The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1877-08-18
LETTER FROM L.. II. BROWN
MI. IDAGo, Aug. 9th 1877,

\. LELAND-DEAn SlR.--Capt J.
J.. Cearley, who left here July Goth
with dispatches from Gen. Howard to
commanding officer in Bitter Root val
ley, returned yesterday. Sergeant Bak-
er went with him and they were joined
at Elk City by Wesley Little they
travelled over the old trail from Elk
City which they found much obstruct-
ed By fallen timber, reached the Bitter
Root in five days. Capt Cearley got a
fresh horse at the settlement near Girds
creek and travelled down the Bitter
Root on the east side in the night. He
states that the hostile Nez Perces we're
all IN the valley and campel on the
west side of tho river below Willow
creek. He reached Capt. Raun's com
mand near mouth OF Lo Lo on the Bit
ter Root river on the 9th day from
here. The Indians had passed his
command few days before in plain
sight. Capt. Raun had some talk with
Whitebird and Looking -Gl lass, who
stated they were going to the Buffalo
country and would not molest any of
the settlers If let alone. Capt. Raun
was in fortified position and had
25 regular troops and about l75 vol.
unteers, but 10 effort was made to stop
then. They have been trading at the
stores in the valley and were Offering
dollar apiece for cartridges, quite mum.
Der Of horses taken from settlers here
had been sold or traded off by the In
diaus for others in good condition. Mr.
Little Informed me that they sold Bak
er's large young horse for $40 and his
gold watch Tor $50 to people Of Stevens.
vile. and stated that the title was good
for they had killed the man and taken
the property. He demonstrated against
the traders purchasing anything from
,heui, and Capt. Cearlcy states that
many Of the settlers are opposed to the
course pursued by the traders and went
SO far as to tax what ammunition and
whisky they had at s,evensvilc on
hand.
He further says that Gov. Potts of
Montana is hurrying volunteers down
towards Big Hole with view of head.
ing them off in that direction and that
Gen. Gibbon was coming in from Deer
Lodge with force to JOIN Raun's COM
mand. Cearley left Bitter Root valley
Thursday Aug. I'd and came up the Lo
Lo trail. He met Gen. Howard's force
within three days march from Bitter
Root valley and brought dispatches from
Capt. Raun. The Gen. started with all
speed with HIS cavalU leaving the Iu-
fantry to come on. Sergeant Baker
remained with them as guide. Cearley
and Little came on with dispatches
from Howard to Col. Green and arrived
as before stated. No Indians were seen
by them on either side of the trails go.
ing or coming and he thinks they are
nearly all together in the Bitter Root
valley, moving along slowly as their
stock is getting pretty we'll used up.
Col. Green has sent Col. Sumner with
a detachment of Cavalry to Elk City to
prevent any retreat in that direction,
the balance of his force remain at
Kamia and On the Prairie. 1t appears
almost inpossibl. for the hostiles to es-
cape with the present disposition of the
forces. l.. Z. BROWN.
In addition to the matter of the above
letter We have received some other items
competed with the escape Of the hos
tiles. Before the indians passed