Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-07-06
The Indian War in Idaho.

lle lnQlaQ war IN lQan0,
SAN FRANCISCO, June 2s.
No further murders have been report
ed, though the latest inform alton is that
the Indians on Hangman's Creek are
getting very restless, and portion have
refused to accept any part of the reserva-
tion, and left with one of their peaceful
chiefs. 1t is reported that Joseph is
anxious to have fight with the troops,
and he will undoubtedly have an oppor-
tunity within very few days.
The agent at Lapway is confident that
few of the treaty Indians will Join Jo-
seph; and parties claiming to be we'll in
formed claim that the Indians north of
the Slate and Clearwater Rivers will not
assist him, as the Nez Perces declined to
help them in the war of 1856. The
Unadillas will be prevented from Joining
the hostile Indians with much of force,
and from the Boise section there are no
Indians to come. a
A Boise City dispatch says that the
Chief Winnemucca, of the Piutes, came
into Boise City this forenoon with twenty
warriors and held a council with Gov.
Brayman. He desires his friendship, and
SO assures the Governor of his determine
tion to join with the Bannocks and Sho-
shones and assist the whites against the
Nez Perces, if necessary, who are his old
enemies. Gov. Brayman furnished them
some supplies, and they leave town to-
morrow for Great Camas Prairie, to Join
Captain Boise and Jim White. Winnie.
mucca himself returns to Silver City, and
will bring the remainder of his people
over to Great Camas Prairie.
CANT AT CAMAs PRAIRIE, June q.
We marched from Mount Idaho to this
place, distance of ten miles, on the
25th. Yesterday Gen. Howard made a
reconnaissance in force, leaving a strong
guard in camp. We proceeded to the
scene of Col. Perry's late battle with the
Indians and found and buried twenty.
seven of the dead soldiers, which leaves
six bodies yet to be found. Lieut.. Tall.
er's body has not yet been found Those
buried were in such an advanced stage
of decomposition as to be unrecogniza-
BILE. All the arms and equipments had
been taken by the Indians. Most of the
bodies were scalped. We found and
brought into Camp Manuel one of the
settlers reported dead after the massacre
on Salmon River. He is wounded in two
places and almost starved. The number
of murders thus far ascertained are one
woman, two children and fifteen men, in
addition to thirty three soldiers of Col.
Perry's command killed and missing in
the late fight. The details of the mur-
ders are horrible in the extreme. There
are several women at Mount Idaho, the
wives of settlers, who narrowly escaped
or were rescued after suffering the most
terrible outrages.
The result of the reconnaissance was
the discovery of the Indians encamped
across the Salmon River, about twelve
miles from this camp. AS nearly as
could be ascertained they have about 400
warriors. Chief White Bird is in charge
of the entire united bands. Joseph is
the fighting chief. The Indians are bold
and waiting for us to engage them
They have no lodges with them, but
large amount of stock is visible along the
river bank. The country is of the most
wild and rugged character, the precipi.
tous mountains and canons rendering it
extremely difficult for troops to travel.
Besides the natural obstacles, heavy and
continuous rain has made the mountain
trails almost impossible. 1t is Gen.
Howard's intention to move the camp
just beyond the scene of Col. Perry's re
cent engagement, about seven miles dis
tant, and if possible tomorrow will get
the artillery in position on this side of
Salmon River, and endeavor to oreach the
enemy.
Col. Perry goes back this morning to
meet and hasten forward the advancing
column of troops now en- route for Fort
Lapway. They should overtake us to-
night. If the Indians remain in their
present position an engagement will take
place tomorrow, or Friday at the latest.
There is no further news from Slate
Creek, where Lieut.. Trumbull is stationed
with his companies. No intelligence has
been received of any outbreak among the
other Indians in this vicinity. The Off
GERS and men are in excellent spirits, and
are eager for chance at the Indians.
BOISE CITY, July i.
The position of the Indians, which is
on the south side of Salmon River, is the
strongest and most favorable for their
mode of warfare that could be imagined.
1t is full of natural obstacles to the ap-
proach of troops, and affords ample scope
to the Indians to remain and fight, or re-
treat, as they may see fit. The troops
may cross the river under cover of the
artillery, but when across they will have
steep mountains to climb and rocky can
ons to cross to get at the Indians. With
out sufficient force from this side to
cooperate with Gen. Howard, it is diff
cult to see how he can hold the Indians
to an engagement or do anything effect
ual against them.
The Indians in this section, so far as
known, are entirely friendly and no fears
are at present entertained of their COM
mitting depredations; but no reliance can
be placed upon their peaceable disposi-
tion. Their course will be governed by
the success or failure of the hostiles in
the North.