The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-11

naming companies were put into position.
Our line had now its Infantry on the right,
and next in succession its artillery and cav
airy, all acting as infantry. 1t was a thin
line, shaped like crescent. The Indians,
by long curved line, less continuous, fully
enveloped ours.
Joseph and his warriors executed their
movements without hesitation. Opposite
our right they were lower than we behind
rocks, logs and trees. They there con-
structed some rude barricades. At most
other points they found shelter and were
usually out of sight Near our lett flank
upon small hill one Indian early in the
action purposely exposed himself to view,
throwing up his red blanket defiantly as you
might uuiurl flag, and leaping about with
it from point TO point. At that time we
had an occasional sight OF others in the edge
of ncighboring wood. Our enemy dis
tributed his best shooters at various points.
One group was 50 located as to command
our only spring of Water, which was situa-
ted some distance out from our left. The
river behind us was so far down and so
much exposed 10 skirmShers from the other
bank that nobody ventured there. Thus
hemmed in with savages very numerous and
fighting with all the herceneSS of Arabs
without drinking water. and with every
man posted in defensive line, the situation
| in the beginning was, it must be confessed,
| not very encouraging.
In the afternoon several enterpriSng In
OldlS Cl6pt luIllftIy lOWdEu captain Ban
croft anu Lieutenant Haughey'S company
| fronts, seized a ridge and, with good shelter
| from It, began firing not thirty yards off.
In the sklTmish that ensued Captain Ban
croft, Lieutenant Williams and several of
| their men were badly wounded, Captain
Nj. 2. Miller, the senior artillery officer ran
TO Bancrofts front and called ont: Cheer
and CHARGE" Haughey and his comla any
obeyed the call and Joined Bancroft In the
cheer and charge, and the ridge was prompt
-. a
to the barbados that they had lately left
All the right wing-Captain Evan Miles
lie ding his own infantry-ruShed forward
making TWO or three charges, and, covering
the howilzers, which had almost suffered
capture, gained important ground.
In one or another of the charges made.
Captains Pollock and JOcelyn and Lieuten-
ants EltOnhead, Farrow, Wood, Baily, Dun
can and their men played an active part.
We Lad not as yet done much, but merely
taken the outwOrks of Joseph's sheltered
line. Following up the excitement, Wilkin-
son gathered all the available men who
from any cause were not in front, includ-
ing horse-helders, orderlieS, extra duty and
train men, and with them made rush
from the right down into the ravne. This
attempt drove In some worrSome sharp
shooters, and made our exposed right flank
more secure. Fletcher and Otis pointed
the howiIzers and helped ON all the excit-
ing charges by landing shells so as to ex-
plode them among the Indians; but this
noisy work only made the warriors cling
more closely 10 their barricadcs. Farther
to the left the Indians soon attempted the
white mans favorite game In squads
they, too, yelled and charged; but Winters,
Morris, Perry aud Whippe quickly arrested
these onsets and sent the Indians back with
severe loss. But as darkness came on our
comrades did not take a very hopeful view
OF the field. Cut off from all communica-
ton with the outside world, our water sup
ply still i'll the enemY's hands. with every
lighting man on the line-a single one, long
and thin - ana with Indians numerous
enough to encircle our whole front. tile night
was cherries indeed New barricadeS were
constructed on both sides. The Indians
were noisy, and. like Goliath of old, fire.
quently detied their foes Many of our Off
GERS risked their lives by going in the night
to the spring to bring back water to refresh
their meu, greatly encouraging them. In the
daytime 1t had not been safe to pass from
one part OF our line to another. To avoid Il
shot our officers found that they must creep
like children TO and from the front. One
hearty officer, Captain Pollock, whom GEN
eral Miles commends for bravery, when
asked how he, SO large a mark, had passed
from the center to the flank of his company,
answered in a half whisper, "Oh, being too
fat to crawl, l rolled"
Matters were yet substantially unchanged
at dawn, except that an offensive plan had
been promulgated. 1t was, first, to recover
the spring; second, that every man should
have his breakfast. not emitting cup of
coffee for each; third, to withdraw Captain
Miller's artillery battalion (all that were
serving as Infantry from the front line /;
fourth, at an hour appointed Miller was to
form column, move out southwark. pierce
the hostile curve, aud, when just far enough
across, face to his right and roll up that line.
The howitzer battery and all other troops
were TO support and follow up Miler's move
ment If it should be successful. But Joseph.
seeming TO anticipate some contriyance
against him, had his own offensive plan He
set III motion herd of ponies some 800
strong and directed them across the space
which was not covered by our troops. He
our animals, and possibly break our ranks
and terrify our men. They ran swiftly, as
herd Of wild animals can, keeping well to-
gether, but were themselves turned from
their straight course, by the discharge at