The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-07-11
CRAIo's FERRY, SALMON RIVER, |
July 8, lS77-6P.M. 7

ing:
CRAIo's FERRY, SALMON RIVER, |
July s, lS77-6P.M.
Green's advance, or the rumor Of Il,
turned Joseph back, and rs / crossed the
Salmon river 10 the enemys side he fled
10 the mouth OF the Salmon and re.cross-
ed. had provided for this by ordering
the cavalry and two gAttling guns back
10 Cottonwood. Captain Perry and 4
portion Of the train from LapWai have
formed junction with the Cottonwood
force, or Is near doing so. As Joseph ap-
peared on the road near that place the
cavalry forced him back southwark.
am e.Crossing the Salmon on the Indian
trail, and hope he cannot So back 10 the
Snake country without disaster. His
turning to the right flank Of the troops
with me has done no other harm than 10
create an alarm in the rear. Except the
loss Of Lieut.. Rains, Of the lst Cavalry,
and eleven men sent out by Capt. Whip.
pie as his advance, the troops are hearty
and make long marches. am confident
Of success. 1 shall push my infantry and
artillery tomorrow 10 near Cottonwood,
[siguedl MCDOWELL.
SAN FRANCISCO, July l0.-Dispaiches
from Lewiston, via Portland, give details
Of encounters with the Indians on the 81,
4Ih and 9Th insls., near Cottonwood. On
Tuesday Col. Whipple sent out Foster
and Baird scouting for Indians in the
direction Of Gen. Howard's camp, on
Salmon river. They had not gone far
when they met three or four Indians who
ran them back towards camp. Baird was
unhorsed but escaped; Foster reached
camp. Col. Whipple ordered his com.
mand in readiness TO move. Meantime
Lieut.. Raines with Foster and eleven men
were sent in advance to reeonnoiter.
Raines' men rode over the first rise this
side Of Cottonwood and down into a side
rayine, where the road crosses, before
the ascent Of Craig's mountain, and we're
attacked. Before Whipple could get to
them, after he heard the fire, Raines and
his whole party were killed, including
Foster.
Whipple's command came forward and
formed in line Of battle on the east side
OF the ravine and the Indians on the west,
all in open ground, about one thousand
yards apart, and only the ravine between
them. Here they remained menacing
each other for two hours, till darkness
came. Whipple retired to his camp and
the Indians passed over 10 point on the
Cottonwood trail, TO Craig's Crossing.
No more'was done that night.
In the morning Whipple, with his men,
started this way to meet Col. Perry, who
was expected with supplies from LapWai,
and kept out his skirmishers along the
route. They met Col. Perry with his train
near Board House and escorted him 10
the camp on Cottonwood creek. Baird
and two men arrived from Mount
Idaho soon after, and about 8 Pm. the
rifle pits were manned and two gatling
guns placed in position. The Indians
made several attemps 10 storm the rifle
pits, but they kept at a distance. Al
about 0 =. NJ. the firing ceased for the
night, On the morning Of the 5th two
couriers arrived from Howard, who we're
chased into the camp by the Indians. Soon
after the Indians moved their camp with
l,6O0 head Of stock across the prairie in
the direction Of Cottonwood. No move
was made TO interrupt them. Soon after
Randall and sixteen volunteers from Mt.
Idaho appeared, and about $50 Indians
intercepted them at the junction Of the
Elk City trail with the stage road. This
crisis being seen from Pcrry's position at
the hill, the Colonel was urged 10 90 with
his troops TO their rescue, to which he re.
piled that 1t was no use, they were gone,
and he would not attempt their rescue.