volunteers, had skirmlsh with a
part of Joseph's band on the Nemmaho, and
captured 10 ofJoseph' cattle and forty horses.
About the tn Col. Perry, with so men on
his way from Lewiston to Cottonwood, was
attacked by the hostiles, and Lieut.. Rains, ten
soldiers and two citizens were killed.
Gen Howard, who had advanced against
Joseph on Salmon river, on the Cd crossed
over to the table land on Make river. Here
he discovered 1G cactes, containing an amount
of new clothing, cigars, flour, Indian trinkets,
etc \ large band OF Indian horses and some
excellent beef were also captured. This was
n serious loss to the Indians and encouraged
the troops, who pursued Joseph's supposed
track with all possible speed.
On the morning ofthe 9th, after the killing
OF Lieut., Rams, as above stated, a LapwaI
dispatch says:
Whipple's command came forward and
formed in line of battle on the east side Of the
ravne, the Indians on the west, all IN open
ground about one thousand yards apart, anu
only The ravine between them. Here they re-
NAMED, menacing each other Tor about i"o
hours, until darkness came.
Next morning Whipple and his men start
ed this way towards LapwaI TO meet Col. Per.
~, who was expected with supply train
from Lapwai, and kept out his skirmish lines
along the route They met Col. Perry with
his train near the board house, and escorted
him To the camp ON Cottonwood creek.
On the morning Of the 9th two couriers ar
rived from Howard. chased into camp 10y the
Indians Soor after Il e Indians moved their
camp, with about sixteen hundred head of
stock, across the prairie in the direction OF
Cottonwood No move was made 20 lnter-
cept them. Soon after Capt Randall and
sixteen volunteers from Mount Idaho appeal
ed. About one hundred and fifty Indians in
tercepted them AT the junction OF the Eik City
trail with the stage road. At this cusis, be-
ing seen from pcrry's position on the hi, at
the riflepits, the colonel was urged Co 20
with troops to their rescue, 10 which he re-