The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-11-02

tOh-oA MEAN NOtSIh END OR r
BEAR PAW MOUNTAIN, III. t.
October 6, 1877.
Assistant Adjutant General Department of
Dakota, st. Paul. Nian:
| SIR: have the honor to report having
received, on the evening of the nth ult.,
| communication dated September 12, from
General Howard, then ON Clark's Fork,
stating that the Neg Perces had evaded the
commands to the north of them, and were
pushing northward. l at once organized
| all the available force of my command for q
movement to intercept or pursue. The COM
mand left the cantonment ON the morning
of the 18th. The different orders regard
| ing escort for the commission had already
put en- route the battalion OF Second cavalry
and one company of Hale's Seventh eayal-
ry. These we're taken up on the march.
The command reached the Missouri at tho
mouth of the Museleshell ON Sept. %; but
learning on the morning of the 25th that
the Nez Perces had crossed at Cow leland
on the 23d / destroyed the depot there and
marched northward. / Immediately crossed
the Missouri. The command moved on the
Goth nortllward from the mouth of the
Muscleshell, and on the eth, leaving my
train to follow, pushed on rapidly by the
northern side Of the Little Rockies, thence
crossed to the northern end Of the Bear
Paw Mountain, which point reached ON
the evening of the Goth.
A FIERCE ONSLAUGHT.
On the same evening the trail was dis
covered by my scou's. Entering the range
to my lefs at four o'clock on the Both and
moving around thu northern end OF the
mountains, the trail was struck at six a. NJ.
near the head of Snake River. The village
shortly afterwaTd was disr overed on Eagle
Greek and Immediately charged, the bat
TALON of the Seventh cavalry, under Cap
tain Hale, and the Fifth infantry, under
Captain Snyder, attacking in front. The
battalion Of the Second cavalry, Captain
Tyler. attacked in the rear and secured the
stock to the number of 700 horses, mules
aud ponies. The lighting was very severe,
and at close quarters. The Indians took
refuge in some deep ravines. and the firing
was accurate and well keptup. Having at
The first onset surprised and shut up the
greater part OF the Indians in the village
and cut off and secured the greater part of
their stock, and perceiving that the posi-
tou could be carried by storm only with
great loss, [ determined to maintain my
lines about them, keep thom under fire and
at the SAME time give them an opportunity
to surrender if they desired.
JOsEPH's SURRENDER.
The positions taken ON the 30th were,
with slight notifications, maintained dur
ing four succeeding days. Meantime few
shots from twelve-pounder Napoleon were
thrown in from time to time, and sharp,
raking FIRE kept up wherever it could be
effective. The Indians had from time to
time displayed a white flag, but when com-
municated with had refused. to surrender
their arms; bns on the morning of October
5th they surrendered, Chief Joseph leading,
surrendering his arms and ammunition,
followed by his band, and the village is now
in our possession.
CASUALTIES.
The firing as reported was sharp: and the
lsses ON both sides considerable. En-
closed is list of casualties ON the part Of
the troops. The Indians admit loss OF
Chiefs Looking Glass, Grohool-Hul-R Rote
Oliante. brother of Joseph and others of
the principal men, and twenty, five killed
and forty-six wounded. The endurance
and courage of the command, as tested by
the forced marches and hardly contested
fight at short range, are worthy of the high
est commendation. 4 severe storm ofsnow
and wind, which set in on the Isl inst. ad-
ded greatly to the hardships which have
heen borne without murmuring. The OPP
perfume arrival of the train, under an es-
cort commanded by Captain Brotherton,
enabled me to protect the wounded from
the worst effects of the storm.
Very respectfully, ...
Your obedient servant,
NELSON A. MILES
Col. 5th Inft and Bvt Maj Gen.