, 1877-07-07
wALLA WALLA VOLUNTEERS,
A sketch Of their services In the Field.

zen. Howard, with whom | and the gentle
men from Walla Walla, who accompsnied
me, had the honor to accompany to the
scene of the Outrages committed by the non
treaty Nez Perce Indians.
When last wrote you it was at Fort
Lapwai, where We arrived on the DIST of
June, and found Cl, heral o. o. Howard there
with about 200 mo- That evening the in
fantry and artiller-I, under the command of
Col Miller, OF the artillery, made a night
march and camped at Collins on Craip's
mountain. The next day, Gen. Howard
started with Col Whippleis company, Capt.
Winters company, and the Walla Walla
volunteers, field piece with few artillery
to man it-he moved cautiously and had
skirmishers deployed right and left to re-
cOnnOItre. This precautiOn was necessary,
as 1t was reported at Lewiston and on the
road, that the Indians had line of pickets
on the mountain and that no one could pass
In fact no one had come from Mount Idaho,
or across the mountains except few cou-
riers with dispatches, such was the feeling
and dread. At evening We camped with
Col Miller, who had preceded us the night
before.
! Now, to many. this move may appear
strange, but | think Gen. Howrrd contem-
plated moving some of his command down
on to Salmon River at Craig's crossing, and
get on the table land between Salmon and
Snake rivers, and there prevent the Indians
from coming down and crossing at Pittsburg
landing, or at this point where the troops
crossed and escaping on TO the LO-Lo Fork
trails or across Clearwater by Ceur d 'Alene
mountains. But this night courier ar
| rived from Mount Idaho, with dispatches
which | think gave the General TO under
stand that the Indians were en- Dl0SSe on
| Salmon River, above the mouth of White
Bird. Such being the case, it would be ju-
diciOuS for Gen. Howard to divide the men Of
his command, as 1t was reported that Jo-
seph had from l50 30 400 warriors with him
So he moved forward to the scene of devasta-
ton and plumber.
( This night, the 22d, after we got in camp,
/ Lieut.. Knox, with detachment of men
was ordered to go forward to Col Peny's
camp, at Grangeville, a distance of 45 miles,
without uDsaddling, and join his company,
| Capt Trmbles, who was a part of Col Per-
| ry's command, who participated in the fight
with the Indians, and Capt Trimble with a
/ few citizens from Mount Idaho, was ordered
mon River by way of Florence, and render
what protection he could to those people,
and in the meantime would be close by and
ready to cooperate with Gen Howard on
Salmon River, at or near the mouth of White
Bird, where the Indians it was said would
make a stand.
SATURDAY, June 23.-the command started
early, with the Walla Walla volunteers in
the advance, with skirmishers deplOyed to
! the right and left, for the reason given of
| our march the day before. We arrived at
! Cottonwood IN the evening without any IN
cident worthy of note. After arriving in
camp the usual precaution was taken to see
that every point was safely guarded. Pick
! cts were mounted and placed in position at
| points two miles from camp; inside OF these
were placed guards on foot, and Just back
of camp, about 400 yards, was placed piece
of artillery commanding our whole camp,
! Gen. Howard never forgetting the response
bility resting upon him, (the protection of
his command Col. Perry came into camp
! from Grangeviile, with detachment of his
men in company with Mr.. Chapman, Mr..
Crook and Mr. Morris, from Mount Idaho.
On his arrival III camp, all of the officers
4
while stationed here, gave him hearty
welcome, and expressed deep feelings OF
sympathy for him and his men, and that
night he returned to his camp at Grangevllic.
SUNDAY, June 24-We laid by, Ostensibly
to wait for Major Throckmorton, and fix up
generally The pack trains having left Lap
wal in hurry, they had to put things III
shape also We had a good pasture of
IJ0 or 200 acres with good rall fence, which
was quite in our favor, and there would be
nothing gained by travelling tins day, for We
would be compelled to lay over some other
day. as it was necessary for Gen. Howard to
have all the men he could get together
when We got cn TO Salmon River. | men,
ton these facts to correct an erroneous idea
regarding Gen. Howard's delay on that day.
But suppose he did stop and pray: As brave
men as Gen. Howard, in our late civil war,
were not ashamed or afraid to stop and pray,
and have never heard their conduct IN that
particular censured.
MONDAY MORNING, June 25.-We started
and were on the march at o o'clock The
infantry and artillery marched directly with
the pack train to Camp Johnson, about three
miles beyond Rock creek-distance, say il
miles. Gen. Howard, with all the mounted
men, marched to Grangevllie, the camp OF
Col Perry; stayed there about one hour or
more. fed our horses and took lunch.
The General had an interview with some
citizens and satisfied them as to his deter
mination to follow up, arrest and punish
every Indian who committed any of those
foul deeds, satisfying them that he meant
business. We then started to Camp John
son. 9 miles got TO camp III good season,
and after tents were struck, the infantry and
artillery proceeded to erect temporary tortl-
tications. Rained this morning, making 1t
very disagreeable for those who did not have
tents.
TUESDAY, June 26-The entire command,
except one company of infantry, left to take
care of camp, moved forward-the infantry
under Col. Miller, TO the battle ground, to
bury the dead. Gen Howard, with Col
Perry's company as an escort, moved TO the
right, TO the heights on this side OF the Sal
mon river. to reconnoitre Capt Whpple,
in command of the mounted men, followed
after Col Miller and IN time got on the
divide between White Bird and CamaS Pral-
re
Then we halted for while, when the or
der was given for Capt Nhlpples command
TO move 10 the right 10 Wheie ueh- ii0"""
had taken position for observation Llent-
Miller was sent to the left, to protect the
burying party who were gong down White
Bird canyon When Capt. Whipple reached
Gen. Howard's right he ordered the ana
Walla volunteers to proceed down a very
steep ridge to the right OF White Bird ana aIg
overlooking Salmon river to our right we
moved very cautiously, as there We're evi-
denees of Indians being on the tran SINCE
daylight After going down the ridge as Iar
as we could, we stopped and took view
with a field glass, aud found where Ine
Indians were across the Salmon uver. we
then had accomplished what we were ordered
70 do. SO we started down and got on " "hits
Bird, Just above old man Bakers we moved
up to Mr.. Msnael's place, supposing every
one 10 be killed. Imagine our surprise 10
eI n Ajanuay alive he was sitting IN