The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-05

IN the pits under them Were Of course pro-
tected 10 great extent from the storm. During
the night Of Sept 80 the troops threw up such
intrenchments ss could be made with the few
tools Rt hand, and from that time the losses
were very few. As the Indians were still in
possession Of the water, and were we'll supplied
Wlth provisions captured on the Missouri. aud
could utilize the meat Of animals killed by our
IRE, and had considerable ammunition, the
siege promised 90 extend indefinitely.
In The evening of Oct. ] the train, under
command OF Capt. BrOtherton. arrived Tents
were st once put mp 10 shelter the wounded.
but IN the darkness they were SO placed that
they could be reached BY the rifles Of the In
alans, aud as soon as lighted updFew their fire,
by which At least one man was wounded. The
~ pounder was also with the train aud scarcely
had day dRwned on the ID before its "bOOm
told The Indians that a new element had
ENTERED FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION.
still, IL was almost impossible, owing 10 the
shape OF the ground 90 bring it TO bear on
the pits now occupied by the hostiles. who as
soon as shells fell in their camp abandoned it.
aud all took refuge in the banks Of the crooked
"coulees," where no direct ire could be made
TO reach them, and shells, If burst over them,
Were liable 10 injure our own men on the
high ground beyond. A dropping or mortar
hre was, however, obtained by sinking the
TRAN OF the gun in pit dug for H. aud using a
hlgh elevation with very small charge Of
powder. This made the FIRE effective, aud late
in the afternoon Of the Cd Joseph raised a white
flag. Cheers greeted its first appearance and
soon under IL the Nez Perce Chief his clothing
pierced with over dozen bullets but still uu-
harmed, stood face % face with his opponent.
But though he was willing to treat, he did not
admit that has case was desperate and his hrst
proposition was 20 be allowed 10 march out.
armed and mounted, abandoning only the posi-
tion 10 bis foe He was willing 10 fight stIl.
but wanted 10 save his women and children
30 did the opposing commander, but refused TO
entertain has proposition, and the Nez Perce
went back
TO RENEW THE BATTLE
The storm still continued, and the troons in
the trenches, unable 10 crectany shelters, were
exposed 10 all its inclemency; though the
arrival OF the wagon train with It's guard had
permitted the gathering Of fuel from some
timber several miles away.
On the 81 another parley was held, the terms
proposed being surrender Of persons. alI prop.
erty aud arms 10 be held by tho Indians. This
was refused, and then modified 10 surrsndering
the property taken from the river retaining
stock aud arms, aud return to their own conn.
| Try. This was all the Chief would offer. and be
returned 10 has followers disappointed. Int not
yet defeated. While in conference with Gen.
Miles Lieut. Jerome Of the % Cav, taking
advantage OF the truce made his way into the
Indian camp, where he remained during the
nigh1 ana was allowed 10 depart unharmed
the next morning.
On the morning OF the 4th the position Of
I the gun was changed, aud the second she'll fred
dropped into what had been n safe position. and
made sad havoc, killing aud disabling about
dozen persons. Convinced that the total de-
siruetion Of his people was only question of
time, Joseph again hoisted the white flag,
AED SURRENDERED.
Gen. Howard had arrived on the groupd
/ during the previous night and was present ~
the surrender, which was, however, made 10
\ Gen. Miles. -
The four companies Of the 5lh Inf present
during the hrst two days aggregated about 90
1 mon aud officers, aud Capt Brothertop brought
] up about 40 with the wag0n-train or the Iat
/ Ter, however, mono were killed or wounded
| Ihe aggregate Of the 7th Cav. battalion was
/ lB5 men and officers; that Of the I'd Cav. about
! 10. Total killed, two officers and % enlisted
men; wounded, four officers aud % enlisted
/ men. Two Indian scouts were also killed ana
number wounded. The heaviest loss f.ll
| upon the 7th Cav, and was nearly an ipf;ct,d
! a. the FIRST attack. The I'd Cav. suffered lint
mile as they we're principally in charge of the
captured herd during the first day, aud NO at
DeihpI was made by the owners 10 Tecapture il.
THE NEs PIERCE
! acknowledged loss OF IL killed and 20
wounded. some Of the latter died during the
march back 70 the Missouri The total npmhe,
OF those who escaped TO Canada WAS afterwards
ascertained 10 be I04
THE cAPrIvEs
numbered ~ men. lsi women aud lf7 chill
dren, total Of tls. The proportions of N.
sexes or ages killed Is not known.
Two days were spent at the battle-ground after
the surrender, giving necessary attention "a Ire
wounded, burying the dead, aud arranging for
/ transportation Of those unable % travel on
horseback 10 the river. The only Ambulance
| with the command was given up 10 two enlisted
men, one OF whom had a broken thigh. The
other shot through the hips. They lived "a
rcsch the river, bnt the latter died as be was
carried on board the steamer Wagons tbe
/ bodies Of which were filed with small brpsL
covered with grass, were utilized for the con.
1 yeyanoe Of such others as could not bear franc
pOrtatinn on horseback. Much OF the country
was rough and broken la character and thougb