Idaho Semi Weekly World

Just before going to press we were handed by Joe Cave an interesting letter from his brother, dated Missoula, Montana, August 19th. We have not room to publish the letter entire. He expresses great dissatisfaction with Captain Rawn for his failure to resist the passage of the hostile Nez Perces through Montana when he occupied a position that commanded the trail over which the Indians had to pass, and had under his command 250 well armed men, and recruits constantly arriving. He says the conduct of Capt. Rawn will be difficult to explain satisfactorily. If Gibbon, with 160 or 180 men, could punish Joseph as severely as he did, Joseph having the advantage of ground, surely it would have been safe for Rawn to have given him battle, with all the advantage on his side, and 250 men under his command. Mr. Cave (the writer) characterizes the battle at Big Hole, as the fiercest and bloodiest engagement with Indians of modern times.