The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-01-04

I
i to open the ball, allowed a handful of
nteers to cross their command without
living a saddle. Capt. Rawn was at first
rely censured for his course. As yet there
J explanation of it, but the heat of public
Inc has cooled and there is a disposition
wait his report and give fair judgment.
: air was full of wild rumor and exagger-
' statements which time is dissipating, and
absurd jokes, which for a time had cur
v as facts, are now exploded. The Indi-
had so protested their desire to 60 peace
that his command may have been in
heed thereby, but neither of these con-
Ions had been reached the evening before
Eorcements had arrived. Yet with
facts Capt. Rawn's record Of fifteen
is that Of a good fighing officer and it
lies him to a suspension of adverse e X
sion until all the facts are known.
Missoula on Saturday night-the same
Butte was taking the war trail-was the
! Of universal disgust. The bird had
4 Joseph had walked around another
!. the hostiles were defiantly camped in
valley, and not a shot had been fired. In
cipsation the hostiles would at once at
1t egress by Big Hole, and that if they
"a toward Big Blackfoot, Gibbon with re-
rsaments could check them, Gov. Potts
stched orders to turn back the Deer
e volunteers, move up Big Hole and in
III them. The head of Clark's command
ing by the river road, was already far on
way, but a courier overlook them. In
minutes after the order came. Capt. Nor
Evans left with scouts for the Big Hole,
ID river he went up to the summit and
night the Butte companies mustered 1870
at Warm Springs. The next night they
ped within six miles of Big Hole. Fifty
under Capt. James Logan, left Dewey's
and would have joined forces with them
nouth of French. Adjutant Warren was
dly filling another company at Butte,
bhteers were going forward from all the
Ter camps and the command would have
b 225 . strong that night. On Monday
!. Potts returned. Howard had not yet
heard from !; Gibbon was in Cadotte's
s. No movement had been made from
soula or by Flint Creek to cooperate with
his battalion. Half his command were
ia with muzzlc-loaders, many were I'M
tmted, or on disabled horses, Or in wagons.
Nez Perces were still camped at Stevens
{, 200 miles away by the route to be tray
b, and the people, by all reports, disposed
nave them, now they were in the valley,
through without devastating it. In the
Element of the moment transportation had
IN secured that it was necessary to return
it was not evident yet which route the
TILES would take. There was but one
hg to be done, recall the command, al
ugh it was the only order it did not like to
y. The command went into camp at
I'm Springs that night.
In the meantime meetings were held here
the sentiment was universal, hat al
ugh the hostiles were in Bitter Root claim,
~ peaoeable intentions and demanding i'm
infty for past deeds, their hands were yet
NTH the blood of our neighbors in Idaho
Rose scalps they e%xultingly carried at theil
its and of whose murder they made boast
ht the deeds they did there they would
beat here if they dare that their professions
pre- deceit and their hearts treacherous and
at it was the duty of Montana to prevent
cir passage through territory at all haz.
ds and wherever they could be intercepted,
eneral Gibbon had asked for volunteer as.
aance in the event of their passing Rawn.
hd Towards command was still afar off. II
IS believed the government would not re.
an appeal to equip and subsist 800 volun.
es to cooperate with the insufficient regular
fces in Western Montana. Gov. Potts was
earnest sympathy with these views and
purpose to fight them. In accordance
erewith he telegraphed the war department
follows: "
DEER LODGE, July 81, 1877.
O. Geo. W. M Crary, Secretary Of War
Washington, d. c.:
The hostile Nez Perces from Idaho are in
tter Root valley in force. They have moi
yet known, committed hostilities, but WOW
en- determination to pass through to the
pnalo country. General Gibbon has asked
sstance under the circumstances. 1 an
P~Werless, without authority and most arm.
Fy urge authorization from the war depart
ent to call 800 volunteers, furnishing theil
w horses, for not exceeding thirty days.
ellleve can organize in three days. Please
nswer Immediately.
B. F. POTTS,
Governor of Montana
Judge Knowles, a personal friend of the
cfetary of war, telegraphed strongly ap
Falng for the authority to be granted
elegate 4aginnis did likewise. and at once
eht to Bozeman to obtain the favorable &C
end General Sherman. Contemporaneous
40 this and in full belief the authority
oald be granted, the governor called for 800