The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-10-25
Gen. AIiles's Official Report of
JOseph's Surrender.


LowsToNE, IN THE FIELD, CAMP NEAR
NORTH END OF BEAR PAW MOUNTAINS,
Oct. s, 1S77.-AssIsTANT ADJUTANT-
GENERAL, Department of Dakota, St.
Paul, Minn.-Sir: / have the honor to
report having received, on the evening
of the 18th ult., communication dated
the 18th, from Gen. Howard, then on
Clarke Fork, stating that the Nez Perces
had eyaded the commands TO the north
of them, and were pushing northward.
| at once organized all the available
force of my command for a movement
to intercept or pursue them. The COM
mand left the cantonment on the morn
ing of the 18th. The different orders
regarding escort for the commission
had already put en- route the battalion
of the I'd Cavalry and one company Of
Hale's 9TH Cavalry. These were taken
up on the march. The command reach
ed the Missouri at the mouth of the
Musselshell, on the evening of the 23d
of September; but, learning in the fore
noon of the 25th that the Nez Perces
had crossed at Cows Island on the Esd,
destroyed the depot, and marched north
ward, Immediately crossed the Mis-
souri,. The command moved on the
Goth northward, from the mouth of
the Musselshell, and on the 9th,
leaving my train to follow, pushed
on rapidly by the northern side of the
Little ROCK, thence across to the northern
end of the Bear Paw Mountains, which
point l reached on the morning of the
goth. On the same evening the trail
was discovered by my scouts, entering
the range to the left. Starting at 4
O'Clock on the 3Oth, and moving around
the northern end of the mountains, the
trail was struck at 6 a. M, near the
head of Snake River. The village
shortly afterward was discovered, on
Eagle Rock, and Immediately charged,
the battalion of the 9TH Cavalry, Capt.
Hale, and the 9th Infantry, Capt.
Snyder, attacking the front. The bat
talon of the I'd Cavalry, Capt. Tyler,
attacked in the rear and secured the
stock, to the number of 700 horses,
mules and ponies. The fighting was
very severe, and at close quarters. The
Indians took refuge in some deep ra-
vines, and the firing was accurate and
well kept up. Having at the first onset
surprised and shut up the greater part
of the Indians in the village, and cut of
and secured the greater part of their
stock, and perceiving that the position
could be carried by storm only with
great loss, determined to maintain my
lines about them, keep them under fire,
and at the same time give them an op-
portunity to surrender if they desired.
The positions taken up on
the 3Oth were, with slight modi-
fications, maintained during the four
succeeding days and nights Meantime
few shots from the 12-pounder were
thrown in from time to time, and a
sharp-shooting fire kept up wherever it
could be effective. The Indians had
from time to time displayed white flag,
but when communicated with had re-
fused to surrender their arms; but on
the morning of the 9TH they surrendered,
Chief Joseph leading, surrendering his
arms and ammunition, followed by his
band and the village is now in our pos
session. The fighting, as reported, was
sharp, and the losses on both sides con-
siderable. Enclosed is the list of casual
ties on the part of the troops. The In
dams admit a loss of Chiefs Looking
Glass, Gro Hoal, Hui Rate, and q
brother of Joseph, and two others Of
their principal men, and % killed and
46 wounded. The endurance and cour-
age of the command, as tested by forced
marches and a hardly contested fight al
short range, are worthy of highest com
mendation. A severe. storm of snow
and wind, which set in on the 1st inst,
added greatly to the hardships, which
had been borne without murmuring
The oppcrtune arrival of the train, I'M
der escort, commanded by Capt. Broth.
erton, enabled me to protect the wound
ed from the worst effects of the storm.
Very respectfully your obedient serv-
ant. NELSON A. MILES,
Col. 5th Infantry, and Brevet Major General