The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1877-07-14
LETTER FROM RE-. gDAEE0.


should be told. Yesterday morning a. A.
NJ. we received word that Col. Whipple's
command at Cottonwood had been engaged
the day before vita a strong force of lndi-
ans. Upon receipt OF the intelligence Capt.
d. b. Randall in command of Mt. Idaho
Volunteers called around him II OF his
most trusty men. They at once started for
Cottonwood When within about two
miles of there they were attacked by
large force of Indians estimated TO number
| from l25 to $50. They were surrounded
at once and Capt. Randall gave the order
to charge through them which was IL sue
cess. He then ordered them to make a
stand, they dismounted and maintained
their position for An hour and - half and
killed aud wounded quite a number of the
Indians and drove them away to long range
and kept them there, but great misfor-
tune befen Us in the loss of Capt Randall
He was shot twice through the breast and
died before the fight ended. lie wa - 5
brave and noble man and the whole com
mrnity mourn his loss. he shrank from 40
duty or danger and asked no lnal to 20
where he did not go himself. Wealso lose
10 the death of BENZ. +. Evans another Of
our defenders, he was SHOT in the meek and
died with Randall. Mr. d. Il. lIowse. was
seriously wounded through the lungs.
Mr.. A. 3. Leland, your sou received II Sc
we're wound in the calf Of the leg. Chas.
johnson received shot III the ankle, the
two latter will soon recover, Had it not
been for the daring pluck aud bravery of
all have heen mastered. Never did men
fight such an overwhe Ginning force with u
fall determination to win Or sell their lives
rs dearly rs possible What have stated
. | have trom the men them selves. Maj. G.
y. Shearer It brave man was Ut Cultonw0 od
aua seeing the situation he n once rushed
, to the rescue and rendered tlem al the all
in his power, but WHEAT ought to be said Of
the condlc. Of Co.'s. WhippIe ana Perry,
| VINO were within " mile ana Il half Of the
held and say aud knew what was going on
and did not 70 TO the field until the Indi-
ans had drawA away out of range. rhey
had under thejv command. Ia n%lred strong,
well armed, WlLh ammunition and
two Gttin- guas. Oar officers and men
say -. ,Aey learned that the soldiers were
anxious and eaZer TO go TO the resc4e but
were ordered back by the commanding o.
Ger. aati ,nnt Ad time again they begged
TO :" . n we're threatened with Courl-m mar
tlaI Est aisohedience Of orders. Never did
soldiers or men have a better opportunity
to meet the foe in an open field where they
had equal chances VITA them since the
making OF the world, and Successful!
fight should aud could have been made
that ] believe would have terminated the
war. No attempt or effort was made by
Coils. Perry aud Whirple after arriving on
the field tA p0rsue ;nem or continue the
fight, aud they returned Ia tue Cottonwood
House with the dead and wounded. II is
a terrible affair and looks to us here WHO
listen to all the statements s.sde b. those
who were engaged in the fight that we can
expect little aid FROM the troops in the field
and must rely on the volunteers TO chas-
tise the red devils. Sueh conduct is unac-
countabic. We had every confidence that
should the troops come across the Indians
an effort would be made 10 tight them and
when you find II men able TO drive the
Indians from the field you can Imagine
what the result. would have been had the
whole force participated in the fight.
have no time TO write more but toanHounce
the death of Mr. John Hong ben, who died
here July 9th Of fever. Yours truly.
L. p. BROWN.