The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-14
COLONEL PERRY AND THE INDIANS.
STATEMENT OF FACT By AN EYE WITNESS OF
THE COTTONWOOD FIGHT-rHE CHARGES OF
cowARDIcE UNyoUNDED-A DISTINGUISHED
vINDIcATIOy.

THE COTTONWOOD FiGHT-rHE Cha''E9 VI
cowARDIcE UNYoUNDED-A DIsINrEREsrED
MEDICATION.
FORT LAPwAI Idaho, July q, 1871.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
have just read in your ISSUE OF July IL paragraph
headed "lndian Hostilitios which leads me To the
inference that statements have already been puosheo
rejecting upon the courage ana military standing OF
gallant soldier. Having been at the front until the
time have any Of the statements re-
ferred TO, and them specifically ltoniy
remains for mo- therefore. 70 give pam
statement of facts connected with the hght
at Cottonwood. Idaho. A, midnight OF the
LIST inst l LETT General Howards camp, on
salmon River, Idaho with orders for Captain Whip
pie who. with Captain Winters, was operating against
Chief Looking Glass ftty miles away He was 10
proceed to Cottonwood, there to watch for Joseph,
who might conclude 10 the Salmon River on
our right flank. The memorandum OF Instructions
to Captain whpple assumed that he would eloct
junction with Perry and Jackson. The latter did mol
JOIN us. however. until the 18th inst
on the night of the I'd We had in camp at Cotton
wood about elghiy-hve effective men. On the alter
noon OF the Sd scouts reported having seen Indians
miles away Soon after the command was started
Lieutenant Rains, with the advance guard, moved
rapidly out ana disappeared beyond dividing
ridge Shortly after firing heard In this direction,
and by the time tho main column (movng
at gallop) reached the the fight was over-he
twelve men Of the advance guard annhilated. inc
Indians discovered in strong force and strongly
posted upon woody ridge commanding the road
Our line was composed Of hfty-fve men, the re-
mainder holding horses and with the Calling guns.
While strong enough TO repel any attack we were
obviously too weak TO attack with any hope OF success
At nine r. NJ. force retired 10 Cottonwood Colonel
Perry was (as knew at this ume with twenty men,
escorting pack train from Fort Lapwai in our drec
ton, and knowing also that he must arrive during
tie next day the position occupied by the Indians
only be slaughtered, It was determined 10 force
passage aud form junction with him on the morning
Of the 4th
For some unaccountahe reason the Indians had dis
appeared temporarily IRON tue road, and the column
got through 10 Perry without hrng shol Moving
back once mad but just cleared the woods (ihree
miles from Cottonwood) when the Indians began to
gather right Continuing on to Cottonwood.
had scarcely gotten into position when we were
viciously attacked three points The lighting lasted
Colonel Perry, as senior officer, had assumed CON-
mand OF the entire force from the time the junction
was ehec.ed
approaching our position on the Mount Idaho road
Colonel Perry and the writer were at ths time together
on little hill overlooking the PLAIN Indians were at this
time seen In large numbers ON me pam ana crcumJa
cent hills, aud OF force OF necessity kept
soon evident That the iudians had discovered tho
rlers and closing in upon them Colonel Perry
descended the hill aud ordered the men TO mount ana
90 Their assistance, but before any iorce could get
into saddle the men were within our INES
Some one stated to Colonel Perry that there was
party behind tho two mon who had Just come IN.
Colonel Perry asked OF these II there were more
coming in, and was distinctly answered, moi! IN the
presence OF the writer.
IL aiterward transpired that these couriers had
struck the Mount Idaho road only a short distance
from camp. Receiving this answer colonel fcrry
ordered the horses unsaddled and the men back TO
tho rifle PITS.
About half hour subsequent to this firing was
heard on the plain, and almost Immediately after the
writer started up the hill TO see what was gong On
When he got to the he discovered sSrInsh line
OF sixteen mcn on foot under Captain Whipple moving
from the base Of the hill and toward our left front,
ir6m which direction the firing had been heard, and
where, II seems party Of volunteers had been cut
oil by the Indians and forced to mako stand. THIS
they did most CALAMITY. large body OF Indians was
forming 10 the right OF this place, doubtless
party and finishing their work. The appearance OF
Whlppe's little party changed thor plans, however,
and they of. The firing was principally over by
This time, having lasted frsm fifteen TO twenty min
unteers the OF Perry's commend except guard
by his order had joined him mounted, and all moved
out, remaining ON he ground more than an hour.
1t Is impossible for any honest MIND, knowing the
facts the charge that IN anything connected
with tho lighting at Cottonwood Perry acted with
timdity iailed in his duty. He cannot justly "
charged with undue caution IN declining 10 attack
with seventy effective men, b0uy Oh INDIANS WHICH
with force Of 400 General Howard whipped only aite
two days. hard lighting.
Having participated in the excitement around ant
Cottonwood merely by accident, having no com
mand there and no personal Interest In tue matter
surely may be credited with an unbiased, disinter
csted statement winch Is favorable toward gallan
! officer only because facts SO tend. With those wit
know him Perry needs no defence. Those VINO 40 no
know hum should be willing 10 do him justine