February 23rd, 2012
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2012
Broadside, 3-3/4” x15-3/4,” BEE EXTRA, July 9, 1877. The present broadside offers what would have been breaking news of the preliminary battles against the Nez Perce. Stacked headlines, “The Indian War, A Great Battle Fought, Gen. Howard Catches the Red Devils and Attacks Them at Beasley’s Mill ... The reports, in part, "UMATILLA, July 9 - The following letter is from Pendleton, July 8, to [Oregon] Gov. [Stephen Fowler] Chadwick: '...Howard attacked the the Indians at Beasley's mill, about 400 strong. Repulsed them three times and he is still fighting. Captured four to five hundred head of stock, provisions and ammunition. Stock and klootchmens are along; fifteen wounded, two mortally.'" From another letter, the evening of July 8: "Left this morning for Heppner under escort of Frank Maddock's volunteers, but on reaching the head of Jack's Canyon, they found plenty of Indians, whereupon the stage returned to this place...Scouts reported to Howard this morning that there were about 250 Indians at or near Willow Springs, and Howard pushes forward to meet them and very likely ere this has engaged them...People here have but little confidence in the Umatillas. I think but few of them are in league with the hostiles. John M. Bain and one Umatilla scout goes to Howard's command to-night...." The final reprinted letter, from July 9, relays intelligence on imminent Indian attacks: "Last night some five or six families arrived from Lower Yakima having been notified by a friendly Indian living at mouth of Snake to leave country as hostiles were suspected to crop the Columbia and raid the whole of that country. This Indian killed his horse by the hard ride he had to warn settlers." Rare, and with very important firsthand information on little-known battles and maneuvers in the Nez Perce war, VG.
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