The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1905-02-28
Affidavit of Morrill,

Territory of Idaho. County of Nez
Perce, SIS.
Orrin Morrill, having been duly sworn
nm his oath deposes and says: l am
citizen of the United States, / am
tbirtv-nine years of age, my residence
during the past six years has been in
Idaho Territory Mr. business for most
of the time has been that of packer.
Since the first of July last, l have been
employed by Messrs. Baird Brothers as
messenger and mail-carrier and escort
to the mail and express between Lew
iston and Mt. Idaho. On the Attn of
July last in company with VIM. Baird,
left Mt Idaho at IL M. with mail and
express for Lewiston. We arrived
across the prairie at Cottonwood house
at about p m. Here we found three
companies of cavalry, Col. Perry COM
handing, with Capt. Whipple and Capt.
Winters, in all 113 men as I was then
informed. Here We were cautioned not
to proceed further towards Lewiston by
packers whom We fond there, telling
US that Indians were on the Cotton
wood hill in the direction OF Lewiston.
! went short distance up the gulch of
Cottonwood creek above the house and
saw four Indians and reported the fact
to Baird. Soon Indians were seen at
other points and at about p. m the
whole camp appeared to be surrounded
by mounted hostiles. Two rife pits had
been thrown up on the hill south of the
road and eastt of the Cottonwood house
the smaller one on the slope of the
hill towards the prairie and the larger
one towards the Cottonwood house, an
other rifle-pit was on the first bench
this side of the house towards Lewis
ton, and a Calling gun placed there
Another was on a small hill back OF
the garden to the north and east Of the
mousse protection made Of rails was
thrown up to the south and west of the
house. These pits were all manned al
the time the Indians surrounded the
camp. Another Calling gun was at the
mouse. where was also Colonel Perry
AS soon as the Indians showed them.
selves in force around US Baird and
myself took our guns and went imme
diately to the largest rifie-pit on thu
NIL towards the prairie, and during thu
attack shot thirty cartridges from m!
needle gun while Baird with a Henri!
rihe shot several times but the Indian!
were too far of to be reached by hi!
gun After the fighting had LASTED
aoout an hour the Sergeant command
ing In our pit sent to the house for thu
ua'iihg gun, which was forthwith
'lought and placed in position in ou
Wv ana forty rounds fired at the In
u.ans over the heads Of the men in tn
n'' and dismounted several Indian.
distance Of about 500 yards. TIL
au'ahs soon after withdrew toward
salmon river. We remained there til
AIN and then went down to the house
T'ng the whole of the fight tina
ehihg did not see Colonel Perry a
@ rine-pit. We took something t
ana between 9 and 10 o'clock Col
"e' Ferry ordered all hands to go t
e rifie-pits and remain there durin
W night. The Colonel himself the
ns s". and slept near Calling gun jus
Inside the large pit and Baird an
'eii We're short distance from hir
s'oe OF the Dit. We were not mo
during the night, and slep
III about IL p. m. of the 4th till abou
w d. m. of the 5th. No Indians wer
mat morning till about 10 o'clocl
a.. ""S then at the house and two sol
~ came rushing up the road throug
h.s su'ch from the prairie saying the
Irs, oeen pursued and fred upon b
h.s ahs' heard the firing. These me
ins 'ust come from Rocky Canyon, be
IT,. messengers from Towards cam,
hss - these men arrived an India
n. SHOWN himself on the hill back {
A. ouse and several shots were FIRE
tai. m from the main rif,e pitt. Car
:. nters then ordered, me to 70 u