The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-11

A
gNNS
THE CHARGE.
white mans fayorite game. In squads
they, too. yelled and charged; but VIM
tiers, Morris, Perry and Whipple quickly
arrested these onsets and sent the Indians
back with severe loss. But as darkness
came on our comrades did not take very
hopeful view of the .eld Cut off from all
communication with the outside world.
our water supply still in the enemy's
hands, with every lighting man on the
hne--a single one, long and thin-and
With Indians numerous enough TO en-
circle our whole front, the night was cheer
less indeed. New barTicades were con-
structed on both sides The Indians were
noisy, and like Goliath of old, frequently
deiled their foes. Many of our officers
risked their lives by going in the night to
the spring TO bring back water to refresh
their men, greatly encouraging them. In
the daytime it had not been safe to pass
from one part of our line to another. To
avoid a shot our officers found that they
must creep, like children, to and from the
front. One hearty officer, Captain Pol
lock, whom Captain Miles commends for
bravery, when asked how he, SO large
mark, had passed from the center to the
hank of his company, answered in half
whisper, 'oh, being too fat to crawl, I
rolled"
Matters were yet substantially unchanged
at dawn, except that an offensive plan had
been promulgated. 1t was, Drst, to recover
the spring; second, that every man should
have his breakfast, not emitting a 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 and, 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
Miier'S movement should it lie successful,
But Joseph, seeming to anticipate some
contrivance against him, had mis- own
offensive plan. He set in motion a
herd of ponies some 800 strong, and di-
rected them across the space which was
not covered by our troops. He did it
doubtless with view to stampede our ami
mails and possibly break our ranks and ter
rify our men. They ran swiftly, as herd
of wild animals can, keeping we'll together,
but were themselves turned from their
straight course by the discharge at them
of few pieces; and they disappeared as
suddenly as they came without doing us
any perceptible damage.
Our operation for the second day COM
menced aDont sunrise. Miller had Otis
battery so located as to shell the bushes
and holloWs In the neighborhood of the
spring. Perry's and Rodney's men, who
were waiting on foot near at hand during
the shelling. at the command and with no
little shouting, made series of charges
from hiliock TO hillock, till the ground was
cleared OF enemies far and near. Immedi-
ately picket posts were so chosen anu oceu-
plea that man, going with pail to the
water, could not again be molested. Soon.
little .res had started and camp kettles
were steaming. The handy soldier cooks,
sent from each company. made ready the
hot coffee and warmed up the food so that
before two hours had expired officers and
men had been cheered and refreshed by
respectable breakfast. The third thing de-
vised to take away from the front several
companies, was not so easy To execute.
There was strong protesting: ''Oh. no,
general, our lines are too weak already! II
Is not safe. But the general remained
firm and shouldered ali the risk. Captain
Miller then cautiously Withdrew his four
companions, while Captains Miles and
Perry stretched out their battalion lines
to III the gap so created. 1t was fortunate
for us, perhaps, that Joseph did not COM
prehend what we were dong, so made no
attack while the companies were in mo-
ton. Miller at halt-pa>t >, the time desig-
mated, was just ready 10 start across the
rayine held by the Indians. His entire
command, In waiting. were filed with
hope and expectancy, prepared TO take up
the parts assigned them, when 10, a big
dust; it rose some two miles away toward
the southeast.
II was Captain Jackson's troop that had
been coming from Fort Klamath with in
struction to join US; they were escorting
supplies. Immediately the expectant ar
tillery battalion was ordered TO push out
and meet the coming cavalry. Miller
moved at once and rapidly, taking the In
dians by surprise. so that only moderate
skirmishing arose when he was crossing
their lines. 1t required, however, more
than an hour to bring III the new troops,
some l4fty strong, and the provisions
Mlller's column began 10 move quickly
toward us, and 70 encounter quite storm
of bullets ntfuliy striking the ground
around him, lie had again pierced the
Indian line when his men faced suddenly
10 his left ana charged. Rodney's COM
pany having halted 4 moment, let the
others pass. then followed some distance
in rear TO guard against the repeated at
tenlpts OF the Indians 10 get around one
nank or the other of the moving front.
There was some obstinate resistance at
JOseph's barrcace, some rapid aring but
no Indian dreamt of such rolling up.
After a few more wild shots ana a few
bold bat vain efforts 10 gallon around
Miller's command, the Indians gave way
en- masse, and began to run down the
ravines and the steep slopes 10 the Clear
Water branch, and then to wade or swim
TO the other shore.
More quickly than can tell il our force
had taken Up the pursuit, the infantry. ar
tIllery and Winters troop on foot and the
remaining cavalry on Observation-Disclosures is.
all who had time 10 get 10 their horses
and mount. The Gatlings fairly flew To
the river bluff, with Jackson's troop
abreast OF them in lively support. There
they opened a brisk nre on the retreat
ing hosliles. The howitzers. little later.
came gailoping 10 the same heights with
Trimble's men close behind them: and
they threw their bursting shells into the
living raw inc and amid the waiting lodges
beyond the river The fugifives mainly
went hack by the routes they had come,
iCoaifaaed on Page Fgtcz).