Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-12-16
Aboriginal Heroes.

N the early days WAS '"e iSN VI
s.t His browning act OF hcroism
the rescue of Col. Steptoe and his
,.n from, an Indian seige on the present
=. Il, the town of Rosalia in the Palouse
..r,rv Timothy went with this in
r,dug party to guide the soldiers into
4. hostile country. The region about
u. pa,ouse and Spokane rivers was in
tsted with murderous savages and Col.
c,.,toe with a company Of soldiers went
u subdue the hostiles. They were en-
conferred on the prairie, where the
.o,d;ers suffered heavy losses; and when
r;1fa ne on they were without ammuni-
,ou and surrounded by force of Indians
that would surely destroy the entire com.
maua when daylight came again.
A council of war was held and even
,he guide could read the despair of the
vbitemen in their faces. He offered to
scout before daylight vanished and if
possible find means of escape through
lbe hills under cover of approaching
darkness.
This bold proposal was considered a
Startling one on the part of the sub
ordinate officer to whom it was made.
He scorned the idea of trusting the lives
Of whtemen to the mercy of an Indian.
The opportunity to lead them into a
death trap was too much to be given to
an Indian. The proposition however
| was submitted to the council as foriorn
hope. Col. Steptoe said the command
4 being in a desperate plight policy
dictates that even forlorn hope should
/ not be passed by.
In the meantime the Indian guide re-
connoitered and returned to the dspair-
ing soldiers. He told them he could
lead them through the seige line if they
would submit implicitly to his leadership
and let him plan strategic retreat. This
bold proposal of an Indian guide to as
sumo command of the army fairly stag
gered both officers and men. Col. STEP
toe questioned the guide carefully. He
finally returned to his assembled officers
and announced that Timothy should
plan the retreat. All protests were
slenced by an order to prepare to march
in fifteen minutes.
Timothy's plans were made orders
and they were executed in soldierly
obedience. The fires were rekindled,
The tents were left standing and the
horses were left picketed. This was the
stratesem of Timothy to keep the be-
selglng hostiles in ignorance of the re-
treat All supplies and baggage were
lelt In the tents except two days rations
and the arms. With a protest against
The leadership of an Indian in hostile
country the orders Of march were obeyed
ahd in single file and in silence the
~hitemen followed Timothy in a zizzag
course over the prairie; and they were
lar away from danger before the ruse
was discovered by the hostiles
The soldiers protested against leaving
lne supplies and horses to the enemy.
timothy said leave everything and as
n'uch food as possible and the un-
usahized Indian force will be tempted
70 parley and delay over the distribution
u the spoils. This was true. The In
u''is ieasted and quarreled long enough
,0' the soldiers to travel fifty miles on
'oot before they were overtaken by
mounted pursuers.
ihe little army reached Snake river
opposite Alpowa before the next night.
Inc soldiers were completely exhausted
anu nnht Tor picket duty. Timothy sent
" MS people across the river for strong
guard OF young Indians for duty as
:. during the night. To this Col
N'eP'oe under officers protested but the
g. officers with more compassion
~ MS men and more faith in Timothy
armed the young Nez Perces and sent
'neh out on the hills to form their own
picket lines.
n 'o'hy then offered to send the Nez
e''es warriors in sufficient force to sub
1le lie hostiles TO the north but the
'e's oeing out Of ammunition and per-
AAps afraid declined the offer. In the
'n ''fie courier had been dispatched
so,,. A'hi'ah TO Chief Lawyer. The
p, hastened on toward Walla Walla.
-. ra'aha was reached in the course of
m. uays' On the third day the COM
80 was proceeding YEARLY OIL the
=, n ~hen pursuing force was observed.
., ls nofsemcn meant but one thing to
r, ,lfed and disheartened soldiers.
iofnled to resist the iminent charge.
A' The cavalcade advanced however a
ths sye caught sight of flag. 1t was
~ stars and stripes 1t was flag old
cs "o'ny had begged from Col. Steptoe.
Lawyer at the head OF 90 young
~, Ferces had come to offer his services
United States to suhdue the Indian
This offer too was declined.
tue retreat from the battle field w.
'' afterwards major in the regular
"uo lived in San Frarcisco after
"e was retired, was left behiud at the
OIL the host:les with two wounded
''es' Major Ball remained in hiding
tue battle field and lived upon the
os of hard tack that were left by