uld not go on the
reservation; that they were on the war path and would kill all the
whites, soldiers or citizens who should oppose their wishes.

As soon as news of this disturbance reached General Howard, he sent two
companies of cavalry, under Captains Perry and Trimble, to the scene of
hostilities, with orders to arrest the perpetrators of the outrages if
possible, and bring them in. Captain Perry found the Indians in force
in White Bird Canyon. They opened fire on him as soon as he came in
sight, and he at once assaulted them. After sharp fighting for an hour,
he was repulsed and compelled to retreat to Grangeville, a distance of
sixteen miles. The Indians pursued him, and a running fight continued
all the way. He lost thirty-three enlisted men and one officer killed.
Meantime, over twenty white men and women had been massacred at and
near Mount Idaho, and a number of other women outraged in a most brutal
and shocking manner.

General Howard then took the field in person, determined to punish the
Indians who had committed these crimes, and to capture and place them
on the reservation. Strong detachments of troops were sent in various
directions, with orders to strike the hostile Indians wherever found. A
number of sharp skirmishes and two severe fights occurred on and near
the Clear Water River, resulting in severe losses to both whites and
Indians. The troops moved so rapidly as to harass the Indians at every
turn, and in several cases to intercept them when attempting to leave
the country, and turn them back.

[Illustration: GEN. JOHN GIBBON.]

Finally, the main body of hostiles, numbering about 400 warriors and
150 women and children, by breaking up into several small bands,
succeeded in evading the troops, concentrated their forces on Weyipe
Creek, and started for the "buffalo country" in Montana, by way of what
is known as the "Lo Lo trail." As soon as this fact became known to
General Howard, he sent couriers to the nearest telegraph station with
a message to General Gibbon, then commanding the district of Montana,
with headquarters at Fort Shaw, stating the facts, and requesting him
to send out troops to intercept the hostiles, if possible, while he
should follow them with such force as could be spared for the purpose.

On receipt of this message, General Gibbon sent an order to Capt. C. C.
Rawn, then in command at Fort Missoula, to watch for the fugitives, to
head them off, hold them if possible, or tu