The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1877-07-14
RETURN OF MONROE AND
2 a nx KNlEONG.
OF THE INDIANS.
'- Movement Of Troops.

=
dispatches on Thursday eve. the 5th.
Monroe came into town Tuesday morning
and gave US the following account of his
"trip, what he saw and heard
4fe "When we left Lapwai we had orders to
60 to Howard's camp and return as soon as
We could with safety. No one knew precise
~ where Howard was, and hence we had
TO find him. We took supper at Caldwell 5
on Lapwai creek. We took the safest trail
for lawyers canyon at Elk City crossing.
We made 1t in the night and crossed it
without seeing an Indian. We took off
towards the buttes, thinking that the In
dians would be more in the direction Of
Cottonwood. We soon discovered an In
dian to our left, mounted, seeing us, as it
was break Of day, he rode from US. We
soon saw another in a different direction,
then we saw two moretowards the Cotton
wood house. We made for Chapman s
place on the Cottonwood. We soon saw
an Indian about 500 yards behind US rid
ing at full speed. We could have shot
him but we paused to do so lest we might
arouse other scouts along Cottonwood
creek before We got to the creek, and they
might cut US off. We rode very fast and
our pursuer gave up the chase. We
crossed At the high coral near the sheep
ranch Of Crosdale, and made Mt. Idaho.
Learning that Howard was still the other
side Of Salmon river we got fresh horses.
Here we learned that there had been fight
ing at Cottonwood and that II volunteers
had gone over but no one knew the result.
We have since learned that at the time of
our crossing Lawyers canyon the main
body of the Indians were down the Cotton
wood to our left towards Clearwater. We
proceeded to Howard's crossing of Salmon
river above White Bird. Here we found
an officer an % men. They knew not
whore Howard ives and l was ordered to
stay there Friday night. At Saturday
\. y. swan my horse and proceeded up
on Howard's trail up the mountain, had
not gone far when met messenger from
Howard saying that he left him 60 miles
from there, that he was on the march
back, having learned that Perry had en-
gagged the Indians at Cottonwood, that the
route to Howard was infected with Indian
scouts, that he had seen four and that
had better return to the river and get fur
thsr advice from the officer there. did so
The officer was in doubt what should do,
ftold him I was instructed to reach How
ard. He then said might proceed. l
crossed Salmon, proceeded and met How
ard and the whole command arrived at the
crossing and most Of the men crossed that
night, and the balance were crossing Sun
day morning wien left for Cottonwood.
Arriving at Cottonwood, Knifong and my
self with two Indian messengers made the
attempt to proceed on the road to Lapwai
The Indian scouts were ahead. In coming
up the mountain they sang out yell and
broke from the road, we soon saw several
indians and we turned for Cottonwood.
Ny horse mired, Aounderea aud threw me
and fell over on my breast aud for a few
moments thought it was all day with me,
but he soon righsdd and was able to re-
mount and We rode rxpidly to Cottonwood.
Blake went out to reconnoitre and saw
seven Indian horses and blanket and ap-
psarances of Indians in the grass. He
came back and reported and it was deemed
unsafe to attsslnt to get through the scouts
Of the Indians that night. Perry's COM
msnd WAS soon in motion for Grangeville, |
arriving there at \. y. Monday, learned
there that Howard with bis whole comm ana