The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1877-07-28
n, NORTH IDAHO.
DIsCOURAGINC vOLUN-
TIE ERS.

worse than useless. If you had been here
during their operations, am sure You
ewosld discourage the use Of volunteers in
any emery ency.--NsIegran to 'Oregomion. I
Ii The above Was evidently intended to in
Aucs the War Departments to withhold
sanction to the gsnlistment OF volunteers,
q and coming from 10 high an .ofRcisls source
= mast'ss considered at the department .
g .sntitled TO considerations. We ask what
.1sss Kseler personally know Of the charae-
~ ssr and status of the volunteers who have
operated With Howard? He was not with
Howard when the volunteers were in action.
Hswas here In lewiston and at Lapwai
and probably saw and heard something Of
the PAtahs rangers. We do not deny that
theirs have been some few Of the volunteers
who have not been under complete discip-
IN line But these eases are exceptionsto the
general rule, and Mr.. Keller nor any other
regular officer had no sense Of justice in
/ him whom he attempts to malign our volun-
'tssrs ~ class ana seek to discourage the )
department from their employment. Every
company Of citizens who, have taken their
~rns ana gone, into the field and subjected
theGsslves 70 the command Of Howard or
Anyaof his officers must be regarded as,op-
Grating with Howard. What have they
doasf n the light Al White Bird under.
Perry the eleven volunteers occupied the,
lsf flank and held their ground against
!, terrible hrs gof the Indians till the entire
force had deserted them and were retreat.
Inc before the enemy and when they did
1, fstrsas thsy retreatsd with their face to the
enemy and constantly returning the fire.
Had tAs regulats stood their groundsvith
sthese voloateers the victory world have
theen ouss.i The volunteers undersC Capt.
i Page were the 6rst to visit the white
t1isd batsls GROUND and assist ia buryingh
rths dead whom Perry bad left unburied
ssomsa Ton Or Twelve days. The 70 lunteers
were the 6rst to.advance in pursuit Of Jo-
= Seph % the south side Of Salmon river.
The avolanteets under Randall and 9TH
lsrs were among the foremost in the Whip
pie night With Looking glass and the cap
ture Of the stock. The seventeen volun-
tssri nnder Randall did the most effective
lighting against $50 Indians on the 18th day
q July near Cottonwood. that has been
done II The whole war, and turned the enc
~, protected their dead and wounded for
oysren hour In open ground aad, under
tsrribls fire Of the enemy, and This top,
right u eight ofll3 regulars and nosoysr
.ene and oae-half miles distant. and said reg
Falass nsyer budgsd to their sssistances till
the snemy had been driven 10 long range.
.ThsSelasteers. 81 In number, under Nc
Conyills pursued the rhostiles, and discov-
cred them opposite the mouth OF Cotton
wood, enttenched strongly, and notified |
Howard Of their Whereabouts, and urged |
him TO hasten to tho attack from ID q rear
while the volunteers would attack fromstb |
/. 'front.'. i. Howard delayed "a hours, beyond /
the expected time, meantime the hosties in |
torres attacked McConv Tile in the night who
stood them OF for three hours, and never
1oeta man, hat did bose a ofFhis horses.
Befose b. ceuld return TO Mt: Idaho and re-
moput hia men and get back, Howard was
attAcked by the hostiles on the other side OF
tAsfivef. aJackson's Cavalry force was at
tsmptiug to join Howard and finding his 7
tanes interesptsd by hostiles, sent. word u
McOpnville 70 make {, demons tration to The I
Indians, from the south side sofgthe river
o. - to- divert their attention and suffer
j Jackson 70 reach Howard. This NMcCon-
/, viltsi did aad Jsckson reached Howard
!. and tQrnad the scale Of the battle ID favor
. Qf,the 1roops. : The indians themselves say
that 1cCopyille's force WAS 10 istaken BIZ
then Tor Greens force which was expected
ron B0fseAnd they became disconnected.
Mc0suyiais with Il volun teersmoved ID The
a4geoceia the pnrsnitzof the Indians tot
yeips cAmGs grounds, and stood firm with
biz men when the scouts were killed and
4(a3 ~ ws{