The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-07-05
THE INDIAN WAR IN IDAHO.
Topography of the Region Where the New
Outbreak Occurred.

Topography of the Region Where the New
Outbreak Occurred.
from the San Francisco Examiner.l
Dispatches from Portland, Oregon,
report the breaking out of an Indian
war in Northern Idaho. There are, it
is said, 1900 effective warriors, of vari-
GUS tribes, under the leadership of the
Chief known as Young Joseph.
The region in which this fresh out
break has occurred is wild and noun
famous. and only too well adapted for
Indian warfare. The savages know
every foot of it, and have the troops at
immense disadvantage. Lewiston, Gen.
Towards base of operations, is situated
at the confluence of Snake and Clear
water Rivers, and is at the head of navi-
CATION for steamboats,, about four hun
dred miles above Portland. The boats
reach there by the Columbia to Wallula
(old Fort Walla WalD, in Washington
Territory, and thence up Snake River
one hundred and twenty miles to Lewis
ton Landing 1t is the base of supplies
for the interior mining camps of Orc
Elmo, Pierce City, Elk, Florence, Salmon
River, Slate Greek, and Warrens-which
is the farthest inland and the largest of
the various camps. Onthe route, by road
and trail, from Lewiston to Warrens-
about one hundred and fifty miles
there are several small farming
and grazing valleys, of which Camas
Prairie, nearly halfway, is the
most considerable in area, pOpu-
lation and value. 1t is beautiful small
valley, and the soil is very productive.
White Bird Greek is the place from
where the different trails branch off to
Orc Elmo, Elk and Pierce, and also to
Florence and Warrens. There are hun
dreds of settlers and miners all through
that region, but they live generally far
apart, ard are poorly prepared for de-
tense against an attack at all formida-
bic. This is, too, the most active sea-
son for business, freighting, packing
and mining, as it is the opening OF nav
igation, when the boats can reach Lew
iston, and traders can forward then
goods by packing trains to the interior
camps. Accordingly, it is the most un-
favorable time for people to suffer an
Indian outbreak ,as they lose their crops
their fresh stock of goods, their sup
plies, and are driven from their mines
or else obliged to desist from working
them in order to defend themselves
But, altogether, they would be too few
in number to successfully resist the com
bined force of even one thousand saw
ages. 1t is impossible for them, how
ever, to rally to any common post FOL
defense, as the country is too wild, brok
en-, and mountainous, and the camp:
are too remote from each other to allow
of ready communication. And densely
wooded as it is, with innumerable mar
row passes, canyons, and rocky hiding
places, where a small force of Indian.
, could stand off hundreds of troops, as il
the Modoc lava-beds, all the advantage.
, of the situation are with the hostile saw
ages.
, The outbreak is directly owing to the
broken faith and culpably absurd actor
of the Government, just as was the cas'
in the Modoc war. Joseph is the wilC
chief of the non-treaty Indians who
claim the Wallowa Valley, and wht
have been dissatisfied ever since thu
treaty Governor Stevens made with thu
Nez Perces and other tribes in June
1857. Three years ago the same chic
proposed to commence hOstilities, anC
had gathered to his standard a force o
1,200 warriors. But at that time Gen
jeff c. Davis, the hero of the Modot
war, was in command of the Depart
| ment of the Columbia, and by hi
promptness and decision and masterl.
| policy, he instantly quelled the difficult.
, and compelled Joseph and the Other
hostile chiefs to succumb to the military
power, without the striking of blow
or the shedding of blood.