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

Gov. Potts had gone to Lo Lo to ascertain the
situation.
"Already some Deer Lodge county volun-
teers had gone to Missoula and interesting
news was m~omentarily expected. Hardly
had the New North West been published,
when affairs began to taxi another shape.
The Muscular issued an extra at 5 p. IN. on
the 25th, headed:
HELP! HELP! ,
WHIT BIRD DEFIANT.
COME
"On its arrival here, some thirty odd men,
includingthe best of our citizens, saddled their
horses and were off for ''Missoula as fast as
they could go. Many also left for other points
but the general disposition was to await the
call of the governor. Gov. Potts met this
courier a few miles from Missoula, ordered
every company that could be armed should
hold itself in readiness to come at the word
and stated he would send advices on reaching
Missoula if the situation was as stated.
Throughout Deer Lodge county there was
quick preparation. Almost every camp called
approximately for guns and wherever it was
possible they were supplied. Business was
suspended there was one universal, all alb
sorbing topic overshadowing all others,
and the word that was awaited was the call
of Gov. Potts to arms. He had been unable
to procure recognition from the war depart
ment, was shackled by lack of authority to
call volunteers; there was nc military law
and no authority to call out, equip or even
subsist them when in the field. He had con-
sidered all the facts under urgent appeals
from this county to get 300 men in the field
to meet the. Nez Perces and concluded that
only in case of actual hostilities toward the
people of Montana could he go to the point
of calling out volunteers. Yet circumstances
all indicated and there seemed SCARCELY a
doubt, such hostilities would ensue. The U.
S. military forces in Montana had been order
ed to treat all Indians coming from Idaho as
hostiles. Capt. Rawn informed the Nez
Perces they must disarm and dismount or
fight. He had but two small companies of
uAu "uo VII "ldN. as
deemed their sole trail to get into Montana.
White Bird had declared he would come into
and go through Montana. A fight seemed
inevitable and the hostiles were reported $50
strong, we'll armed and mounted and under
command of the best fighting chief Of modern
days.
Gov. Potts reached Missoula on the night
of the 25th and on the morning of the 26th,
and also again on Friday, the 9th, went to
Capt. Rawn's intrenchments. They We're
log rifle-pits extending across the trail in Lo
Lo canon, down which it was deemed almost
absolutely certain the hostiles must come, il
they advanced. The mouth of Lo Lo is
thirteen miles from Missoula. Capt. Rawn's
Entertainments were four miles up the Lo Lo.
The Indian camp was at first four miles
further up, but subsequently they moved
down to within three miles. Several talks
had taken place between Capt. Rawn's rep.
resentatives and those of the Indians, they
persisting in their disposition to pass peace.
ably and he that they should disarm. The
whites were sparring for time to get up rein
forcements which the Indians, for some un.
known reason, seemed willing to grant. In
the me antime Gen. Mcdowell had ordered
Howard forward on the Lo 10 and his des-
pacthes intimated he was coming up in theil
rear. On the 9th there were fully 200 men
in the rife-pits, three fourths of whom were
volunteers and Flat Head Indians who had
proffered their services. Capt. Rawn notified
the governor that he had all the forces he need
ed to hold the pass; that the only apprehension
was that they might elude him and breaI
northward over the low rolling hills toware
Missoula and Fr%enchtown. He requested the
governor to return to Missoula, organize al
the volunteers he could and prevent that re,
suit. Accordingly, Gov. Potts returned tc
Missoula and believing the hour had come
issued the following
PROCLAMATION.
In II FIELD, MIssOULA, July 26, 1877
WHEREAS, Montana territory is invaded b,
hostile Indians from Idaho and there being les.
than so U. 5. soldiers to oppose said Indians
"By virtue of the authority vested in me a.
governor and commander-in-chief of the Mon
IaHa HllllIla, 1 command tnaC the ORGANIZE
volunteer militia of Missoula and Deer Lodge
counties report forthwith to the commander
in-chief at Missoula for temporary duty witt
the u. S. forces now serving against the In.
dams in western Montana. Said companie.
shall be armed and equipped for service in the
field. The undersigned is without authorit,
to bind the United States or the territory O
Montana for supplies furnished volunteer
companies while serving in the field, but will
use every effort in his power to secure pay
ment for supplies, etc, from the territory o.
the United States. Officers will be designated
to receive and receipt for supplies furnished
Witness my hand,
B. F. POTTS,
COmmander-in-C Chief Montana Militia.
L Fl MrIIs