An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 19

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524

USA > Idaho > Kootenai County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 19
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 19
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 19
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 19

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

Such was the problem presented to General Howard for solution. He had not with him a sufficient force so that he could send a part of it across the Salmon river to bring on an action with Joseph, while a por- tion remained to meet the enemy and protect the citi- zens, should the wily chieftain reeross onto Camas prairie. He could not well retain his whole command on the east side of the river, for Joseph might remain in his position of safety indefinitely, and the entire country was clamoring for aggressive action.

It was over the correct procedure at this time that Howard and the volunteers had their first little tilt. "While Howard was concentrating," says F. A. Fenn, "the Idaho volunteers appointed a committee consisting of Joseph Peaseley, John MePherson and myself to go to the general and explain to him a means of escape which was open to the Indians, viz: via the Billy, or Craig, crossing, down the Salmon several miles. This cross- ing was the only one this side of the mouth of the Sal- mon, and should Joseph attempt to escape northward he would be compelled to cross here. At that time the Indians numbered not over one hundred and fifty war- riors, and these were encumbered with their squaws, children and camp equipage and about 1,500 head of horses. We called upon General Howard and suggest- ed our plan to him, viz: to send a small detachment north by the prairie to the Billy crossing, where a score of men could hold four or five times their num- ber at bay in the rocky defile leading north from the river, while he himself should eross at White Bird and attack Joseph's rear. By so doing he would have Joseph entrapped. General Howard politely listened to our suggestions and then bowed us out with the remark that he believed himself fully competent to manage his own campaign. After events proved con- clusively that we understood the country and the In- dians far better than the general, for Joseph crossed his entire force at the Billy crossing and, coming up on the prairie. attacked and massacred Lieutenant Rains and party."

Howard decided to cross the Salmon with all his force, leaving only Captain Whipple's cavalry, which were sent back to arrest Looking-glass and his entire following and turn them over to the keeping of the volunteers at Mount Idaho. He had some skirmishing, but sustained no loss and probably inflicted no injuries upon the red skins, who soon disappeared. "I pressed this column," says Howard, "after the Indians to Craig's Ferry ( ford). Lost our raft in attempting to cross. Too much of a torrent to eross troops and sup- plies without it. James Reuben, the scout, had brought clear accounts that Joseph had not turned south toward his old haunts in the Wallowa, but northward and east- ward, to gather up Looking-glass and reinforcements, catch small parties like Rains's detachment and do what mischief he could." Therefore, by turning straight

back, recrossing the Salmon at Rocky canyon, or White Bird, where there were boats, and going via Grange- ville, where I could bring the Cottonwood force to me, I had a short line and hoped to get a decisive battle from our doughty chief." The Teller, a severe eritic of Howard, says of this short campaign : "Nature made a trap between Salmon and Snake rivers ; Joseph baited it by shaking a red blanket at Howard defiantly across the river. Howard followed the bait and con- sumed three days in crossing his five hundred men over the stream. When over Joseph runs back on this side and returns to Camas prairie. Howard stays in his trap two weeks before he finds he is in a trap."

While the supreme in command was engaged in this bootless expedition between the Salmon and the Snake, events of considerably moment were transpiring on Camas prairie. Captain Whipple had gone to fulfill as best he could his instructions to arrest Looking- glass, who, the friendly Indians said, was awaiting a favorable opportunity to join Joseph.

Thus far Lookingglass had maintained, as some of the whites aver, a perfectly neutral attitude, if any- thing leaning toward the cause of the whites, although there were doubtiess many would-be hostiles among the younger element. He was camped on Clear creek, a few miles east of the present town of Kooskia, which was considered his home. Captain Whipple was joined at Mount Idaho by about twenty volunteers under Cap- tain D. B. Randall and a night ride was made to Clear creek. The utmost caution was taken by Captain Whipple to prevent the Indians from hearing of the ap- proach of the troops. Great was the astonishment of the former when, just as the soldiers reached Clear creek, the shrill notes of the bugle rang out across the canyon and were caught and echoed back by the sur- rounding hills and bluffs. In an instant the camp was astir, and by the hazy light of approaching dawn the Indians could be seen running back and forth. The red skins knew what a bugle call meant.

Immediately a parley was arranged, and Captain Whipple and his escort went forth to meet Looking- glass. While this parley was progressing Washington Holmes, who had a half-breed wife, took it upon him- self to commence the engagement by firing into the camp. This statement is made upon the positive asser- tions of two reputable men who were present-F. A. Fenn and C. M. Day-and upon the admission of Mr. Holmes himself. Of course this act of hostility caused the immediate breaking off of negotiations between Whipple and Lookingglass, and a general engagement opened. The Indians soon fled eastward into the moun- tains, leaving their tepees, nearly all their camp equip- age and over seven hundred ponies. Some of the horses were captured by the troops and the tepees and equipage were burned. One Indian child was killed in the exchange of shots, but the whites escaped un- scathed. Lookingglass soon joined Joseph and ren- dered that chieftain invaluable assistance in planning and executing the campaign. He appeared as spokes- man in negotiations and parleys with the whites, won renown by his diplomacy and shrewdness and impressed many with the belief that to him of right belonged

*This report as given was mere surmise as to intentions of Joseph, for the first definite information Howard had that the hostiles had escaped him via the Craig or Billy crossing was conveyed to him by Peter H. Ready, a courier sent to him by Perry with news of the destruction of Lieutenant Rains and his party .- F. A. Fenn.

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

much of the credit for military skill which has been given to Joseph.

Whipple marched next day to the Norton ranch (Cottonwood) in obedience to Howard's command that he should form a junction with Perry there. Upon his arrival he sent two scouts, William Foster and Charles Blewett, towards Howard's position at Craig's crossing to learn the whereabouts of the Indians. Hav- ing proceeded to Lawyer's canyon they were ascending it when they saw an Indian with a band of horses, also three other Indians in another direction. They put their horses to full speed in retreat, Foster leading. When Foster found time to cast a backward glance he saw that his companion was unhorsed and separated from him. "Take to the brush," was his advice as he made an effort to capture the frightened animal. But the horse could not be caught, and Foster was com- pelled to leave Blewett to his own resources and con- tinue his retreat. He reached Whipple's command in safety and reported what he had learned as to the whereabouts of the Indians.

Whipple immediately prepared to take up the line of march, sending Second Lieutenant Rains with ten picked men and the scout Foster to reconnoiter in ad- vance of the main command, and aid Blewett if he could. "I particularly cautioned Rains," says Whip- ple's report, "not to precede the command too far, to keep on high ground and report the first sign of In- dians." Rains and his men rode over the first rise from Cottonwood and down into the shallow ravine to the left of the present road leading to Craig's moun- tain from the prairie. Here they were attacked by what proved to be a large force of Indians. Whipple, who heard the firing, came up as fast as possible, but he saw that the Indians were in such numbers and so well intrenched that he could do nothing to help except at a loss of a greater number of men, so he was com- pelled to watch the doomed detachment as one by one its members fell. Some sought such shelter as they could find, some attempted to retreat back to Whipple's command, but not one escaped the bullets of the In- dian sharpshooters. Whipple's command formed in line on one side of the ravine while the Indians did like- wise on the other, but they were too far apart for ef- fective action, and neither combatant cared to give the other advantage by descending to lower ground. They stood menacing each other until nightfall, when Whip- ple returned to Cottonwood and the Indians retired toward Craig's crossing. During the night couriers arrived from Perry, who was en route to Cottonwood with a pack train from Fort Lapwai. This was sup- posed to be in imminent danger of attack by hostiles, therefore Whipple set out next morning, July 4th, to reinforce the escorting detachment. He met the pack train eight miles out and brought it to. its destination in safety. "About midday," says Whipple, "Indians began to gather, and but a short time elapsed before the camp (Cottonwood ) was surrounded by them, and for hours they made the most frantic efforts to dislodge us. Every man of the command was kept on the lines this afternoon (rifle pits having been dug at a

little distance from the Cottonwood house ) until about sundown, when the enemy withdrew for the night."

Perry was now chief in command at Cottonwood. On the morning of July 5th an event transpired which drew down upon him a storm of criticism, while it earned for Lieutenant D. B. Randall, before mentioned, and sixteen volunteers under his command a place among the world's heroes. The famous seventeen were seen approaching from the direction of Mount Idaho and were recognized to be volunteers. The Indians at the time were moving their stock toward Clear- water. As soon as they saw the volunteers about one hundred and fifty of them returned to intercept the doughty little squad and prevent their reaching Whip- ple. The Indians succeeded in getting between the volunteers and the regulars, taking a position on an elevation of ground near the intersection of the Elk City trail with the stage road. Perry was now urged to go with troops to the rescue, but he refused, saying that the volunteers were already beyond hope. No doubt the captain honestly thought that an effort to save the volunteers would be bootless, yet the sang froid of a refusal to try is hard to understand .*

Had Randall ordered a retreat it is probable that the Indians, on their fleet ponies, would have run down his men and killed most if not all of them, but Randall was not a retreating man. He continued on his course and the Indians soon had him surrounded. He ordered a fierce charge ahead, broke through their lines, se- cured a favorable position between the Indians and Cot- tonwood, ordered his men to dismount and shoot down horses, and he and they again faced the Indians, intending to hold their position until help should arrive from Cottonwood. In this charge, which differs from that of the Light Brigade in that the men did not "ride back," Randall was mortally wounded, B. F. Evans was killed and three others received injuries more or less serious. Randall was paralyzed by his wound, which was in the backbone, and died a few minutes after dismounting.

Mr. F. A. Fenn tells us that on the eminence just back of the old Cottonwood hotel, where Perry's force was stationed, a small body of troopers and citizens was engaged in throwing up breastworks when the In- dians attacked the seventeen. They saw the charge of the volunteers, watched them take a more sheltered position a little over a mile from the fort at Cottonwood and waited in vain for the order to mount and go to the rescue. They saw F. D. Vansise ride in for rein- forcements. They also saw the appeal pass unheeded by Colonel Perry. Then they ceased watching and acted. Sergeant Simpson sprang to the front and cried: "If your officers won't lead you I will." He was joined by twenty-five others, all of whom made

*"Especially so," says F. A. Fenn, "as the seventeen went there at the urgent request of Perry for reinforcements, which request he sent by a courier named Crooks the night before to Mount Idaho." F. D. Vansise is, however, of the opinion that Crooks came for volunteer reinforcements on his own account, and without the knowledge of Perry.

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

their way toward the horses. Perry, seeing that his men were determined to go anyway, directed Captain Whipple to take charge of the company, and under him reinforcements went to the seventeen and brought them safely in. Sergeant Simpson was arrested on the charge of insubordination, but afterwards participated in the Clearwater fight, where he was seriously wound- ed. Subsequently the charge against him was with- drawn.

When the reinforcements arrived they found the men still holding their ground, having withstood nearly ten times their number for about an hour. Many are of the opinion that had the soldiers come speedily to the fray and followed up the advantage with vigor a severe whipping might have been administered to the red skins. The regular officers, however, were exon- erated by a court of inquiry. Fortunately the names of the celebrated seventeen have been preserved for us. They are as follows : D. B. Randall and B. F. Evans, killed ; A. B. Leland, D. H. Howser and Charles John- son, wounded, Mr. Howser mortally; L. P. Wilmot, J. L. Cearley, James Buchanan, William B. Beemer, Charles W. Case, E. J. Bunker, Frank D. Vansise, C. M. Day, George Riggins, A. D. Bartly, H. C. Johnson and F. A. Fenn.

The war thus far had been decidedly in the Indians' favor. They had administered a disastrous defeat to Perry at White Bird; they had successfully eluded Howard at the Salmon river, causing his entire force to consume much valuable time in accomplishing noth- ing ; they had massacreed Rains and party; they had escaped from Whipple and Perry at Cottonwood ; they had effected a junction of the forces under Looking- glass with those of Joseph, despite the efforts of Whip- ple's cavalry and Randall's volunteers, sent to effect the arrest of the former chieftain, and the only check they had as yet received, that administered by Ran- dall's seventeen, had inflicted slight damage .* These successes, however, had inspired Joseph with the pride which precedes a fall. Whether he thought it was im- possible for the whites to concentrate, or that he dare risk a battle with Howard's entire command, is not definitely known, but at any rate he allowed himself to be brought to a decisive engagement, as a result of which he was forced to yield the struggle on Idaho soil and begin his famous retreat over the Bitter Roots and the tortuous trail beyond.

Failing to effect a crossing at Craig's ford, Howard took the backward track, recrossing the Salmon, and July 9th found him again at Grangeville. His force was weakened by the withdrawal of Hunter's Dayton volunteers, McConville's Lewiston volunteers and Cap- tain Cearley's company, who, Howard says, "had be- come a little disgusted with the slowness of regulars and angry at their own fearful discomfiture near Cot-

tonwood ;" hence started on an independent movement .* They began reconnoitering for the enemy, soon struck their trail, following which they succeeded in locating the Indians near the junction of the south and middle forks of the Clearwater. Captain Cearley and L. P. Wilmot were sent out to discover their exact position, and did so. Though they saw no warriors, they judged from the number of lodges and horses that the Indians were in too great force to be successfully attacked by the small force of volunteers, and so reported. Ac- cordingly no aggressive movement was made, but the volunteers busied themselves in throwing up fortifica- tions and strengthening their position against a possi- ble assault. They had a race with the Indians about two o'clock that day, when the approach of Major Shearer with fourteen men was the signal for an In- dian attempt to head him off. They succeeded in bringing Shearer in safely. Upon his arrival it was determined to send a massage to Howard, twelve miles distant, apprising him of the whereabouts of the In- dians and asking that he march next day to co-operate with them in an attack upon the hostiles. Howard was waiting for reinforcements, and did not do so. Mean- while the Indians made a night attack upon the vol- unteers, killing and driving away forty-three of their horses. The volunteers waited for another day and night, but their messenger failed to return, on account of sickness, and, not seeing any sign of Howard and being short of provisions and horses, they withdrew toward Mount Idaho. McConville was criticised for yielding this position, which Howard wished him to hold as a part of the enveloping force, "but," says Ban- croft, who seems to get his information largely from Sutherland's history of Howard's campaign, "being separated from Howard by the river, and having lost a large number of the horses, it was prudent and good tactics to retire and let the Indians fall into the trap Howard had set for them near their own camp and to place himself between the settlements and the Indians." The "trap" consisted in Howard's attacking Joseph on the opposite side from the volunteers' abandoned posi- tion, in which direction the Indians had thrown up

*"This statement," says Major Fenn, "is as base and ma- licious a libel as was ever published. The action of the seventeen volunteers near Cottonwood was a victory. They held almost ten times their number at bay in pitched battle for an hour and a half and finally drove them off out of range. Casualties to the Indians were nine killed, as evi- denced by the graves thev left; the whites had two killed and three wounded. This was the first real reverse inflicted upon the hostiles and Howard's statement passes understand- ing. When informed of the fight of the seventeen, Mc- Conville, who was at the time with Howard, at once set out with the citizen soldiers, including Hunter's men under his command, numbering about one hundred men, to reinforce their fellows-and Perry, who was so anxiously calling for help. McConville made a forced march from White Bird and reached Cottonwood the evening of the 5th. The next morning all of the volunteers made a forced march to Mount Idaho, in the direction of which the Indians had moved. It has always heen understood that Howard de- sired and consented to McConville's movement to reinforce Perry."

*Some of the volunteers state that nine new made graves were found where the Indians camped after the fight with the seventeen :. One warrior was seen to fall and the Indians acknowledged that he was so badly wounded that he died a week or so later.

Catholic Church built on Coeur d'Alene River at Old Mission in 1853 by the Indians and Jesuit Missionaries. Wooden Pegs were used instead of Nails to put it together.

Foster Monument Commemorating a Scene in the Nez Perces War of 1877.

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

breastworks. Joseph's camp lay not far from the mouth of Cottonwood creek, in a deep defile among the high hills. On the IIth of July Howard approached it with his entire force. Captain Trimble from Slate creek, Perry, Whipple and all. About noon Lieutenant Fletcher discovered the Indians, and by one o'clock a howitzer and two gatling guns were throwing leaden missiles at the Indians below. These were getting their horses out of range as rapidly as possible. The contour of the country favored them, and soon they were safe. Howard ordered a change of position to a bluff toward the left, which could only be reached by a trip of more than a mile around the head of a ravine. Upon reach- ing this position with the howitzer and gatlings they found Joseph already in line of battle and saw a number of mounted Indians attempting their flanking move- ment to the left. Winters with his cavalry met these flankers and foiled them in their purpose. Soon the battle began in good earnest. "My line," says Howard, "I extended to the left by the cavalry and to the right by the infantry and artillery battalions, gradually re- fusing my flanks, until the whole bluff was enveloped. Four hundred men, necessarily much spread out, held a line two and a half miles in extent. Our main pack train had passed by this position. Another small train with a few supplies was on the road near us. The In- dian flankers by their rapid movement struck the rear of the small train, killed two of the packers and dis- abled a couple of mules, loaded with howitzer ammu- nition. The prompt fire from Perry's and Whipple's cavalry saved the attendant ammunition from capture, luckily. The main supply train was saved only by the quick work of a messenger, guiding it within the lines."

Charges and counter charges were made during the day, in one of which, led by Captain Miles, Cap- tain Bancroft and Lieutenant Williams were seriously injured and a number of the enemy were killed and wounded. A charge near the center by Miller gave the whites a disputed ravine, but the repeated charges of the enemy were successfully repelled. The whites, however, were not in the best position at nightfall, as their water supply, a spring, was commanded by the Indian sharpshooters, so that it was only by running the gauntlet of a dangerous fire that the officers ob- tained during the night sufficient water to slake the thirst of their men. Throughout most of the hours of darkness the combatants on both sides worked hard constructing stone barricades and rifle pits.

"At daylight on the 12th," says Howard, "every available man was on the line. I directed that food should be cooked and coffee made at the center and carried to the front. This was not easy to do, for we had first to get complete possession of the spring, as sufficient water was not secured in the night. This feat was executed with great spirit by Miller and Perry, using Otis's battery and Rodney's company on foot. As soon as the battery had made a rapid firing it ceased and a prompt charge at a run with shouting was undertaken by the men in support. The Indian sharpshooters were thus driven from their hiding

places and the spring secured by our riflemen against recapture.

"As soon as every man had been provided with food I directed that the artillery battalion be withdrawn from the lines, thin though they were already, and that the whole stretch be held by the infantry and cavalry. This gave a reserve force to employ in an offensive movement. It should be remembered that the number of our men on the line and the number of Indian war- riors that Joseph marshaled were about equal. Miller withdrew his battalion and at 2:30 p. m., the time I had selected, was preparing to execute a peculiar move- ment, viz: to push out by the west flank, pierce the enemy's line just west of the center, cross his barri- caded ravine, then face suddenly to the right and charge so as to strike the Indian position in reverse, as- sisting himself meanwhile by a howitzer.

"Miller was fully ready and about to move when beyond the Indian position toward the south a dust ap- peared in the distance. Our glasses, quickly catching every new appearance, revealed it as the expected sup- ply train, escorted by Jackson's cavalry. Immediately the artillery battalion, which was waiting for the other work, was sent out to meet the newcomers. This oc- casioned considerable skirmishing and a delay of an hour, when the train was brought in in safety. To our joy Major Keeler of General McDowell's staff ac- companied the escort and brought us cheering words from his general at San Francisco as well as welcome reinforcements. At the time of these arrivals I had ridden out a few yards to secure a fair view of the field. Upon my invitation Major Keeler came for- ward to see the battle and took a place by my side.

"Captain Miller, instead of returning with the train, was marching slowly in column by the right flank to- ward us, when, as he crossed the enemy's line, just at the right point, he faced to the left, moved quickly in line for nearly a mile across our front and repeatedly charged the enemy's positions. This manner of strik- ing at an angle and following up the break is called 'rolling up the enemy's line.' This Miller accomplished most effectually. The usnal attempt to double his left was made by the Indians, when a reserved company, Rodney's, in Miller's rear deployed, flanked the flank- ers and drove them back.

"For a few minutes there was a stubborn resistance at Joseph's barricades ; then his whole line gave way. Immediately the pursuit was taken up by the whole force, infantry and artillery, Winter's troops, dismount- ed, and the remaining cavalry, as soon as they could saddle and mount. This movement was decisive. The Indians are completely routed and flying over the rugged banks, through the ravines, swimming and wading the river and our forces are in close pursuit."

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 19

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1524

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524