The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-10-03

ana 0t the lower enO OF Cne camp, tn(
hills came to the creek quite abruptly.
On the morning of the Goth Miles at
tackled by a charge on either flank by thu
cavalry, backed by the infantry dds
mounted) at the upper or south end o
the camp. The three companies Of th'
I'd charged it from the west and the Is
company of the 7th attacked from thu
east side. A mistake was made here by
an orderly in carrying verbal instruction.
to the troops, for the intention of Miles
was to send the three companies Of thu
I'd to the east, this side having bettel
natural Notifications.
The chargers On the west were met by
a lively fire, but soon turned for they saw
at the lower end of the camp, a squad o.
Nez Perces driving off large herd o.
stock; dashing after them they captured
many head. G company, commanded BY
Lieut.. McClernand, charged up a steer
gulch after party with stock, but when
nearly to its head, discovered an ambush
and turned back. As they turned a
large number of Indians raised from be-
hind a ridge about l5O yards away and
fired rapidly at the soldiers, without do
ing harm About hundred yards from
the turning point, the horse of the
orderly sergeant (Barnaby) was shot from
under him. He being behind was not
seen for moment and he prepared to
sell his life dearly. Asoldier of the COM
pany named Bennet happened TO look
behind him and seeing the sergeant afoot
rode back, and in storm of bullets,
stood for the sergeant to get on behind
him and dashing ON they re-joined the
troop.
The company of the 7th charged close
to the edge of the steepe that divided the
bottom from the table land and were
met by such a terrible fire, that they
broke and fell back to the foot of the
hills There was but sergeant and a
corporal left of the company officers, all
Of the others having fallen in the charge.
This sergeant reformed the men and
charged again; again came that wither-
ing fire and when the sergeant and cor
poral fell, the company broke and ran
back.
Gen. Miles sent a lieutenant from one
of the infantry companies to take COM
mand of this company and filled up its
thin ranks from the same source. He
plainly saw that to charge the camp was
but to slaughter the men, SO surrounded
it in skirmish order and dug rifle pits.
With the command there were two
large guns, one a forty-five and the other
a twelve FOUNDER; one of these was
placed at either end of the camp.
Just as darkness came on this first
night of the seige, it commenced to rain,
which soon turned to sleet and hail.
There was no wood but scattering sage
brush, near by, and the soldiers were
poorly dressed, and had but their saddle
blankets for covering. They had moth
ing to eat but bacon and hard tack and
but little of that, not even having coffee
and went cold and hungry Though bear
ing it all heroically) were they till the
evening of the third day, when the
wagon train came in with tents, blankets
and food.
No more active fighting was done after
the charging stopped, but every night, at
intervals of about two hours, the cannon
at either end would send shell in camp;
then for few moments the night would
be bright with flashes from small arms;
then the firing would gradually die away
and all would be silent till the boom of
the forty-five FOUNDER came again.
During the day there was slow firing
from whites and Indians, which never
ceased while daylight lasted.
On the Sd of October and the fourth
day of the siege, white flag was shown
in the Indian camp and hostiiitiesceased.
Chief Joseph came to Miles and Lieut..
Jerome, of the I'd went as hostage to
the Nez Perce camp. Miles asked for
unconditional surrender, but Joseph
would not accept those terms and during
the afternoon the fight again commenced.
During the next, night, many Of the
Nez Perces skipped out of the lines and
made their escape. One little party of
these refugees were killed by Gros Ven
tres and Assinniboine Indians. near the
boundary line.
The next morning another consulta-
ton was held and Miles promised. if it
lie in his power, to send the band back
to Idaho and Joseph surrendered. There
was altogether in his camp but ninety
men, women and children. Twice that
number must have left the camp and
gone across the British line.
After the battle there was found
strange coincidence; that the number of
dead and wounded in the two camps
were the same; each having twenty-eight
killed and forty-five wounded.
So closed most remarkable campaign,
in which Joseph figures as the most re-
markable of the actors: in which he,
through an enemy's country, Travelled
nearly 1900 miles and in that distance,
crossed the Rocky Mountain range three
times. The fight at the Big Hole, where
his pcople were surprised and driven
from camp and yet were rallied by him
and gained the ground lost and more;
the attack on Howard at Camas Prairie,
which from the loss of stock, crippled
and held that general back. The five
day fight at Bear Paw, with a force
double the size of his own, shows plainly
that master mind was there. That all
Of his people showed courage and endu-
rance, is true; but any powerto be of use
must be guided by intelligence and every
turn or move made by the Nez Perces,
was wisely planned and bravely executed.
1t is true also, that in their march this
people committed many atrocities.
Though no Indian apologist, nor having