The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-07-26
The Birch Creek Fight.
From the s. F. Chronicle.

Sa1H . ohAAs OAideiiia Gouutgs oEeSoIl4JuJy
9th (via Walla Walla, 11).-The junction
of the forces took place last evening at the
nick of time, Throckmorton, Burton, Win
ters. and Parnell arriving. They immedi-
ately set out again after very long march
to attack the enemy and relieve company
of volunteers who were besieged by the
hostiles at place in tue Blue Mountains,
and the next day joined them. The com
panies were on the spot at the exact day
and time they were ordered. Early this
morning (the 9th) two of Robbins scouts
brought in word that the enemy were
DRAWN UP IN LINE or BATTLE
On mountain awaiting our attack. The
command was already five miles toward
them. Directly the news was brought
Lientenant Pitcher of the 1st Cavalry, Capt.
Robbins and the Chronicle representative,
with the guide, went forward on recon-
noissance. We soon sighted the enemy.
who literally covered the mountain sides
aad ridges. They were everywhere, and
numbered some hundreds. Soon the cav
airy came up on an order from Bernard at
quick gaHop. Our lines were quickly
formed, and we commenced moving on the
enemy as fast as the terrible rugged coun-
try would permit. Wishing to find out
everything from the start the Chronicle
correspondent joined Co. III, Capt. Whip
pie. with Lieuts. Shelton and Brown in
command, as they were in the very front,
but they, getting orders to deploy to the
left, Co. K, Capt. Bendire, and Lieutenant
Wainwright were first in a straight line for
the first charge, but the honor of that fell
to Leutenants Parnell and Knox of Com
pany H. .2sstI 3' SEQ n #=. p E.g as
JUST BEFORE THE CHARGE s3.#@
Was sounded, Parnell addressed his men,
telling them to keep their horses we'll in
hand, not to throw away their fire, and
keep COOL Then the charge was sounded,
and as fast as the rocky nature of the ground
would permit we charged the enemy, six
shooters in hand. They covered the ground
and rode around in scores, firing at us as
they careered at full speed around the
hills. Our boys kept up to them and final
ly drove them up the steep mountain be-
hind some rocks. Here they made a stand.
The troopers dismounted and, leading their
horses, drove them still higher up. Some
of the other companies now came up and
joined us. For while some extremely
lively sharpshooting was kept up. The
enemy from bshind Notifications breast
high could
rt e POUR IN THEIR FIRE
Without exposing themselves, while our
men were ous on the open hill below the
Indians, bur we gradually crept up, and to
the end of the fire Col. Whippie of Fl Co.
and Lieut.. Bowers of Z Co. headed a
charge OH their horses ever far rougher
ground than we had before encountered,
but to see our coming was enough for the
reds, for they Off on the double quick. and
took at full speed to the. .heayily-timberea
hills on the other side af the mountain
from which our attack was made. Many
were dismounted and wounded, yet the
ground was so rough that they actually
made better time TO the timber than the
mounted ones. The men under Capt. Win
ters and Lieut.. Forer deserve mention for
the gallant way they tore ar fnll speed down
the Hill then. throwing III. mselves from
their ANIMALS,
tf- FOLLOWED TIE ENEMY ON FOOT
Into the denser thickets from the summit
Companies X and L were hotly pursuing
the other bands, which had broken up into
smaller ones, bent wholly on escaping.
Whpple had again got ahead and overtaken
the enemy, who, from behind trees and
logs. opened upon us at short range. Sew
eral of our horses were killed at the first
fire aud many wounded. Just in the hot
test Of it all the Chronicle correspondent
was sent to the rear for ammunition, for out
Of 400 rounds we had only three left. He
could not find the rear. Everybody APP
peared to be in the front. In hunting for
Colonel Bernard your Commissioner over
took Company X, who were having very
lively brush with the reds at long range.
This was the last of the fighting for the
day. General Howard and Colonel Mason
with Lieutenant C. E. s. Wood, were in
the thickest of the fighting and kept up
their well deserved reputation of being the
bravest and coolest officers in the United
States Army.
-a >
OUR LOSS
Is one man killed and four wounded that
of the enemy unknown, as they tied their
dead to their horses tails ana dragged
them off the ground. Col. Robbins, of the
scouts, had the bonor of killing the first
one. Five others were afterwards found.
Our loss in horses amounted to about thirty
killed and wounded. Our animals had
reached the limits of equine endurance
after the long hot marches for weeks pns-
vious, and with the rough usage during
the fight are completely used up. During
the different stampedes the reds left an I'm
mense amount of plumber behind thern.
The mountain was covered with their
stuff, which was hastily nnpacked from
their horses and left. Many horses and
mules, with their burdens still ON them, ARE
left and nearly two hundred horses besides.
The soldiers of the First Cavalry who par
ticipated at the commencement of the Nez
Perce war fully retrieved their old reputa-
tion. @A9 s"a II @+4
s.A THE CITIZENS
Who came along to fight rem aimed behind
to gather up the i ians' trash and what
horses they. could. Your Commissioner
fired the first sh OF at the enemy just in the
advance with Company K. at the start. It
is pleasing to chronicle that all through, at
every part of the field. not q soldier showed
the white feather, but all appeared imbued
with cool determination to do his best to
punish the enemy. The Indians had the
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