The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-15
PROGRESS OF HowARDs MARcH-sETTLERs
GIVING AID AND COMFORT 70 THE ENEMY.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CAMP Joan GIBBcY,
On Bitter NJ Il

By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
CAMP JOAN GIBBcy,
On BITTER k0or RIVER, VI. T.,
August 0, 1871
On August General Howard, while marching on
the Loio trail, and expecting TO ind the Indians
blocked at the other end OF the route, received y
despatch from Captain Raun, Of the Seventh in
fantry, saying that he had been parIeyng for three
days with whl.ebird and Looking Glass; and that
on the fourth day they passed him by the nank.
HARDsHlPs OF THE FLIGHT.
This was very Disappointing to General Howard,
who had routed them completely on the 18th OF July
and driven them In confusion to take refuge In their
retreat through the mountain passes OF the Lolo
trail among which lay scattered the visible EVIL
dences OF their distress in carcasses OF exhausted
animals and the graves OF their wounded who had
succumbed to the hxrdships OF the journey.
CHARGES AGAINST RAUN.
Captain Raun stated in his despatch that he had
but twenty-five regular troops. and that the
hundred aud 1fty volunteers with him, on hearing
that neither they nor their families In Bitter Root
Valley would be injured, had lett him. The volun-
teers, on the other hand, accuse Captain Raun OF
neglect OF duty, and even Of cowardice and the
Missonlian says that Governor Potts. being refused
permission 10 organize volunteers by the authori-
ties at Washington, and having applied Tor regular
Captain Raun and asked him not TO bring on an &C
ton, rs It would subject the inhabitants OF the
valley to the fury OF defeated victorious savagcs
AID AND COMFORT TO THE sAvAGEs.
The hostiles accordingly moved slowly up the
Bitter Root Valley, at the rate OF about four or five
miles day, trading their plumber 70 the citizens,
purchasing supplies from the stores, procuring
fresh horses and recruiting their exhausted stock
on the rich bunch-g grass of the valley.
A TERRIBLE MARCH.
Although General Howard had been pressing his
entire command to the limit OF endurance, through
the rugged and nhospitable region OF the Lolo
Pass receiving this despatch he at once stripped
his cavalry clean Of everything and in four days
forced them. into the Bttel0Root Valley, q dis
lance OF about seventy miles, over mountains
and through gorges laced with chera,rde-
.Jrne OF fallen timber. From this ordeal
the horses came forth mere shadows Twice they
had nothing whatever to cat, and at other times
but little browsing from the bushes and scanty
picking here and there at the coarse grass; but an
officer had been sent ahead, and the jaded animals
found gram awaiting them. After two hours OF
rest this weary column was pushed on two miles
.lurther and by the afternoon completed total dis
lance OF LIS miles,
uowARD's rLANs.
Tomorrow morning General Howard pushes for
ward with an escort OF twenty cavalrymen 70 join
Colonel GibbOn, who Is In close pursuit OF the
Indians. The General takes with him only one
aid, Lieutenant Wood, and leaves the remainder
Of his stan with the cavalry, one days forced
march in the rear. The Indians having turned
southwark Colonel wheaton. with the left column,
has been ordered back TO Lewiston.
Bitter Root Valley is filled with exhausted stock
left by the Indians and numbers OF their wounded
are said to have been abandoned IN the desert
places.
THE INDIANS EXHAUSTED.
They have been pressed into a headong flight
which has exhausted their powers and dragged
them into misery. Their families and their little
ones have accompanied them in the hurried exile
into which they have been driven. Since General
Howard took the field ne has given them no day Of
perfect rest, and they drag feebly along al the
rate OF eight or nine miles day.
GIBBONS FIGHT ANTICIPATED.
The crisis seems to be near, and In few days
the final engagement is expected TO present an
other oil those horrible battle fields OF desperate
Indian warIars which are so much TO the partici-
pants and so little 10 the distant world.