LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE WAR,

TRANSMITTING,

In response to Senate resolution of January 3, 1889, information relative to services of volunteers in the Nez Perce War.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE C OLUMBIA

Portland, Oregon, August 27, 1877

Sir:  I have the honor to submit the following report, in compliance with Special Orders No. 97, Headquarters, Department of the Columbia, Portland, Oregon, July 28, 1877, and memorandum orders, dated Lewiston, Idaho.  July 28, 1877, based upon letter of instruction from Headquarters, Military Division of the Pacific:

In accordance with confidential instructions from division headquarters, I obtained copies of the rolls of volunteer companies at Mt. Idaho and Grangeville, Idaho, and herewith furnish copies of same.  These companies were organized by order of the governor of Idaho Territory, and served a short time only, most of the men having returned to their usual occupations on August 7, the date of my arrival at Mt. Idaho.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

James P. Canby,

Major and Paymaster, U.S. Army

Capt. D.B. Randall

First Lieut. Jas. Cearley

Second Lieut. L.P. Wilmot

Sergeant John McPherson

Sergeant J.W. Rainey

Sergeant F. Oliver

Sergeant J.W. Eastman

Corporal Robert Nugent

Corporal George Smith

Corporal John Bower

Corporal M.S. Martin

Corporal K.W. White

Corporal George Riggins

Corporal Jno. Auchinvole

1. Aram, J.T.
2. Aram, John
3. Adkinson, John K.
4. Adkinson, P.D.
5. Hemelspak, Jos
6. Barber, J.O.
7. Brown, R.C.
8. Beamer, W.B.
9. Bocher, L.
10. Bartley, A.D.
11. Bunker, T.J.
12. Buchanan, James
13. Clark, W.
14. Crea, John
15. Crea, Thomas
16. Chapman, J.
17. Croasdale, H.E.
18. Dalles, Green
19. Day, C.M.
20. Erskin, C.H.
21. Eastman, J.W.
22. Eaton, C.T.
23. Flynn, Charles
24. FAxon, H.A.
25. Grottle, William
26. Hall, George
27. Harrison, Joseph
28. Harris, J.C.
29. Hansen, John
30. Howser, D.H.
31. Jarrett, M.V.
32. Jerome, M.E.
33. King, Peter
34. King, F.B.
35. Leland, A.B.
36. Morris, B.F.
37. McPhersons, Daniel
38. Overman, C.
39. Ott, Larry
40. Ousterholt, D.
41. Peasley, Jos.
42. Plummer, A.F.
43. Poe, J.W.
44. Riggins, John
45. Rice, F.M.
46. Rice, M.H.
47. Rice, C.L.
48. Rice, James
49. Rice, J.N.
50. Rowton, J.G.
51. Swarts, J.A.
52. Shissler, T.
53. Swarts, T.D.
54. St. Clair, T.M.
55. Smith, Marion
56. Snodgrass, J.M.
57. Sears, George
58. Tellis, Vince
59. Truscott, M.H.
60. Vansise, Frank
61. Wilmot, B.R.
62. West, Wesley
63. Watson, J.A.
64. Wall, T.
65. Miller, J.A.
66. Shearer, George M.
67. Girton, T.W.
68. Woodward, George
69. Smith, Ernest
70. Kennedy, Hugh
71. Price, P.
72. Mallick, P.
73. Penny, B.
74. Ready, P.H.
75. Tilcher, D.H.
76. Noyse, F.
77. Gano, T.
78. Markham, N.
79. Watkins, E.
80. Crea, James
81. Harris, A.A.
82. Adkinson, Elijah
83. Ward, T.L.
84. Fenn, S.S.
85. Brown, L.P.
86. Brown, Sidney B.
87. Mitchell, William
88. Fenn, Walter B.
89. Falkington, A.
90. Johnson, H.C.
91. Ragan, James
92. Woods, C.B.
93. Sherwin, E.K.
94. Sherwin, Elbert
95. Sherwin, Perry
96. Johnson, Charles
97. Oale, James
98. Dormein, J.M.
99. Fountain, Clyde
100. Surridge, Tom
101. Petersen, John
102. Shipley, Elias
103. Gaddy, William
104. Sears, C.W.
105. VanBuren, Henry
106. Richards, Joseph
107. Myers, Henry
108. Gould, Norman
109. Helmer, Phillip
110. Cone, H.W.
111. Gibbons, John
112. Orcutt, Isaac
113. Getter, J.H.
114. Mallory, N.B.
115. Cone, Charles F.
116. Cone, C.P.
117. Van Sicle, A.
118. Large, Samuel
119. Kelley, John S.
120. Carey, James
121. Wood, John
122. Howard, M.B.
123. Treiblecock, Wm
124. Ramsey, John
125. Stuart, John
126. Smith, Abner

Property and Value

Capt. D.B. Randall (one horse)                                                                          $150

Sergt. John McPherson (horse, $150; Henry rifle, $50)                                    200

Sergt. J.W. Rainey (horse, bridle, and pistol)                                                     150

Corporal M.S. Martin (horse, musket, and pistol)                                              100

Corporal K.W. White (horse and pistol)

H.A. Faxon (horse, pistol, and carbine)

B.F. Morris (2 horses, $400; and Henry rifle, $50)                                            450

J.W. Poe (horse, $100; and pistol, $25)                                                              125

George Sears (horse, $200; and Henry rifle, $50)                                              250

E. Watkins (Springfield rifle)

Elijah Adkinson (horse)                                                                                      100

T.L. Ward (horse)                                                                                                  200

L.P. Brown (horse)                                                                                                200

Sidney B. Brown (horse, $150; and Henry rifle, $50)                                        200

MOUNT IDAHO, IDAHO, August 8, 1877

I certify that this is a true copy of the original roll of officers and volunteers enrolled at Mount Idaho, Idaho, June 15, 1877.

James P. Canby,

Major and Paymaster, U.S. Army

A Letter from O.O. Howard states the following in regards to volunteer units during the Nez Perce Campaign:

A number of men were reported on paper at Mount Idaho, first organized under Capt. A.J. Chapman; afterward Captain Randall was elected captain; but few of these ever took the field.  Ten or twelve did for the battle of White Bird Canon, and seventeen afterwards under Captain Randall, who was killed in skirmish July 4, 1877. 

A small Home Guard organized at Grangeville, Idaho, Capt. W.B. Bloomer.  I never saw but the captain and one man in the field

These organizations, met at Mount Idaho at one time, about the 6^th of July, 1877, and by their votes made McConville colonel of the volunteers, and a man named George Shearer, Major.  These were all the volunteers who were with or near the troops west of Missoula, Mont.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

O.O. Howard

Brigadier-General, Commanding Department.