The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-11

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 left flank
upon a small hill one Indian early in the
action purposely exposed himself to view.
throwing up his red blanket defiantly as you
might unfurl flag, and leaping about with
1t from point to point. AT that time we
had an occasional sight of others in The
edge of neighboring wood. Our enemy
distributed his best shooters at various
points. One group was so located as to
command our only spring of water, which
was situated some distance out from our
left. The river behind US was so far down
and so much exposed to skirmishers from
the other bank that nobody VentureG there.
Thus hemmeo in with savages very numer-
Gus and fighting with all the fierceness of
Arabs, without drinking water, and with
every man posted in defensive line, the
situation In the beginning was it must be
confessed, notvery encouraging.
In the afternoon several enterpriSing In
dams crept furtively toward Captain Ban
croft's and Lieutenant Haughev's company
fronts, seized ridge and. with good shell
ter from it began firing not thirty yards
off, In the skirmish that ensued Captain
Bancroft, Lieutenant Williams and several
of their men were badly wounded. Cantain
NJ. Z. Miller, the senior artillery officer,
ran to Baucrsfts front and called out:
Cheer and charge" Haughey and his
company obeyed the call and joined Ban
croft N the cheer and charge, and the ridge
was promptly cleared. The Indians ran
back for safety to the barricades that they
had lately left All the right wirg-Cap.
tain Evan Miles leading his wn infantry
rushed forward making two or three
charges, and covering the howitzers, which
had almost suffered capture, gained impor-
tant 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 had not as yet done much, but merel y
taken the out works 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 holders, orderlies, extra duty and
train men. and with them made rush from
the right down into the ravine This at
tempt drove in some WOrrisome sharp
shooters and made our exposed right flank
more secure. Fletcher and Otis pointed
the howitZers and helped on all the excit
| ing charges by landing shells so as to ex.
plode them among the Indians: but this
| uOloy WOlh ouly uduS Tue warriors Gins
more closely TO their barricadeS. Farther
to the left the Indians soon attempted the
white mans favorite game. In squads
they too yelled and charged; but Winters
Morris, Ferry and Whipple quickly ar
rested these onsets and sent the Indians
back with severe loss. But as darkness
came on our comrades did not take yer,
! hopeful view OF the field. Cut off from al
communication with the outside world, oul
water supply still in the enemy's hands
with every fighting man on the line-a sin
gle one, long and thin-and with indians
numerous enough to encircle our who'll
front, the night was cherries indeed New
barricades were constructed on both sides
The Indians were noisy, and like Goliath O
old, frequently defied their foes. Many O
our officers risked their lives by going il
the night to the spring to bring back waite
to refresh their men, greatly encourage,
them. In the daytime it had not been SAT-
to pass from one part of our line to another