The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-03-29

pushed on an advance guard to clear the
road and left rear guard to barricade the
trail by telling trees across it and rolling
stones into the narrow defiles. Howard was
baffled and gave up the pursuit.
Safe in the mountains, the Indians need
not fear molestation, but their food, supply
wasbarely enough to last out rapid march,
and it was plain that they must outwit or
Outright the soldiers to get through the
chain of forts and posts lying eastward.
The telegraph had alarmed a company of
the Seventh infantry stationed at Missoula,
end it's commander, Captain Rawn, prompt
~ moved with reinforcement, of volun-
teers into defile at the eastern mouth of
the pass and intrenched the place to await
the advance of Chief Joseph. But the willy
Nez Perces did not attack the Thermopyla,
and after few days spent in parley with
the soldiers and in gathering supplies he
moved southwark into Bitter Root valley.
1t was then the 2Sth Of July. More than
six weeks had passed since Captain Perry's
defeat on the Salmon and two weeks since
Towards drawn battle on the Clearwater.
The army had not only been aroused, but
had had time to concentrate General Glib
bon, commanding the Seventh infantry,
left Missoula on Aug. with 149 regulars,
and "a citizens to follow the Nez Perces trail.
On the Sth they struck the village in Big
Hole basin, with the Indians for once nap
ping.
The soldiers crawled up in the night close
to the huddle of ''tepees" and at daybreak
opened fire without warning. The Indians.
en- masse, squaws and children, mingled
with the braves, rushed out and ran for the
neighboring timber. But the stampede Of
| the warriors was only temporary. They
turned in their hiding among rocks and
trees and cut down with unerring aim the
soldiers who were burning the camp. Glib
| bon was finally driven to the timber hills
with loss of 80 killed and wounded. The
soldiers buried 80 dead Indians.
| Chief Joseph marched on from Big
Hole on Aug. 10, leaving Gibbons bruised
| army unable to pursue. But next day Gen
eral Howard reached Gibbon with fresh
body of soldiers from Idaho. The Indians
marched southwark, recrossed the noun
tains near Fort Lehmi, then turned east
ward toward the Yellowstone. Howard
gave sharp stern chase, and on the 10Th
was within IS miles of the village at Camas
Meadows. Joseph turned on Howard and
ran off his mule train, then made haste
eastward into the country of the Mountain
| Crows, beyond the Yellowstone.
| Among the little armies called out by the
telegraph to head off Joseph was General
Sturgis' Seventh cavalry on Tongue river.
Starting about Sept. 1 with 800 mounted
men, he struck the trail on the 9Th between
Towards column and the Indians. On the
18th he was across the Yellowstone to the
north, near Canyon creek. Joseph had left
a rear guard posted among the cliffs and
timber along the trail and stood at bay
with his main force in the canyon of the
creek. Sturgis attacked with boldness
not before shown in the campaign, but he
was favored with Crow scouts and braves
who turned against their hunted brethren.
Joseph held off the soldiers for a day, but
it cost him the lives of 81 braves, and nearly
1000 of his ponies were stampeded and run