The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-01-31

that my presence upon his back was OBJ
jectionable. AS riding Quicker" was
preferable to walking, staid with him,
however unpleasant he made it for me.
As we went into camp at S O'Clock p. m.
q courier from Colonel Perry arrived with
the news that his force Of I2s soldiers
was attacked at the Cottonwood house
by Joseph's entire band, and the voluu.
teers were ordered to his assistance i'm
mediately, the regulars going into camp.
We started at once without waiting for
supper. and dispatched two Of McCon-
ville's men, Jack Carleton and Laugh
ing" Williams, to a point above on the
Salmon river where we expected to cross.
for the purpose of obtaining . couple Of
boats in which to ferry our camp equip
age, our party heading for the nearest
point on the river in the direction Of
Cottonwood. Carleton and Williams
found the boat, but in running q rapids
capsized and were compelled to lie by
for the night. The accident delayed our
crossing until morning and when we
reached the summit Of the bluffs which
line the north side of the river, it was
noon of the 5th, and before evening we
could hear firing in the direction of the
Cottonwood house.
CIVILIANS no THE FRONT.
The sound was an additional incentive
and our horses were crowded to q more
rapid gate, the precaution being taken to
place an advance guard and fankers
upon the right and left to provide against
surprise. 1t was after 10 O'Clock at night
when we were halted by the guard around
Perry's camp, blu. we made ourselves
known without difficulty and passed
through the lines. Upon arrival at our
destination we were greatly surprised to
learn that the firing heard by us was not
from an attack upon Perry. but from
fight between fifteen civilians from
Mount Idaho and Joseph's band Of war
riors, numbering more than las men.
These civilians, under Captain Mandall,
had started from Mount Idaho that
morning to 90 to Perry's assistance, and
having reached the corner Of a field not
more than one half mile from the Cotton
wood house, were attacked by the hos
tiles, and for two long hours one Of the
flercest battles of the campaign ragged
within sight of Perry and his I25
soldiers with two Calling guns, the COL
onel refusing to 60 to their assistance.
The civilians were partly protected by the
fence which surrounded the field, and.
outnumbered as they were, they put up
so gallant fight as to finally drive the
enemy back and as darkness approached
made their escape to Perry's lines.
In justice to the common soldiers un-
der Perry, it must be said they begged
hard for permission to 60 to the relief Of
the little band, some of them falling
upon their knees before their commander,
the tears streaming from their eyes a.
they entr Gated him to allow them to aid
the citizens in their unequal struggle,
but Perry turned deaf ear to all. Cap
tain Randall's little party suffered Sc
verely before it succeeded in driving off
the enemy, and as the sun went to rest
behind the tree tops Of Craig mountain,
the soul of the brave captain took its
fight to join the other heroes who had
crossed the range before him. Captain
Rainfall received his wound early In the
fight. but continued to cheer his men
with words Of encouragement until death
claimed him for, his own. Two others Of
the party, whose names do not now re.
member, were badly wounded. one Of
them subsequently dying from his in
juries, and Frank Fem, now an honored
citizen OF Boise City. had his lips badly
blistered by a hot kiss from . bullet
fired from . needle gun furnished by the
government.
The day had been bloody one In other
directions, for We learned that Lieuteu-
ant Rains and nine men had been killed
that morning few miles from the Cot
tonwood house. and short distance from
where they met their death the bodies
Of Charlas Blewet. Of Walla Walla, and
Bill Foster, haif-breed, were lying
cold and stark beneath the trees. Bic.
wet and Poster were in the employ Of the
government, and when we arrived at
Cottonwood no arrangements had been
made by Perry for the interment Of their