the right was gradual and cut up with
gulches and ravines, some of which extended clear to the top of the
mountain.

The next day after Rawn took up this position, Joseph and his followers
arrived in front of the works, sent in a messenger with a flag of
truce, asking again that he might be allowed to pass quietly into and
through the valley. Rawn replied that the only condition upon which he
would be allowed to pass, was that he and his warriors should surrender
their arms. This the Indians of course refused to do, and a parley was
begun that was prolonged through two days. Many of the citizens urged
Rawn to allow the hostiles to pass on their own terms. They insisted
that to fight Joseph there, with their handful of men, could only
result in defeat, and that if he were compelled to fight at that point,
and gained a victory, as he surely would, he would then leave a trail
of blood and ashes behind him through the whole length of the valley.
Others were more confident of success, and were spoiling for a fight
then and there, but when, later on, a fight became imminent, several of
these same citizens remembered that they had urgent business at home.

On the evening of the second day, the negotiations having failed,
Joseph notified Rawn that he should go into the valley the next morning
in spite of all opposition. Accordingly at daylight, firing was heard
on the skirmish line, and it was supposed that the Indians would at
once assault the main line. Stray shots continued for some time, and,
as all the attention of officers and men was concentrated on the front,
a man called attention of Lieutenant Coolidge to the fact that he had
seen the heads of a few Indians moving down one of the gulches in the
rear of the extreme right. This proved to be the rear guard of Joseph's
outfit. The wily savage had outwitted the troops. He had left a few men
to skirmish with Rawn's pickets, and while the command was expecting an
assault in front he, with his motley band, had filed up and down
through the gulches and woods, past the line of works, and was now well
on his way down the creek. Rawn at once deployed his forces and pursued
the fugitives, but did not overtake them until they had reached the
Bitter Root Valley and turned up it.

Three miles above the mouth of the creek, he found them encamped on a
ridge in a body of timber, where they had every advantage of position
and cover. Their manner was insolent and defiant, for they seem