I i , m' CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY University Library University of California Berkeley Northwestern Fights and Fighters Copyright, 1901, by Major Lee Moorhouse, Pendleton, Oregon Chief Joseph From the collection of J. W. Redington AMERICAN FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS SERIES Northwestern Fights and Fighters BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY, LL. D. ILLUSTRATED WITH ORIGINAL DRAWINGS, MAPS AND PHOTOGRAPHS GARDEN CITY NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY MCMXIII COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY THE MCCLI7RE COMPANY TO THE Peace loving, hard working , Aowor seeking ', duty following, never failing, hard fighting ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES 5 H-V PREFACE IT will be noticed that this book differs from others of the AMERICAN FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS SERIES, and especially its immediate predecessor, " Indian Fights and Fighters," in that I am not the author of all or most of it. In response to a request for contributions from participants in the Modoc and Nez Perce wars, numerous papers were sub mitted, all of such high value, not only from an historic but from a literary point of view as well, that I had not the presumption to rewrite them myself not even the proverbial assurance of the historian would warrant that. Therefore, I have contented myself with writing a general and comprehensive account of each of the two wars considered, leaving to the actors themselves the telling in full of the detailed story of the splendid achieve ments in which they were making history. I can affirm, therefore, that never before has there been included in a single volume such a remarkable and interesting col lection of personal experiences in our Indian Wars as in this book. And as I admire the doers of the deeds so, also, do I admire the tellers of the tales. Their modesty, their restraint, their habit of relating adventures which stir the blood and thrill the soul as a mere matter of course, " all in the day's work" enkindles my enthusiasm. And how graphically these old soldiers wield their pens! What good story tellers they are! Preface And what different sorts and conditions of men are here represented! Major-generals and scouts, captains and sergeants, frontiersmen and troopers, soldiers and civilians, to say nothing of an Indian chief and a bishop, have all said their say in their own way. The reader will be glad, I know, that I have permitted these men, like Paul, to speak for themselves. The whole book constitutes a trumpet call to Ameri can manhood, and honor, and courage, and that I believe to be true of the whole series. The Army of the United States is sometimes slandered. A case in point is now in mind. The chief official of a city of no little prominence, who is also an author and a publicist of national repute, has recently put forth a bitter diatribe against our soldiers. Such a book as this refutes these unfounded accusations. The Army is not perfect neither is the Church! but not only man for man, but also as an organization it is the equal of any, and the superior of most, of the armies of the world! And I am sure that no one can get a much better training for the battle of life that he gets in the peace loving, hard working, honor seeking, duty following, never failing, hard righting service of the United States on sea or shore. I have been in both, worn the Army and also the Navy blue, and I know. We all deprecate the necessity for armies, but if we must have them, let us thank God for an army like that of our beloved country. I am glad to express this my deliberate and matured conviction, begot of much study, wide observation, and ripe experience. CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY. LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, CENTRE HARBOR, Nrw HAMPSHIRE, July, 1907. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Thanks for valuable contributions and assistance in the preparation of this book are due, and are hereby most gratefully expressed by the author, to the fol lowing: Major-General O. O. Howard; Brigadier-Generals David Perry, H. C. Hasbrouck, Theodore F. Roden- bough, C. A. Coolidge, W. S. Edgerly and E. S. Godfrey; Colonels John Green, James Jackson, W. R. Parnell and D. L. Brainard; Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. C. Bowen; Majors J. G. Trimble, James Biddle, F. A. Boutelle and H. L. Bailey; and Captain R. H. Fletcher, all officers of the United States Army; the Right Reverend W. H. Hare, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of South Dakota; Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces; Lieuten ant-Colonel Theodore Ewert, Illinois National Guard; Messrs. E. S. Farrow, J. W. Redington, G. O. Shields, H. J. Davis, I. D. Applegate, L. S. Kelly, and Theodore W. Goldin; McClures Magazine, the Metropolitan Magazine, the North American Review, the Century Magazine, Sunset Magazine, the United Service Maga zine, Harper & Brothers, Rand, McNally & Co., the New York Sun, and the Klamath Falls Express; together with the War Department of the United States and the Department of the Interior. C. T. B. CONTENTS PART I THE NEZ PERCE WAR HAPTER PAGE I. THE EPIC OF THE NEZ PERCES 3 Cyrus Townsend Brady, LL. D. II. CHIEF JOSEPH'S OWN STORY 44 Im-mut-too-yah-lat-lat (Chief Joseph). With an Introduction by the Rt. Rev. W. H. Hare ; D. D., Bishop of South Dakota. III. GENERAL HOWARD'S COMMENT ON JOSEPH'S NAR RATIVE 76 Major-General O. O. Howard, U. S. A. (Retired). IV. THE BATTLE OF WHITE BIRD CANON 90 Major and Brevet-Colonel W. R. Parnell,U. S. A. (Retired). V. THE BATTLE OF WHITE BIRD CANON, continued . 112 Brigadier-General David Perry, U. S. A. (Retired). With notes by Captain Farrow, Late U. S. A., and Dr. Brady. VI. THE AFFAIR AT COTTONWOOD 123 Brigadier-General David Perry, U. S. A. (Retired). VII. THE SALMON RIVER EXPEDITION 127 Major and Brevet-Colonel W. R. Parnell, U. S. A. (Retired). Contents CHAPTIR VIII. THE BATTLE OF CLEARWATER 137 Major]. G. Trimble, U. S. A. (Retired). IX. THE ASSEMBLING OF THE SOLDIERS AND THE BATTLE OF CLEARWATER 151 Captain E. S. Farrow, late U. S. A. With letter by Major H. L. Bailey, U. S. A. X. THE BATTLE OF THE BIG HOLE 164 G. O. Shields (Coquina). XL THE BATTLE OF CAMAS MEADOWS 191 H. J. Davis, Late Second Cavalry, U. S. A. XII. THE STORY OF BUGLER BROOKS ...... 198 Colonel J. W. Redington, Former U. S. Scout and Courier. XIII. THE SEVENTH CAVALRY AT CANON CREEK . . . 203 Theodore W. Goldin, Late Trooper Seventh Cavalry. XIV. ANECDOTES OF CHIEF JOSEPH 223 From the New York Sun. PART II THE MODOC WAR I. IN THE LAND OF BURNT OUT FIRES 229 Cyrus Townsend Brady, LL.D. With notes by Col. J. W. Redington and the Depart ment of the Interior. II. THE FIRST BLOW JACKSON'S EXPEDITION . . . 258 Colonel James Jackson, U. S. A. (Retired). III. BOUTELLE AND SCAR-FACED CHARLEY 265 Major F. A. Boutelle, U. S. A. (Retired). Contents CHAPTER *AGi IV. THE INITIAL SHOT 273 Ivan D. Applegate. V. THE COUNTRY THEY MARCHED AND FOUGHT OVER. 281 Major J. G. Trimble, U. S. A. (Retired). VI. THE KILLING OF THE COMMISSIONERS 287 Major J. G. Trimble, U. S. A. (Retired). With note by Major James Biddle, U. S. A. (Retired). VII. FIRST AND SECOND BATTLES IN THE LAVA-BEDS . 292 Brigadier-General David Perry, U. S. A. (Retired). With note by Major Trimble. VIII. THE DISASTER TO THOMAS' COMMAND .... 305 Major F. A. Boutelle, U. S. A. (Retired). IX. CARRYING A STRETCHER THROUGH THE LAVA-BEDS . 314 Major J. G. Trimble, U. S. A. (Retired). X. THE LAST FIGHT OF THE CAMPAIGN 320 Brigadier-General H. C. Hasbrouck,U. S. A. (Retired). APPENDIX I. Letter from Lt.-Col. W. H. C. Bowen Regarding Custer Disaster 329 II. Lt.-Col. Bowen's Account of Custer's Defeat on the Little Big Horn 332 III. Letter from Lt.-Col. Theo. Ewert, 111. Nat. Guard, Late 1st Sergeant H Troop, Seventh Cavalry, Re garding Custer's Fight in the Yellowstone, with Comment by Brig.-Gen. E. S. Godfrey, U. S. A. . 357 IV. Memoranda upon the Wolf Mountain Campaign by L. S. Kelly (Yellowstone Kelly) 360 INDEX 363 ILLUSTRATIONS FACING FAOK CHIEF JOSEPH Frontispiece From the collection of J. W. Redington MAJ.-GEN. O. O. HOWARD, U. S. A. (RETIRED) ... 38 CHIEF JOSEPH SURRENDERS TO GEN. MILES .... 39 "From where the sun now stands I fight no more with the white man" LAST HOME OF CHIEF JOSEPH, WHERE HE DROPPED DEAD AT THE CAMP FIRE, SEPTEMBER, 1904 NESPELUM, COLVILLE RESERVATION OF MOSES INDIANS, WASHINGTON STATE . 54 From the collection of J. W. Redington DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS OF THE NEZ PERCE" WAR . . 55 COLONEL W. R. PARNELL, U. S. A., RETIRED, FIRST LIEUTENANT ROBERT H. FLETCHER, U. S. A., RETIRED, BRIGADIER-GENERAL DAVID FERRY, U. S. A., RETIRED, MAJOR J. G. TRIMBLE, U. S. A., RETIRED GROUP OF NEZ PERCE WARRIORS 134 GROUP OF OFFICERS WHO FOUGHT IN THE NEZ PERCE" WAR . 135 CAPTAIN E. S. FARROW, U. S. A., COLONEL J. W. REDINGTON, COLONEL C. E. S. WOOD, U. S. A., RETIRED, CAPTAIN S. O. FISHER, CHIEF OF BANNOCK SCOUTS DURING NEZ PERCfi CAMPAIGN ATTACK ON MODOC CAMP BY MAJOR JACKSON FIRST BLOW 230 OFFICERS OF THE MODOC WAR 231 COLONEL JOHN GREEN, U. S. A., COLONEL W. H. BOYLE, U. S. A., GENERAL E. R. S. CANBY, GENERAL FRANK WHEATON, U. S. A. TULE LAKE, CAMP SOUTH, FROM THE SIGNAL STATION, TULE LAKE IN THE DISTANCE 246 From the collection of General C. P. Egan Illustrations FACING THE PEACE COMMISSION'S TENT, AND STONE ON WHICH GENERAL CANBY WAS SITTING WHEN SHOT . . . 246 From the collection of General C. P. Egan MODOC WAR MAJOR THOMAS AND COMMAND DEFEATED IN LAVA BEDS . . . 247 THE LAVA BEDS 278 From the collection of General C. P. Egan BOGUS CHARLIE'S CAVE IN THE LAVA BEDS .... 278 From the collection of General C. P. Egan ON THE LOOKOUT FOR AN ATTACK AT A PICKET STATION . 279 Fromjthe collection of General C. P. Egan THE MODOC STRONGHOLD AFTER ITS CAPTURE . . . 279 From the collection of General C. P. Egan THE LAVA BEDS . 310 SCHAKNASTIC JlM*S CAMP IN THE LAVA BEDS . . . 310 GROUP OF OFFICERS WHO FOUGHT IN THE MODOC WAR . 311 COLONEL H. C. HASBROUCK, COLONEL JAMES JACKSON, U. S. A., RETIRED CAPTAIN O. C. AJPPLEGATE, GENERAL JEFF C. DAVIS, U. S. A. MAPS AND PLANS PAGE NEZ PERCE" RESERVATION, IDAHO, WHERE THE NEZ PERCE WAR BEGAN 5 CHIEF JOSEPH'S LINE OF RETREAT TO BEAR PAW MOUNTAINS 49 PLAN OF BATTLE OF WHITE BIRD CANON, IDAHO ... 93 BATTLEGROUND OF WHITE BIRD CANON, IDAHO . . . 103 PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF THE CLEARWATER . . . .154 BATTLEFIELD OF THE CLEARWATER RIVER .... 157 BATTLEFIELD OF BIG HOLE RIVER 170 GENERAL CHARACTER OF LAVA BEDS AND LAKE SHORE, SHOWING IMPORTANT POINTS 240 LOCATION OF JACK'S CAVE IN THE LAVA BEDS . . .301 BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY Continued from "Indian Fights and Fighters" XXVII. WIGWAM AND WAR-PATH, OR THE ROYAL CHIEF IN CHAINS, by Hon. A. B. Meacham. John P. Dale & Co. Boston. 1875. XXVIII. WILD LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND HORRORS OF INDIAN WARFARE, by various authors. Pease-Taylor Publish ing Co. St. Louis. 1891. XXIX. THE BATTLE or THE BIG HOLE, by G. O. Shields. Rand, McNally & Co. Chicago and New York. 1889. XXX. MASSACRES OF THE MOUNTAINS, by J. P. Dunn, Jr. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1886. XXXI. CHIEF JOSEPH, His PURSUIT AND CAPTURE, by Gen. O. O. Howard. Lee & Shepard. -Boston. 1881. PART I The Nez Perce War CHAPTER ONE The Epic of the Nez Percys By Dr. Brady XENOPHON has chronicled the retreat of the ten thousand; De Quincey has romanced about the migration of the Tartars; a thou sand pens have recorded the annihilation of the Grand Army of Napoleon : the story of Joseph and his Nez Perces is my theme the story of the bitterest injustice toward a weak but independent people to which the United States ever set its hand. And at the outset let me confess that I am the advocatus diaboli the friend of the Indian, at least in this instance! In 1855, Governor Isaac I. Stevens of Washington Territory negotiated an equitable, even a liberal treaty by which the Nez Perces were confirmed in their un doubted title by immemorial occupancy to the vast region in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, including the valleys of the Snake, the Salmon, the Clearwater, and the Grande Ronde Rivers. The scope of the Stevens treaty was so extensive and its provisions so fair, that it is probable no question would ever have arisen had not the convention been abrogated in 1863 by a new treaty which materially diminished the Nez Perce Reservation. This treaty was signed by a majority of the Indian tribes and has 4 Northwestern Fights and Fighters been loyally kept by them to this day. Old Joseph and other chiefs declined to sign it, refused to live on the proposed reservation, and continued to occupy the fertile valleys of the Wallowa and Imnaha, tributaries of the Grande Ronde and the Snake respectively. They also refused even to stay on the lands they claimed except when it suited them. As the majority of the Nez Perces had signed the treaty, the United States, pressed thereto by the settlers, took the position that the action of the majority was binding upon the minority. The Nez Perce Nation was made up of a number of small tribes more or less inde pendent of one another. The lower Nez Perces of whom Old Joseph was the recognized head, who had refused to sign the treaty, recognized no power in the majority to constrain them to acquiescence. To the non-treaty Nez Perces their position was absolutely impregnable. They were the original owners of the land. From time im memorial they had been absolutely free men, as free to go where they pleased as any people on earth. Old Joseph died in 1872, bequeathing to his son and successor, Young Joseph, called in his own language Im-mut-too-yah-lat-lat,* which means Thunder-rolling- in-the-mountains, the policy of ignoring the treaty and retaining the land. Young Joseph thus records the elo quent dying speech of his aged father: My son, my body is returning to my mother earth, and my spirit is going very soon to see the Great Spirit Chief. When I am gone, think of your country. You are the chief of these people. They look to you to guide them. Always remember that your father never sold his country. You must stop your ears whenever you are asked to sign * The reader will notice that many of these Nez Perce names are spelled differ ently by different writers in this series of papers. Inasmuch as most of the names are phonetically presented I have not striven for uniformity, but have let each man spell for himself as he pleased. C. T. B. The Epic of the Nez Perces 5 A NE1Z PERCERESERV/V- f /\ TIONJDAHO.WIiERE THE EZ PERCE'WARBEGAN SKETCH BYCAPT. RHFLETCHCR US A 6 Northwestern Fights and Fighters a treaty selling your home. A few years more, and white men will be all around you. They have their eyes on this land. My son, never forget my dying words. This country holds your father's body. Never sell the bones of your father and your mother. In 1873, further to complicate matters, the United States gave the Indians temporary permission to re main in the Wallowa Valley. This valley is admirably adapted for grazing and agricultural purposes. Settlers, pouring into the Northwest, recognizing no right of proprietorship among the Indians, occupied it. The white man and the Indian have never lived to gether in peace. Among other Indians less forbearing there would have been instant outbreak. As it was there was a growing friction. A commission, appointed in 1876, decided in defiance of right that the non- treaty Nez Perces had no standing and that they must go upon the reservation of 1863. Maj.-Gen. O. O. Howard, commanding the Military Department, was ordered to carry out the decision. In May, 1877, several councils were held in quick succes sion at Fort Lapwai, Idaho. Joseph, attended by his young brother Ollicut, White Bird, Hush-hush-cute and Looking Glass, sub-chiefs, and by Too-hul-hul-sote, the priest, or too-at, of a peculiar religious organization called the "Dreamers" to which Joseph and the others belonged, which had evidently risen out of the disputes in connection with the land, were present. "Joseph at this time must have been about thirty- seven or thirty-eight years old. He is tall, straight and handsome, with a mouth and chin not unlike that of Napoleon I. He was, in council, at first probably not so influential as White Bird and the group of chiefs that sustained him, but from first to last he was preeminently their ' war chief.' Such was the testimony of his followers The Epic of the Nez Perces 7 after his surrender, and such seems to be the evidence of the campaign itself. " * The proceedings were dramatic but not happy. Old Too-hul-hul-sote, the Indian orator, who was remark able for the inveteracy of his hatred of the white men, was summarily placed under arrest to keep him quiet. Joseph secured his release and the council adjourned on May Jth, Joseph agreeing for himself and the rest to obey the order of the commission and go upon the reservation. He did this most reluctantly, and only be cause he felt that it would be better to submit to injus tice rather than to provoke a war in which he was wise enough to see that he and his people would be the chief sufferers. A certain time was given him to collect his people and move to the reservation. His pacific intentions were not shared by his younger warriors. Among them were three whose fathers or brothers had been killed by white settlers some time before; a fourth had been beaten by a white man. Some perfunctory investiga tions had been made; but as they were carried on by the white men, nothing was done to punish the offenders and pacify the enraged Indians. It is certain that the first act of aggression was committed and the first blood was shed by the white men. Joseph and White Bird had withdrawn to the Salmon River and were engaged in preparing for the removal. The three young Nez Perces mentioned, with a few other reckless braves, resolved to take matters in their hands and, if they could, force the issue. On June ijth, they assumed the offensive. On that and the next day several settlers were murdered. Other warriors joined the first aggressors. The alarm spread through the * Quotation from Colonel Wood's Century article. C. T. B. 8 Northwestern Fights and Fighters surrounding ranches and little settlements. From the Norton House at Cottonwood Falls, half-way between Fort Lapwai and the little town of Mount Idaho, the settlers started for the latter place to escape the savages. The party was pursued and overcome. Two men and some children were killed, two others mortally wounded, the women outrageously treated, although Joseph after ward denied this. It is a matter of record that Joseph had no personal knowledge of this affair. He was not there, he had not ordered it, he could not have pre vented it. The young men rode into the camp of White Bird waving scalps and other booty, and succeeded in stampeding the camp. Too-hul-hul-sote welcomed the diversion and incited the men with all the power he possessed. Every voice was for war, resistance to unjust decree, vengeance upon the white men. When Joseph reached his camp he found his band was committed to war against the United States. Hostilities had begun. He protested, but in vain. Matters had gone too far. From his point of view there was nothing left for him but to cast in his lot with the rest. Joseph had not provoked the out break. He had done his best to keep the peace: but now the outbreak had come he would do his part to make it formidable. Joseph was at this time about thirty-seven years old. The Nez Perces had been at peace with everybody for years. Joseph had done no fighting whatsoever. What his capacities as a soldier were no one knew. The first test came quickly. Messengers from Mount Idaho were sent speeding to Fort Lapwai with the news of the mur der of the settlers and piteous appeals for help. General Howard acted with commendable promptness. There were two skeleton troops of the First Cavalry at the post. The Epic of the Nez Perces 9 The garrison numbered a little over one hundred and twenty men. Ninety of them, under Captains Perry and Trimble, with Lieutenant Parnell of the First Cavalry and Lieutenant Theller of the Twenty-first Infantry, were despatched to protect the settlers. Nobody 'believed that the Indians would fight and it was expected that Perry's force would be adequate to secure the criminals and bring the rest to the reservation. Nevertheless, to be prepared for any contingency, Howard ordered an immediate concentration of the available troops in his Department at Fort Lapwai. It was well that he did so. Perry marched rapidly, making eighty miles in about thirty hours over execrable country for the most part. He was joined by ten volunteers from Grangeville, and on the iyth of June, very early in the morning, came in contact with Joseph in White Bird Canon. So soon as Joseph recognized that hostilities were inevitable, he had concentrated his and White Bird's bands on the banks of the Salmon River, a tortuous torrential stream, just where White Bird Creek empties into it. The country is mountainous and broken. Some dis tance back from the river there is a high rugged table land. The tributaries of the river take their rise in this table-land and run through precipitous and gloomy canons until they reach the valley. The canon, at first very narrow, grew wider as it approached the river sev eral miles below. Between the entrance of the canon and the bank of the river was a stretch of rolling ground several hundred yards in width. The entrance was cov ered by buttes and rocky ravines, forming a natural defense. At intervals on either side of the canon ex tended lateral canons, short and steep, but through which the soldiers, if hard pressed, might escape to the upper levels. The banks of the rushing brook, the White io Northwestern Fights and Fighters Bird, were slightly timbered, the valley of the Salmon bare of trees. Arriving while it was yet dark at the source of White Bird Creek, Perry waited until dawn, giving his men and horses a much-needed rest. In the gray of the morning, when he could see the gleam of the river far below him, he took up the march down through the wild gap in the mountains. In the open valley with his back to the Salmon River, his front toward White Bird Canon, Joseph had pitched his camp. It was concealed from Perry by the inequali ties of the ground. Only the smoke from the camp-fires, rising in the still air of the spring morning, indicated its position. Silhouetted against the sky in the light of the rising sun, illuminating the west side of White Bird Creek, keen eyes in Joseph's camp discovered horsemen at the head of the canon. A field-glass revealed the soldiers. As Joseph watched them the descent began. For an instant all was confusion in the Indian camp. Some thing like a panic began to develop. "Let us cross over the river with the women and children and abandon the camp," urged Ollicut. "The soldiers will not be able to get at us there. " White Bird, too, thought the advice was good, but Joseph was in no mood for retreat. He resolved to re main and give battle. With quick military instinct, he sent the women and children with the spare horses down the river behind the bluffs. He divided his two hundred warriors into two bodies. One moiety he gave to White Bird with instructions to move to the right, taking posi tion just at the mouth of the canon behind the ample cover afforded by ridges and ravines. With his own men, he lined the buttes covering the space where the canon The Epic of the Nez Perces n debouched in the valley. His dispositions were admira ble. He had set a trap for the soldiers. The canon widened sufficiently as it descended to permit the soldiers to approach in a column of fours. No precaution was neglected. One hundred yards in advance rode Lieutenant Theller with eight troopers. Captain Perry with the volunteers and his own men followed, and some fifty yards after this party, Trimble with his troop. Not an Indian was to be seen, but every man was on the alert and ready. Suddenly, the buttes were lined with Indians. Rifle-shots rang out; several bodies of mounted Indians galloped between the buttes and charged to ward the approaching column, yelling and firing. The trap was sprung. From an elevated point Captain Perry discovered that the level ground back of the buttes was filled with Indians. Lieutenant Theller, upon whom the first attack fell, deployed his squad of men and, by put ting up a bold front, kept the Indians in check until Captain Perry's company came up at a gallop. The vol unteers seized the most commanding position on the field, a hillock to the left. They at once dismounted and opened fire. Perry dismounted and deployed his com pany in a slight depression on the right of the volunteers, backing up Theller who retreated on the main body in good order. On the right of Perry, Trimble's company galloped into line. The soldiers were cool and determined. The firing was fast and furious for a few moments. Several of the troopers were hit; but there were no serious casualties. The canon was filled with smoke. The Indians galloping to and fro, those on foot scarcely exposing themselves at all, escaped with little loss. As the exciting moments fled away, White Bird gained his appointed position and 12 Northwestern Fights and Fighters suddenly appeared in force opposite the left flank of the soldiers. At the same time, Joseph extended his line on the right flank. To prevent his right from being turned Perry detached Sergeant McCarthy with six men to take position on the slope of the canon and hold it. White Bird instantly attacked on the left and was com pletely successful. The volunteers, losing two men, fled, leaving the flank of Perry's company in the air. Joseph seized the abandoned butte, the key to the position. There were moments of confusion and alarm, but the officers kept their men in hand. The troopers sprang to their horses and slowly retreated up the canon, seeking another ridge upon which to reform, fighting every foot of the way. They were furiously pressed by the Indians. In the confusion, Trimble's troop gave back, leaving McCar thy's band isolated and surrounded. Trimble rallied them and charged the Indians; they were checked and the retreat of the soldiers halted for the time being. But they had lost their position and in a short time the whole body was forced back for the second time. Again brave McCarthy and his desperate six, who had been grimly holding their place among the rocks, were abandoned. Lieutenant Parnell with a platoon of Trimble's troop made a gallant charge to rescue them. The party was brought off except two who were shot from their horses and killed. Parnell and his men streamed up the canon in a wild gallop after the flying main body. The officer kept his head, however, and succeeded in rescuing an other wounded man on the way. For these two exhibi tions of distinguished gallantry he received a medal of honor, as did McCarthy, the heroic sergeant. There is no disguising the fact that the troops were The Epic of the Nez Perces 13 now panic-stricken. They had not looked for such fight ing, such generalship. The officers displayed splendid heroism, but unavailingly. Lieutenant Theller brought up the rear. The Indians, by taking to ravines and in tersecting canons, were able to intercept a number of the soldiers who were pressed so hard that they had retreated into one of the lateral canons. The rear-guard was thus cut off. Unfortunately they retreated into a cul-de-sac and were killed to the last man. Only the speed of their horses saved the rest of the men from annihila tion; as it was, Theller and thirty-six men were killed and two desperately wounded. It was not until they got out of the canon and the pursuit was abandoned that Perry was able to bring them to a stand. The total casualties among the troops were nearly forty per cent ! The first blow in the grim little game had been struck and all the honors were with Joseph. He had displayed in this battle all the qualities of a soldier. He had demon strated in force along the enemy's lines and had sud denly attacked him heavily on the left flank. When the enemy had retreated he had made use of his topograph ical knowledge to intercept his rear-guard and cut it to pieces. Throughout the battle he had been in the very thick of the fighting. He had exposed himself to every possible danger without hesitation. During this battle Joseph's wife gave birth to a daughter. When he finally gave up the struggle in Montana this was the only child left him. And the baby was with him all through the long retreat. Now was seen the wisdom of Howard's orders for the concentration of the troops. As the different troops re ported, he despatched them to the front and presently took the field with some three hundred soldiers. Joseph still remained in the valley of the Salmon. On June 27th, 14 Northwestern Fights and Fighters his scouts reported the approach of Howard. Waiting until Howard had almost reached the valley, Joseph moved down the Salmon River a few miles, crossed it and took up a strong position in the mountains on the other side. He had chosen his position with as much generalship as Washington displayed when he estab lished his winter camp after Trenton and Princeton in the hills about Morristown. He threatened everything. General Howard thus comments on the strategy of the great Nez Perce: "The leadership of Chief Joseph was indeed remarkable. No general could have chosen a safer position, or one that would be more likely to puzzle and obstruct a pursuing foe. If we present a weak force he can turn upon it. If we make direct pur suit he can go southward toward Boise, for at least thirty miles, and then turn our left. He can go straight to his rear, and cross the Snake at Pittsburg Landing. He can go on down the Salmon, and cross at several places and then turn either to the left, for his old haunts in the Wallowa Valley, or to the right and pass our flank threatening our line of supply, while he has, at the same time, a wonderful natural barrier between him and us in the Salmon, a river that delights itself in its furious flow." The only way Howard could dislodge him was to cross the Salmon River and attack him in the fastnesses of the hills. Should he do that Joseph either could wait his attack with splendid prospects of success, or he could execute a counter-stroke by recrossing the Salmon to the north and falling upon Howard's communica tions. It was impossible for Howard to keep his army in idleness staring at Joseph across the river. He decided to follow him. Howard was not deceived as to the possi bilities of the situation, for he despatched Major Whipple The Epic of the Nez Perces 15 with two troops of cavalry to move toward Cottonwood Creek where Looking Glass and his men had encamped. Looking Glass was very much disaffected, especially since the news of the victory in White Bird Canon, and Howard hoped to prevent him from joining Joseph. Whipple had orders to force Looking Glass on the res ervation. Incidentally, Whipple was to hold Joseph in check in case he attempted to cut Howard's communi cations. Things did not happen as they were planned. Howard crossed the Salmon River; Joseph made off to the north, crossing the river with all his women, children and horses; Whipple fell in with Looking Glass and suc ceeded in capturing eight hundred ponies, but the chief and his people escaped. Joseph descended from the mountains and marched rapidly across Camas Prairie, while Howard was still entangled in the mountain coun try, and fell upon Whipple's force which was hastily intrenched at Cottonwood Ranch. A scouting-party under Lieutenant Rains,, comprising a sergeant and nine men, was surrounded and killed to a man on the 3rd of July. On the 4th another party of civilians proceeding to the succor of Whipple was surrounded, its commander and others desperately wounded and the whole party placed in grave peril from which they were only extricated by a gallant cavalry charge by a troop sent from the position to rescue them. Whipple was closely invested. Howard learned of these disasters and again acted promptly. He retraced his steps across the Salmon, up White Bird Canon and followed Joseph post-haste to the Cottonwood Ranch. Joseph, well served by his scouts, was aware of Howard's movements. He raised the siege and retreated to the south fork of the Clearwater where it is joined by 1 6 Northwestern Fights and Fighters Cottonwood Creek. There he effected a junction with Looking Glass which raised his numbers to some two hundred and fifty fighting men, with about four hundred and fifty women and children. His campaign so far had been a brilliant success. The untried Nez Perce had beaten the enemy in detail. In the face of a more numerous and entirely unencumbered body of fighters, he had succeeded in concentrating his own men, all this while accompanied by over two thousand ponies, large herds of cattle, and his women and children. Joseph remained quiet waiting Howard's next move. So soon as he got his little army in hand Howard, with some four hundred men, mostly cavalry, with a small body of artillery, and some mounted infantry, advanced to attack him. Although greatly outnumbered Joseph did not retreat. He had chosen his position on the bank of the Clearwater, a mountain stream with steep banks rising to level plateaus cut by deep ravines. On the banks of the river he had thrown up some rude fortifications. When Howard's army appeared, Joseph did not wait, but instantly attacked him. Though his force was small he made skilful attempts to outflank the American sol diers and nearly succeeded. Indeed, only the timely arrival of reinforcements prevented the capture of Howard's supply-train. The night of July nth left both contestants on the field, each confident that the morrow would give him the victory. There were a number of wounded among the soldiers, and their condition was the more aggravated because the Indians had seized the only spring whence the troops could get water while the Indians held the river. The fighting during the day had been fierce and in several instances hand-to-hand. The Indians had The Epic of the Nez Perces 17 charged directly upon the troops again and again as before led by Joseph in person. He seemed to bear a charmed life for, although horses were killed under him, he escaped without a wound. The Indian fire was terribly accurate and very fatal, the proportion of wounded to killed being about two to one. "A large number of the casualties occurred in the short time before each man had protected himself by earth thrown up with his trowel bayonet. At one point of the line, one man, raising his head too high, was shot through the brain; another soldier, lying on his back and trying to get the last few drops of warm water from his canteen, was robbed of the water by a bullet taking off the canteen's neck while it was at his lips. An officer, holding up his arm, was shot through the wrist; another, jumping to his feet for an instant, fell with a bullet through the breast." * The next day the battle was renewed. Howard, by making good use of his artillery, succeeded in driving the Indians back to their intrenchments. Employing his preponderance of force he concentrated a column under Maj. Marcus P. Miller, which he launched against the Indian left. The cavalry charged most gal lantly, and in spite of a desperate resistance crossed the ravine and turned the Indian intrenchments, taking them in reverse. Joseph's position was now untenable. By a dashing countercharge he checked Miller, and by a vigorous resistance he held off Howard so that he finally brought off his force in good order. Extricating himself with great skill he retreated up the river, crossing it at Kamiah Ford where he halted ready for further battle. * Quotation from Col. C. E. S. Wood's brilliant article in the Century for 1884, by permission or 1 the publishers. C. T. B. 1 8 Northwestern Fights and Fighters In these two days of hard fighting the troops lost thirteen killed and twenty-seven wounded. The Nez Perces lost twenty-three killed and forty-six wounded. Forty were captured. Although defeated Joseph had not lost credit. He had inflicted serious loss upon the enemy. He had fought a two days' battle against a force out numbering his own in the ratio of eight to five, and when defeated had withdrawn in good order. He had reestab lished himself in another formidable position. General Howard's summary of the campaign thus far is both just and generous: "The Indians had been well led and well fought. They had defeated two com panies in a pitched battle. They had eluded pursuit, and crossed the Salmon. They had turned back and crossed our communications, had kept our cavalry on the de fensive, and defeated a company of volunteers. They had been finally forced to concentrate, it is true, and had been brought to battle. But, in battle with regular troops, they had held out for nearly two days before they were beaten, and after that were still able to keep together, cross a river too deep to be forded, and then check our pursuing cavalry and make off to other parts beyond Idaho. The result would necessitate a long and tedious chase. "Still, on our side, the Indians had been stopped in their murders, had been resolutely met everywhere, and driven into position, and beaten; and, by subsequent pursuit, the vast country was freed from their terrible presence." The indefatigable Howard marched up the Clear- water in pursuit, and finding that Joseph's position at Kamiah could not successfully be attacked in front he proceeded past him to Dunnell's Ford, intending to cross there and turn by the right flank and fall upon Joseph's The Epic of the Nez Perces 19 rear. Joseph divined this, and desiring to reorganize his troops and prepare for a desperate venture he resorted to stratagem for delay. He sent word to Howard that he would like to talk with him. Howard thereupon halted at Dunnell's Ford where Joseph sent one of his warriors to talk with him, playing for time ! Meanwhile, the Nez Perces made every preparation to carry out the momentous decision to which their chief had come. Since Idaho had become too hot for him, Joseph determined to lead his people across the moun tains to the hunting-ground in Montana and thence to that haven of malcontent Indians, British Columbia. Once across the British line they would be safe. This involved a retreat of from fifteen hundred to two thou sand miles with a certainty of pursuit. It meant hard marching and harder fighting. It was a desperate reso lution, but perhaps the only one save surrender which he did not consider for a moment to which the great Nez Perce could come. "Joseph's last appeal was to call a council in the dale, and passionately condemn the proposed retreat from Idaho. 'What are we fighting for ?' he asked. 'Is it for our lives ? No. It is for this land where the bones of our fathers are buried. I do not want to take my women among strangers. I do not want to die in a strange land. Some of you tried to say once that I was afraid of the whites. Stay here with me now and you shall have plenty of fighting. We will put our women behind us in these mountains and die on our own land fighting for them. I would rather do that than run I know not where.'" * He did not decide upon this course without great re luctance. He knew that he was leaving, and probably forever, the land which had been the home of his fathers. * From Colonel Wood's Century article. C. T. B. 2O Northwestern Fights and Fighters Would he ever come back to it ? Would he ever reach the desired haven across the far-off boundary line ? Howard was soon convinced that Joseph had no in tention of coming in, so he crossed the Clearwater and struck for his rear in accordance with his plan. If he could drive Joseph back toward the Salmon he could get him eventually by surrounding him in the limited country at his disposal for marching and righting. His advance was delayed at Weippe on July I7th by a body of Indians whom Joseph had thrown forward for that purpose. This and the time lost in the negotiations gave Joseph the start he wanted. When Howard with the loss of one man killed and one wounded had dispersed the Indians at Weippe and dashed down the river he dis covered that Joseph was gone. With his flocks and his herds, his women and his children, his old and his young, he had struck the famous Lo-lo Trail and was hurrying northward and eastward with all the speed he could command. There is no worse trail in North America than the Lo-lo. At times it straggled over huge boulders and jagged ravines; again through forests primeval, every foot so encumbered with prostrate trees as to be well- nigh impassable. The following description of the trail and a typical march of the troops over it is from the pen of Captain Farrow: "The ascent of the heights beyond Kamiah was tedi ous in the extreme. It was raining hard, and the muddy, slippery trail was almost impassable, filled with rugged rocks and fallen timber. The descent to the Lo-lo Fork was made by slipping, crawling and scrambling over rocks and through thick underbrush. At the 'We-ipe' was an opening in the forest with water and grass. Here The Epic of the Nez Perces 21 was a camp made for the weary, footsore animals and exhausted men, after a sixteen mile march of the greatest severity. "The trail ahead being obstructed by fallen trees of all sizes and descriptions, uprooted by the winds and matted together in every possible troublesome way, a company of forty ' pioneers,' with axes, was organized and sent ahead to open the trail, wherever possible. It is true that the Indians had gone over this trail ahead of the troops; but they had jammed their ponies through, over and under the rocks, around, over and under logs and fallen trees and through the densest undergrowth, and left blood to mark their path, with abandoned ani mals with broken legs or stretched dead on the trail. "It is remarkable that the average daily march of sixteen miles was made over the Lo-lo Trail, when we realize the necessity of climbing ridge after ridge, in the wildest wilderness, the only possible passageway filled with timber, small and large, crossed and crisscrossed. The following, from the record of August 2nd, will serve to show the nature of these daily marches: "The command left camp at seven A.M. Artillery at head of column. The trail led through woods of the same general character; a 'slow trail,' owing to moun tainous country and fallen timber. The summit of the hills was covered with rough granite boulders, making the path quite difficult. Our men travel it well, and are in good order. We march sixteen miles and encamp on a slope of the mountain. Poor grazing; the only feed consists of wild dwarf lupine and wire-grass. Several mules were exhausted, and some packs of bacon were abandoned by the way. Dead and broken-down Indian ponies very numerous along the trail. Camp made about four P.M." 22 Northwestern Fights and Fighters The Indian, unlike the Arab, has no affection for his horse. An Indian can get more out of a horse than any other man on earth, because he doesn't hesitate to kill him in the process. Joseph had enough horses to re mount his tribe several times. The ponies were often ridden until they dropped. The cavalry in pursuit had no remounts. The infantry had to go afoot. That How ard was able to keep so close behind the Indians is marvelous. That the infantry could keep up is even more remarkable. For seventy-five days the average per diem of the soldiers, including all stops and halt- ages, was eighteen miles. On one occasion the cavalry marched one hundred and forty-five miles in four days. On another the entire command, cavalry, infantry, and wagons, seventy-five miles in three days. The Indians marched greater distances. They were forced to make wide detours while the pursuers followed direct lines. Yet Joseph managed always to keep two or three days ahead of Howard. The telegraph had been busy and the troops in the northern detachments were being made ready to inter cept the Nez Perces. Captain C. C. Rawn commanded Fort Missoula. With fifty regulars and one hundred citizen volunteers he hastily fortified Lo-lo Pass through the Coeur d'Alenes. When Joseph got there he demanded free passage to march down the Bitter Root Valley. He pledged himself to commit no depredations if the permission were granted. Rawn refused except on condition of Indian disarmament. On the failure of negotiations Joseph, on July 28th, made a tremendous demonstration in front of the works with a thin skirmish- line, while he led the rest of his people through canons hitherto impassable, over unheard mountain trails, past the flank of Rawn's command and into the valley. The Epic of the Nez Perces 23 Learning this too late to prevent it Rawn hastily moved back on his rear-guard which was already slightly en gaged. The citizens, realizing that Joseph had no in tention of molesting them, deserted Rawn and there was nothing left for him but to return to Missoula. Joseph kept his word although there was no obligation upon him to do so, since he had not been granted free passage but had forced it. The inhabitants of the Bitter Root Valley did a lucrative business with the Indians, who were thus enabled to acquire much-needed supplies, including guns and ammunition ! From Helena, Montana, Gen. John Gibbon started for Missoula with a portion of his regiment, the Seventh Infantry. By hard marching he reached the fort August 3rd. With one hundred and forty-six men, seventeen officers, and thirty-four citizen volunteers, he started down the valley. He loaded his troops in wagons and made splendid time in spite of bad roads and mountain- ranges. Joseph, ignorant of the approach of Gibbon, knowing that he was a long distance ahead of Howard, moved leisurely and had no scouts out. On the 8th of August, Gibbon's advance discovered the Indians. At ten o'clock at night Gibbon, leaving his wagons and his one piece of artillery with a small guard, started for the camp. He reached the vicinity about two o'clock in the morning. Without betraying his presence he led his men to high ground one hundred and fifty yards from the camp. Joseph had pitched his tepees in a meadow on the south side of the Big Hole River. The banks of the river were covered with a thick growth of willows and underbrush. The meadow was rolling and the farther side rose in hills covered with trees. The tree clad hills bordered the river on the north side. From Gibbon's position the smoldering fires disclosed the 24 Northwestern Fights and Fighters Indian camp. The tepees were pitched in a V-shape with the apex westward. Below were several hundred ponies grazing and on the hills on the other side were large herds. As day broke the soldiers advanced. Captains Comba and Sanno deployed their men and, dropping down the bluffs, waded silently through the river flowing breast- high. Captains Logan and Rawn swung to the right to attack the Indians on the left flank. Lieutenant Bradley, supported by Captain Williams, moved to the left to cut off the herd. The advance was made in perfect silence until one of the herd guards detected Bradley's movement. He fired a shot and gave the alarm. Gibbon's orders had been that so soon as the first shot was fired the men were to charge. Dashing across the river and forcing their way through the undergrowth they fell on the camp like a storm. The surprise was complete. The Indians had barely time to seize their weapons and fly. In twenty minutes after the signal was given the camp was in Gibbon's hands. "The soldiers poured into the camp, firing into the tepees, and, in the gray light, shooting indiscriminately everything that moved. Naked warriors, with only their rifles and cartridge-belts, ran into the willows and to the prairie knolls overlooking the camp and instantly from these positions of vantage opened a telling fire. Women and children, roused from sleep, ran away screaming with terror, or surrounded by enemies, begged by signs for mercy. (It is needless to say that no women or chil dren were intentionally killed.) Some few women armed themselves in desperation, but most of them fled or hid under the overhanging banks of the creek or in the bushes." * * From Colonel Wood's Century article. C. T. B. The Epic of the Nez Percys 25 In every other Indian battle which I have considered such a surprise meant a crushing defeat for the Indians and the destruction of the camp. Not so in this instance. Joseph, White Bird, and Looking Glass at once rallied their men. The Indians fled to the thickets on the banks of the river and the wooded knolls and bluffs surround ing the camp. Some of them took shelter in the river itself. Logan's men, having crossed the river, found the Indians on their backs. The battle was sharp and furious. The casualties on both sides were fearful. Again and again- the Indians made charges on the soldiers in the village, and the fighting was hand-to-hand. Instead of a victory Gibbon found that he was fighting for life. The Indian riflemen and these Indians could shoot straighter than any on the continent were decimating his men. Forming his command in two lines back-to-back, Gibbon charged through the undergrowth in both direc tions. The Indians retreated a short distance and finally checked the charges and began to swarm into the meadow. Gibbon had to retire or be cut to pieces. He recrossed the river and took position on a wooded knoll well adapted for defense. The Nez Perces attacked him furiously, and under cover of their own fire broke camp and sent the women, children, and horses to the south ward. The fighting raged all day. Joseph tried every device to dislodge the soldiers. He set fire to the grass and would have burned them out had not a fortunate change of wind turned the fire away at that critical moment. At eleven o'clock at night Joseph withdrew. Gibbon had lost three officers killed or mortally wounded, Captain Logan and Lieutenants Bradley and English. Four officers wounded, including himself, Captain Williams 26 Northwestern Fights and Fighters with two wounds, and Lieutenants Coolidge and Wood ruff with three each. Twenty-one soldiers were dead and six civilians. There were thirty-one soldiers and four civilians wounded, making a total loss out of one hun dred and ninety of sixty-nine. During the day the wagon-train was attacked by a detachment. The howitzer which was being brought up to the battle-field was captured, one of the detachment killed, three others wounded. The howitzer was dis mantled and twenty-five hundred rounds of ammunition seized. Gibbon had sent messages to Howard of his predicament and on the I2th, the day after the fighting, Howard arrived with an advance-party of fifty of his best mounted men. Taking with him a number of volun teers from Gibbon's command Howard pushed on after Joseph while Gibbon, with his wounded, returned to Fort Missoula. The account of this battle given to General Howard in General Gibbon's own words, in the latter' s camp, is most interesting:* "When the Nez Perces had avoided Rawn with his small force, in the Lo-lo, they ascended the Bitter Root. At first they traveled slowly enough, delaying to trade with inhabitants. Wasn't it a shame in those Bitter Root people to traffic with the horrid murderers, giving them fresh horses, and all sorts of provisions, as readily as if they had been the best friends in the world ? I am glad to say that one man had courage enough to shut his store in their faces. I set out with a little short of one hundred and fifty rifles, on the 4th (August, 1879), from Missoula, using wagons, to make all the distance possible. I don't think we could have got through to this * Quoted from General Howard's book, " Chief Joseph, His Pursuit and Capture." C. T. B. The Epic of the Nez Perces 27 place, if I hadn't been most lucky in running across Mr. Blodget, a frontiersman, who had piloted wagons over this country before. The packs were on hand, if we had failed with the wagon-train. Wasn't it a rough road, though ? It took us a long time to get over the divides, but in the bottoms we made grand time. "We ran across a number of the Indians' camps, and they made some twelve or fifteen miles a day; so that, by doubling on them, I knew I would, in time, catch up. But we were delayed beyond measure at the Rocky Mountains. Our men had to draw the wagons up with ropes. It took us hours to get to the top. Well, we ac complished it, and worked our way down this slope, into Big Hole; rested a while; then leaving a small de tachment, three or four miles back, with the howitzer, where you saw the camp, with the remainder I came on, slowly and silently, under cover of the night. We heard the sound of Indian ponies on the next spur, over there, to my left. Pushing along quietly between them and the bottom, we at last discovered the Indian lodges. "Here I halted my command, for it was altogether too dark to move to the attack. We could catch sounds from the tepees; occasionally a dog would bark, or a child cry; but, evidently, our presence was not dis covered. " On the edge of the bottom, I deployed my companies into line, putting the citizens on the left, for quite a num ber of them had volunteered to come on and help us. You notice the big sloughs there beside the creek ! The willows are thicker in spots. The command now moved forward rapidly; but the Indians discovered the attack as soon as we had started, and several of them put them selves across this creek, into that bend, and, using the bank as cover, opened fire. Some of our men swept past 28 Northwestern Fights and Fighters these, and through the tepees, driving the Indians be fore them.* "At first we had passed the low ground, and had taken the camp, and appeared to have carried every thing; but I soon found that the Indians had not given up. Some were in the willows, working as skirmishers; some rallied up yonder on the hill, and started across the bottom to retake their herd, while others got be hind the trees and rocks, and were picking off our men, one by one, and you know, we couldn't well spare any. Some of my officers were wounded already, and myself among the number. "At last I ordered the move back to this side, and we took this wooded point. Here we were a good deal exposed to the sharp-shooters, and several officers were wounded, but we drove them back, defeated every at tempt to assault our camp, and inflicted great loss upon the Indians. Of course they yelled, crept up close at times, fired, and set the grass on fire, but all that time we were digging those trenches, and barricading, giving to the hostiles as good as they sent. "Next day, until night, parties of them were lurking about, between me and my train. The attempt to fetch up the howitzer brought on a severe skirmish, and the howitzer was lost; but that night (evening of the I oth) the last of them gave us a sharp volley, about eleven o'clock, and cleared out. And here you find us, some killed, many wounded, but in no way discouraged. " Eighty-nine dead Indians were left on the field, a number of them beingwomen and children. Among them * "He pointed to where women, during the battle, with their little ones in their arms, had waded into the deep water to avoid the firing; and told me how it touched his heart when two or three extended their babies toward him, and looked as pleasant and wistful as they could for his protection; this was while the balls were whistling through the willows near by." GENERAL HOWARD. The Epic of the Nez Perces 29 was Looking Glass. The honors of the fight were with Joseph. That he was not annihilated after the surprise was wonderful. Joseph crossed the Bitter Root Moun tains into Idaho again and made his way westward over Camas Meadows. He succeeded in getting two hundred and fifty fresh horses here with which to remount his people. On the 2Oth of August, Howard, believing him self to be only one day behind Joseph, halted to give some rest to his exhausted men. He had sent a detach ment under Lieutenant Bacon to seize Thacher's Pass, the entrance into the Yellowstone Park, for which he believed the Indians were heading. Bacon, traveling on inside lines, reached the pass in plenty of time; but seeing no Indians, after waiting a couple of days con cluded to rejoin the main body and marched away, leaving the pass open. Joseph had no mind to enter it without crossing swords with Howard again. He knew of the absence of Bacon's detachment. Forming forty of his men in a column of fours he boldly advanced toward the camp, trusting that they would be mistaken for Bacon's detachment. The sentry, completely deceived by the soldierlike ap pearance of the approaching column in the darkness, allowed them to draw near before he challenged and gave the alarm. The Indians immediately deployed and dashed for the herd into which daring Indian scouts had already penetrated. Fortunately for Howard the cavalry-horses had been picketed for the night and only the pack-mules were stampeded. They were driven off under cover of a terrific fire upon the camp from the mounted Indians. Howard immediately ordered his cavalry in pursuit of Joseph. The Indians retreated rapidly until the pur suing troops fell into a cunningly contrived ambush. 30 Northwestern Fights and Fighters The Indians attacked them in the center and on both flanks amid some rocky lava-beds to the northward of the road. So sudden was the attack that the cavalry retreated post-haste. Norwood's company was not able to get off with the others and was surrounded. Fortu nately they were caught in a strong defensive position. The men dismounted and made a gallant fight of it until Howard came to their relief with the main body. Some of the mules were recaptured, but were not re tained, and the command, as the result of this brilliant midnight dash, found itself without a pack-train. As Joseph phrased it, he was tired of having General Howard on his heels and he wanted "to put him afoot." He nearly succeeded in his purpose. Howard was forced to halt until he could supply the mules that he had lost and get supplies from Virginia City for his men who were by this time in a state of destitution. Joseph marched through Yellowstone Park over trails hitherto considered impassable. He sur prised a party of tourists there, killed or wounded the men and captured the women. The women were well treated and finally released unharmed. Joseph feared they might fall into the hands of the young braves. So by his direction White Bird led them secretly to their ponies, mounted them and assisted in their escape. He dismissed them with these words, " Go. That is the way. Do not stop to water your horses. Hurry ! Hurry !" Howard was soon on the trail again. Where Joseph had gone he could go, what the Nez Perces had sur mounted the soldiers could overcome. He was close on Joseph's track when the Nez Perces entered Wyoming. oseph delayed him by burning Baronet's Bridge over the Clarke Fork of the Yellowstone and entered Montana. The Epic of the Nez Perces 31 Captain Farrow thus describes the march through the Yellowstone country : "August 23rd, the command was nearing the head waters of the Snake River and camped in a beautiful glade between the Snake and a small tributary. Here preparations were made for an early and forced march to 'Thatcher's Pass,' the entrance to the Yellowstone country, hoping to force the Indians, only a few miles ahead, to battle before they could enter the pass. Lieu tenant Bacon and his party, on arrival two days pre viously at Henry Lake, which was in plain sight of Thatcher's Pass, not seeing any Indians, had turned back and took up a stern chase to overtake the com mand. The exhausted troops went into camp at Henry Lake for four days, and supplies and some fresh stock were rushed from Virginia City, seventy miles away. Then, on the morning of August 2yth, the command, by a brisk movement, passed around Henry Lake, on through the mountain gorge to fields of danger and suf fering still unknown. "Here began the march through the rough western gateway into the National Park. For the first three days a most pleasant change was afforded by the beautiful mountain streams, lengthy openings, grassy bottoms, and numerous 'buttes,' beautifully dressed with trees. Then came the magnificent geyser landscape, with its vast seas of barren sulphur-crust. "Here a party of tourists had been surprised and taken by the Indians. In this party were the wife of Mr. Cowan and her sister and brother. These were spared by Joseph and under protection were sent to the pursuing column. Two of the men in the party attempted to escape from the Indians. One was killed, but Mr. Cowan and a Mr. Oldham, left 32 Northwestern Fights and Fighters unconscious, recovered and found their way into camp. "A picket-post was established on a woody height, a little south of the camp. From this point, a barren sulphur plain stretched to the south, filled with beauti ful mounds and water-spouts, many of them throwing immense jets of water high into the air. These strange phenomena were witnessed and investigated by the officers and men with much delight. One of the most curious results of the intense chemical actions in prog ress were numerous muddy fermentations of various colors, from clayey white, through various shades of red, purple and brown, to black. There was no end of sur prises in this wonderful country. "Following the Indians' crooked trail, the command ascended a steep and difficult mountain, bristled with forests of small trees. Numerous forest fires had swept over these trees and had killed and hardened them. After a laborious zigzag climb, the top of this moun tain was reached and camp made just beyond Mary Lake, a beautiful sheet of water on the very mountain- top. "Joseph crossed the Yellowstone and went up the river toward the Yellowstone Lake and then proceeded along a tributary creek in the direction of Stinking Water River; and then, turning squarely to the left (be cause the prairie ahead of him was on fire and burning), made his way through a dense and tangled forest. General Howard took a course on the Chord of the Arc traveled by the Indians and thus saved nearly one hundred miles. He abandoned his wagorifc and with a pack-train proceeded over fearful steeps, through Devil's Canon, across deep and rough ravines, to Baronet's Bridge on the Yellowstone. At this point The Epic of the Nez Perces 33 the hostile Indians were abreast of the troops on the other side of the Yellowstone. "The Indians had burnt a portion of Baronet's Bridge, a light structure across the Yellowstone torrent. This bridge was repaired in a few hours by the troops, bringing into requisition all the lumber which constitut ed Mr. Baronet's small house, which stood a few hun dred yards away, on Joseph's side of the river. This was a shaky structure, fifty feet above the torrent, with slight intermediary support, as patched up by the im provised bridgemen. The command crossed in safety, and proceeded down the river twenty miles to Mam moth Falls, finding abundant evidence of murder and rapine all along the way. "At Mammoth Falls, it was learned that Lieutenant Gilbert, with two companies of cavalry, had been there a few hours before; but the proximity of the hostile Indians and want of knowledge of the whereabouts of General Howard's command, caused him to make a remarkable detour, finally striking General Howard's trail one hundred miles in his rear. He made a stern chase after General Howard until his horses were ex hausted, and then, in weariness, turned back to Fort Ellis." The Seventh Cavalry was in the field. Six companies of it under the command of Colonel Sturgis endeavored to head off Joseph. Sturgis threw himself across Joseph's route so that the Nez Perces were between him and Howard. Joseph, however, outwitted Sturgis. Feinting flight along the Stinking Water River when Sturgis rushed after him in hot pursuit, Joseph by a forced march through a dense forest, which concealed his movements, avoided him and crossed the Yellowstone, escaping from between the two. 34. Northwestern Fights and Fighters Sturgis soon found that he had been tricked and turn ing pursued the Nez Perce with all the speed of his fresh horses. He came up with him on the I3th of Sep tember at Canon Creek and at once attacked him with three hundred and fifty men. The troops advanced most gallantly. The Indians occupied the ridges on either side of the canon, from which they were driven by a series of magnificent charges. Every step of the retreat, however, was marked by hard fighting for delay, and when night fell Joseph again succeeded in making his escape. The soldiers lost three killed and eleven wounded. Twenty- one Nez Perces were killed and, most serious loss, Sturgis captured nine hundred ponies. But Sturgis had shot his bolt. His men and horses were in a state of com plete exhaustion. He could pursue no farther. Away off to the eastward at Fort Keogh was General Miles with detachments of the Fifth Infantry and the Second and Seventh Cavalry. Messengers were sped to him from Howard and Sturgis, detailing the escape of the Nez Perces and suggesting that he march to intercept them. In order to give him time to catch Joseph, Howard and Sturgis deliberately delayed their pursuit, knowing from experience that the great Nez Perce would keep just so far ahead of them. Joseph moved forward leisurely with the remnant of his tribe. On the 23rd of September he crossed the Mis souri at Cow Island, the head of low-water navigation and a large freight depot. Twelve men and a sergeant in a small fort guarded the place. Joseph destroyed a wagon-train, and after replenishing his stores, burned the rest of the freight at the station. The fort was stoutly defended, although three of the garrison were killed in an attack upon it. Joseph wasted no time over it and at once moved northward. On this march, Major Ilges, with a The Epic of the Nez Perces 35 troop of the Seventh Cavalry, came down from Fort Benton by steamer and came in touch with him. Joseph easily repulsed his small force and after a slight loss Ilges wisely retired. Joseph finally halted on Snake Creek on the north slope of the Bear Paw Mountains within a short dis tance of the boundary line. It would have been quite easy for him to cross the line and thus make good his escape. Yet his men and horses were tired beyond meas ure. He had many wounded. Hunting was good. He determined to rest there. By this time Howard and Sturgis had been left far in the rear. Joseph knew that he had nothing to apprehend from them. He was ignorant of Miles' expedition. He made his great mistake by not having scouts scouring the country in all directions, in which case he might have given the pursuing soldiers the slip and crossed the boundary line. Miles had with him two troops of the Second Cavalry, three of the Seventh, four companies of the Fifth In fantry mounted on captured Indian ponies, a Catling and a twelve pound Napoleon cannon and a wagon-train, with two unmounted companies of the Fifth Infantry as a guard. He moved with great rapidity from Fort Keogh to the junction of the Mussel Shell and the Missouri. He believed that the Indians were south of the latter river, but learned that they had crossed at Cow Island some eighty miles to the westward a short time before. Fortunately he had detained the last steamer of the season. By means of this his troops were ferried across the river on the 25th of September. He marched north and then westward along the north slope of the Little Rockies, heading toward the Bear Paw Mountains where he had learned Joseph had halted. At 2:30 A.M., on the 36 Northwestern Fights and Fighters 3rd of October, he broke camp and started for the mouth of Snake Creek. A few hours later his scouts apprised him of the location of Joseph's camp which was some six or eight miles farther on. The weather was extremely stormy and inclement. "My God!" exclaimed Captain Hale as they stopped to get in shape for the last dash, "have I got to go out ana be killed in such cold weather !" The men were in excellent spirits. The march was taken up at a trot which soon became a gallop. In high glee they raced along. Early in the morning they came in sight of the Indian camp. It was spread along a crescent-shaped ravine from which a number of lateral ravines opened, and the whole position was dominated by high bluffs. Miles de ployed his troops on the run. A battalion of the Second Cavalry was ordered to swing to the left and cut off the herds which were grazing on a high plateau behind the camp. The Seventh Cavalry supported by the Fifth Infantry was to make a direct attack upon the camp. The surprise was not complete. The troops came into view in time for the Indians to prepare for them. The inequalities of the ground caused the Second Cavalry to incline to the left farther than was intended. They were not seriously engaged, but succeeded in getting possession of the greater part of the horses. The three troops of the Seventh Cavalry became separated in the advance. Captain Hale leading the battalion with K Troop struck the enemy first. The slaughter among his men was frightful. Captains Godfrey and Moylan found further progress checked by a high bluff lined with fire which they could not scale. The two captains promptly moved their troops to the rear and then marched them by the right flank to join K Troop. Godfrey, keeping between his men and the Indians, had his horse shot The Epic of the Nez Perces 37 under him. The animal fell so suddenly that he pitched the officer on the ground where he lay stunned. Trum peter Herwood left the line and interposed between Godfrey and the advancing Indians until the prostrate soldier could scramble to his feet. Moylan was severely wounded. By this time the two troops had joined Hale, and the whole party, save the officer, dismounted and advanced. They got within twenty yards of the Indians. Hale was shot and instantly killed yes, on that cold morning ! Godfrey was shot from his horse. Lieutenant Biddle was killed. In that fierce battle there was but one officer of the battalion, Lieutenant Eckestrom, unwound- ed. The battalion lost fifty-three killed and wounded out of one hundred and fifteen. K Troop's loss was over sixty per cent. But the men held on and drove the Indians back to the ravines behind the camp. By this time the Fifth In fantry had got into action and also the Second Cavalry and the battle was general. The troops made several charges, but could not rush the camp. By contracting their lines, however, they drove the Indians closer and closer together. The position was splendidly defensible, and Miles, after making several attempts to dislodge the Nez Perces, in which Carter's company of the Fifth In fantry lost over thirty-five per cent, concluded that he would have to starve them out. White Bird and a number of others, estimated from twenty to fifty, succeeded in making their escape. They crossed into British Columbia and joined Sitting Bull. Miles' position was precarious. Sitting Bull with two thousand Indians was only a day's march to the north of him. If he could be persuaded to join Joseph the situa tion would be terrible. Sitting Bull, however, had had enough of Miles and refused. The artillery was brought 38 Northwestern Fights and Fighters up and the Indian camp was shelled with fearful effect. Miles sent word to Howard that he had Joseph corralled at last and that gallant officer dashed off with a few men and joined Miles on the 3rd of October. The weather was very cold and snowy and both sides suffered severely. Joseph afterward stated that he could have escaped if he had abandoned his women, children, and wounded. Unwilling to do this there was nothing left him but sur render, fle gave up the unequal game on the 4th of October. Surely he had fought a good fight ! In the battle Miles had lost twenty-four killed and fifty wounded, or over twenty per cent of his force. Joseph had lost seven teen killed. He surrendered eighty-seven warriors, of whom forty were wounded, one hundred and eighty-four squaws, and one hundred and forty-seven children. This was his pathetic message to General Howard: Tell General Howard that I know his heart. What he told me before I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Too-bul-hul-suit is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men now, who say "yes" or "no" [that is, vote in council]. He who led the young men [Joseph's brother Ollicut] is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people some of them have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and to see how many of them I can find; maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs, my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. Colonel Wood thus describes the scene and pictures the great chieftain: "It was nearly sunset when Joseph came to deliver himself up. He rode from his camp in the little hollow. His hands were clasped over the pommel of his saddle and his rifle lay across his knees; his head was bowed Maj.-Gen. O. O. Howard, U. S. A. (Retired) Chief Joseph Surrenders to Gen. Miles From where the sun now stands I fight no more with the white man The Epic of the Nez Percys 39 down. Pressing around him walked five of his warriors; their faces were upturned and earnest as they murmured to him; but he looked neither to the right nor to the left, yet seemed to listen intently. So the little group came slowly up the hill to where General Howard, with an aide-de-camp, and General Miles waited to receive the surrender. As he neared them, Joseph sat erect in the saddle, then gracefully and with dignity swung himself down from his horse, and with an impulsive gesture threw his arm to its full length and offered his rifle to General Howard. The latter motioned him toward General Miles, who received the token of submission. " Those present shook hands with Joseph, whose worn and anxious face lighted with a sad smile as silently he took each offered hand. Then, turning away, he walked to the tent provided for him. " His scalp-lock was tied with otter fur. The rest of his hair hung in a thick plait on each side of his head. He wore buckskin leggings and a gray woolen shawl, through which were the marks of four or five bullets received in this last conflict. His head and wrist were also scratched with bullets." Perhaps one of the truest tests of greatness is ability to bear worthily defeat. By any standard Joseph acquit ted himself well in this his most trying hour. Joseph, whose force never amounted to three hun dred fighting men, had engaged at different times some two thousand soldiers. Of these one hundred and twenty- six had been killed and one hundred and forty wounded. During the long retreat and the hard fighting Joseph had lost one hundred and fifty-one killed and eighty- eight wounded. He had fought eleven engagements, five being pitched battles, of which he had won three, drawn one and lost one. Some of the troops in pursuit 4-Q Northwestern Fights and Fighters of him had marched sixteen hundred miles. His own march had been at least two thousand miles. This con stitutes a military exploit of the first magnitude and justly entitled the great Indian to take rank among the great Captains. Joseph claimed, and there is no doubt as to the facts, that General Miles agreed that the remnant of the Nez Perces should be returned to Idaho. How did the United States keep that promise? It repudiated it entirely! Joseph and his band were sent down to Fort Leaven- worth. I saw them often during the winter. In the spring they were given the unhealthiest reservation in the In dian Territory. These were mountain Indians, not used to the hot malarious climate of low lands and low lati tudes. They died like sheep. Joseph protested in vain. To the everlasting credit of General Miles he also used his powerful influence in order to have the tardy Gov ernment keep faith with its poor captives. It was not until 1885 that the Indians were sent back to their beloved mountain home. The other day a gray-headed old chief, nodding by the fire, dreaming perhaps of days of daring and deeds of valor, by which, savage though he was, he had written his name on the pages of history, slipped quietly to the ground and fell into his eternal sleep. Peaceful ending for the Indian Xenophon, the Red Napoleon of the West ! In reviewing this remarkable campaign, General Howard said : * "I was sent to conduct a war without regard to der partment and division lines. This was done with all the energy, ability and help at my command, and the cam paign was brought to a successful issue. As soon as the Indians reached General Terry's department, Gibbon * Op. cit., p. 171, et seq. C. T. B. The Epic of the Nez Perces 41 was despatched to strike his blow; then Sturgis, in close alliance, and, finally, Miles, in the last terrible battle. These troops participated in the struggle with exposure, battle, and loss, as we have seen. They enjoyed the ap preciation and thanks of their seniors in command, and of their countrymen. But when, with the fullness of an honest and generous recognition of the work, gallantry, losses, and success of all cooperating forces, I turn my attention to the troops that fought the first battle, and then pursued the swift -footed fugitives with unparalleled vigor and perseverance, amid the severest privations, far more than a thousand miles, would it be wonderful if I magnified their doings, and gave them, were it possible, even an overplus of praise for the part they bore in this campaign ? "At the obstructing barricades in Montana, which were dangerous to pass, Looking Glass appeared as the diplomat. He succeeded by his ability in deceiving the commander of the defenses, and brought past the hin dering works Joseph's whole people in complete safety. He was killed and buried under the river-bank at Gibbon's battle-field in Montana. "After Gibbon's battle, Joseph showed his influence over the Indians by rallying them on a height, just be yond the reach of the long-range rifles. He gathered the warriors, recovered lost ground, and recaptured his numerous herd of ponies, which had already been cut off by Gibbon's men, buried the most of his dead, and made good his retreat before the force with me was near enough to harm him. Few military commanders, with good troops, could better have recovered after so fearful a surprise. "At the Camas Meadows, not far from Henry Lake, Joseph's night march, his surprise of my camp and 42 Northwestern Fights and Fighters capture of over a hundred animals, and, after a slight battle, making a successful escape, showed an ability to plan and execute equal to that of many a partisan leader whose deeds have entered into classic story. "Again, his quick penetration into my plan of delay ing my march between the Mussel shell and the Mis souri, so as to make all speed, cross the broad river at Cow Island, defeat the guard, and then destroy an im mense freight-wagon-train, replenish his supplies, and make off beyond danger from the direct pursuit, is not often equaled in warfare. "And even at the last, the natural resources of his mind did not fail him. Broken in pieces by Miles' furi ous and unexpected assault; burdened with his women, children, and plunder; suffering from the loss of his still numerous though badly crippled herd of ponies, yet he was able to intrench, and hold out for several days against twice his numbers, and succeeded in pushing out beyond the white man's pickets a part of his rem nant to join his allies in Canada. " From the beginning of the Indian pursuit across the Lo-lo Trail, until the embarkation on the Missouri River for the homeward journey, including all halts and stop pages, from July 27th to October loth, my command marched one thousand three hundred and twenty-one miles in seventy-five days. Joseph, the Indian, taking with him his men, women, and children, traversed even greater distances, for he had to make many a loop in his skein, many a deviation into a tangled thicket, to avoid or deceive his enemy. "So that whichever side of the picture we examine, we find there evidence of wonderful energy and prolonged endurance. It will be, indeed, fortunate for mankind, if these same qualities which we cannot help commending, The Epic of the Nez Perces 4.3 can hereafter be turned into a common channel, and used for the promotion of the arts of peace. What glorious results would have been effected, could these non-treaties have received the same direction that the worthy missionaries were, in early days, able to give to the remainder of their tribe, and have shown the same ability and persistence in peace that they did dur ing this fearful Indian War." CHAPTER TWO Chief Joseph's Own Story With an Introduction by the Rt. Rev. W. H. Hare, D.D., Bishop of South Dakota * I WISH that I had words at command in which to express adequately the interest with which I have read the extraordinary narrative which follows, and which I have the privilege of in troducing to the readers of this Review. I feel, how ever, that this apologia is so boldly marked by the charm ing naivete and tender pathos which characterizes the red-man, that it needs no introduction, much less any authentication; while in its smothered fire, in its deep sense of eternal righteousness and of present evil, and in its hopeful longings for the coming of a better time, this Indian chief's appeal reminds us of one of the old Hebrew prophets of the days of the Captivity. I have no special knowledge of the history of the Nez Perces, the Indians whose tale of sorrow Chief Joseph so pathetically tells my Indian missions lying in a part at the West quite distant from their old home *This and the following chapter are taken from The North American Review for 1879, by the gracious permission of Messrs. Harper and Brothers, the present publishers of the magazine and the owners of the copyright. C. T. B. 44 Chief Joseph's Own Story 45 and am not competent to judge their case upon its merits. The chief's narrative is, of course, ex parte, and many of his statements would no doubt be ardently disputed. General Howard, for instance, can hardly receive justice at his hands, so well known is he for his friendship to the Indian and for his distinguished suc cess in pacifying some of the most desperate. It should be remembered, too, in justice to the army, that it is rarely called upon to interfere in Indian affairs until the relations between the Indians and the whites have reached a desperate condition, and when the situa tion of affairs has become so involved and feeling on both sides runs so high that perhaps only more than human forbearance would attempt to solve the diffi culty by disentangling the knot and not by cutting it. Nevertheless, the chief's narrative is marked by so much candor, and he is so careful to qualify his statements, when qualification seems necessary, that every reader will give him credit for speaking his honest, even should they be thought by some to be mistaken, convictions. The chief, in his treatment of his defense, reminds one of those lawyers of whom we have heard that their splendid success was gained, not by disputation, but simply by their lucid and straightforward statement of their case. That he is something of a strategist as well as an advo cate appears from this description of an event which occurred shortly after the breaking out of hostilities: "We crossed over Salmon River, hoping General How ard would follow. We were not disappointed. He did fol low us, and we got between him and his supplies, and cut him off for three days." Occasionally the reader comes upon touches of those sentiments and feelings which at once establish a sense of kinship between all who possess them. Witness his description of his 46 Northwestern Fights and Fighters desperate attempt to rejoin his wife and children when a sudden dash of General Miles' soldiers had cut the In dian camp in two. . . . "I thought of my wife and children, who were now surrounded by soldiers, and I resolved to go to them. With a prayer in my mouth to the Great Spirit Chief who rules above, I dashed unarmed through the line of soldiers. . . . My clothes were cut to pieces, my horse was wounded, but I was not hurt." And, again, when he speaks of his father's death: "I saw he was dying. I took his hand in mine. He said : ' My son, my body is returning to my mother earth, and my spirit is going very soon to see the Great Spirit Chief. ... A few more years and the white men will be all around you. They have their eyes on this land. My son, never forget my dying words. This country holds your father's body never sell the bones of your father and mother. ' I pressed my father's hand, and told him I would protect his grave with my life. My father smiled, and passed away to the spirit- land. I buried him in that beautiful valley of Winding Waters. I love that land more than all the rest of the world. A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal." His appeals to the natural rights of man are surprising ly fine, and, however some may despise them as the utterance of an Indian, they are just those which, in our Declaration of Independence, have been most admired. "We are all sprung from a woman," he says, "although we are unlike in many things. You are as you were made, and, as you are made, you can remain. We are just as we were made by the Great Spirit, and you cannot change us; then, why should children of one mother quarrel ? Why should one try to cheat another ? I do not be lieve that the Great Spirit Chief gave one kind of Chief Joseph's Own Story 47 men the right to tell another kind of men what they must do." But I will not detain the readers of the Review from the pleasure of perusing for themselves Chief Joseph's statement longer than is necessary to express the hope that those who have time for no more will at least read its closing paragraph, and to remark that the narrative brings clearly out these facts which ought to be regarded as well-recognized principles in dealing with the red- man: 1. The folly of any mode of treatment of the Indian which is not based upon a cordial and operative acknowl edgment of his rights as our fellow-man. 2. The danger of riding roughshod over a people who are capable of high enthusiasm, who know and value their national rights, and are brave enough to defend them. 3. The liability to want of harmony between different departments and different officials of our complex Gov ernment, from which it results that, while many prom ises are made to the Indians, few of them are kept. It is a home-thrust when Chief Joseph says: "The white people have too many chiefs. They do not understand each other. ... I cannot understand how the Government sends a man out to fight us, as it did Gen eral Miles, and then break his word. Such a Govern ment has something wrong about it." 4. The unwisdom, in most cases, in dealing with In dians, of what may be termed Military short-cuts, in stead of patient discussion, explanations, persuasion, and reasonable concessions. 5. The absence in an Indian tribe of any truly rep resentative body competent to make a treaty which shall be binding upon all the bands. The failure to recognize 48 Northwestern Fights and Fighters this fact has been the source of endless difficulties. Chief Joseph, in this case, did not consider a treaty binding which his band had not agreed to, no matter how many other bands had signed it; and so it has been in many other cases. 6. Indian chiefs, however able and influential, are really without power, and for this reason, as well as others, the Indians, when by the march of events they are brought into intimate relations with the whites, should at the earliest practicable moment be given the support and protection of our Government and of our law; not local law, however, which is apt to be the result of special legislation adopted solely in the interest of the stronger race. WILLIAM H. HARE. My friends, I have been asked to show you my heart. I am glad to have a chance to do so. I want the white people to understand my people. Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake. I will tell you all about our people, and then you can judge whether an Indian is a man or not. I believe much trouble and blood would be saved if we opened our hearts more. I will tell you in my way how the Indian sees things. The white man has more words to tell you how they look at him, but it does not require many words to speak the truth. What I have to say will come from my heart, and I will speak with a straight tongue. Ah-cum- kin-i-ma-me-hut (the Great Spirit) is looking at me, and will hear me. My name is In-mut-too-yah-lat-lat (Thunder-travel- ing-over-the-mountains). I am chief of the Wal-lam- wat-kin band of Chute-pa-lu, or Nez Perces (nose- pierced Indians). I was born in eastern Oregon, thirty- eight winters ago. My father was chief before me. When Chief Joseph's Own Story 4.9 50 Northwestern Fights and Fighters a young man he was called Joseph by Mr. Spaulding, a missionary. He died a few years ago. There was no stain on his hands of the blood of a white man. He left a good name on the earth. He advised me well for my people. Our fathers gave us many laws, which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good. They told us to treat all men as they treated us; that we should never be the first to break a bargain; that it was a dis grace to tell a lie; that we should speak only the truth; that it was a shame for one man to take from another his wife, or his property, without paying for it. We were taught to believe that the Great Spirit sees and hears everything, and that He never forgets; that hereafter He will give every man a spirit-home according to his deserts; if he has been a good man, he will have a good home; if he has been a bad man, he will have a bad home. This I believe, and all my people believe the same. We did not know there were other people besides the Indian until about one hundred winters ago, when some men with white faces came to our country. They brought many things with them to trade for furs and skins. They brought tobacco, which was new to us. They brought guns with flintstones on them, which frightened our women and children. Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understood. These men were Frenchmen, and they called our people "Nez Perces," because they wore rings in their noses for ornaments. Although very few of our people wear them now, we are still called by the same name. These French trappers said a great many things to our fathers, which have been planted in our hearts. Some were good for us, but some were bad. Our people were divided in opinion about these men. Some thought they taught more bad than good. An Chief Joseph's Own Story 51 Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward. He loves a straight tongue, but he hates a forked tongue. The French trappers told us some truths and some lies. The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clarke. They also brought many things that our people had never seen. They talked straight, and our people gave them a great feast, as a proof that their hearts were friendly. These men were very kind. They made presents to our chiefs and our people made presents to them. We had a great many horses, of which we gave them what they needed, and they gave us guns and tobacco in return. All the Nez Perces made friends with Lewis and Clarke, and agreed to let them pass through their country, and never to make war on white men. This promise the Nez Perces have never broken. No white man can accuse them of bad faith, and speak with a straight tongue. It has al ways been the pride of the Nez Perces that they were the friends of the white men. When my father was a young man there came to our country a white man (Rev. Mr. Spaulding) who talked spirit law. He won the af fections of our people because he spoke good things to them. At first he did not say anything about white men wanting to settle on our lands. Nothing was said about that until about twenty winters ago when a number of white people came into our country and built houses and made farms. At first our people made no complaint. They thought there was room enough for all to live in peace, and they were learning many things from the white men that seemed to be good. But we soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy to possess everything the Indian had. My father was the first to see through the schemes of the white men, and he warned his tribe to be careful about trading with 52 Northwestern Fights and Fighters them. He had a suspicion of men who seemed so anxious to make money. I was a boy then, but I remember well my father's caution. He had sharper eyes than the rest of our people. Next there came a white officer (Governor Stevens) who invited all the Nez Perces to a treaty council. After the council was opened he made known his heart. He said there were a great many white people in the coun try, and many more would come; that he wanted the land marked out so that the Indians and white men could be separated. If they were to live in peace it was necessary, he said, that the Indians should have a coun try set apart for them, and in that country they must stay. My father, who represented his band, refused to have anything to do with the council, because he wished to be a free man. He claimed that no man owned any . part of the earth, and a man could not sell what was not his own. Mr. Spaulding took hold of my father's arm and said, "Come and sign the treaty." My father pushed him away and said : " Why do you ask me to sign away my country ? It is your business to talk to us about spirit matters, and not to talk to us about parting with our land." Governor Stevens urged my father to sign his treaty, but he refused. "I will not sign your paper," he said, "you go where you please, so do I: you are not a child, I am no child; I can think for myself. No man can think for me. I have no other home than this. I will not give it up to any man. My people would have no home. Take away your paper. I will not touch it with my hand." My father left the council. Some of the chiefs of the other bands of the Nez Perces signed the treaty, and then Governor Stevens gave them presents of blankets. My father cautioned his people to take no presents, for Chief Joseph's Own Story 53 "after awhile," he said, "they will claim that you ac cepted pay for your country." Since that time four bands of the Nez Perces have received annuities from the United States. My father was invited to many councils, and they tried hard to make him sign the treaty, but he was firm as the rock, and would not sign away his home. His refusal caused a difference among the Nez Perces. Eight years later (1863) was the next treaty council. A chief called Lawyer, because he was a great talker, took the lead in this council, and sold nearly all of the Nez Perces country. My father was not there. He said to me: "When you go into council with the white man, always remember your country. Do not give it away. The white man will cheat you out of your home. I have taken no pay from the United States. I have never sold our land. " In this treaty Lawyer acted without author ity from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa (winding water) country. That had always belonged to my father's own people, and the other bands had never disputed our right to it. No other Indians ever claimed Wallowa. In order to have all people understand how much land we owned, my father planted poles around it and said: " Inside is the home of my people the white man may take the land outside. Inside this boundary all our people were born. It circles around the graves of our fathers, and we will never give up these graves to any man." The United States claimed they had bought all the Nez Perces country outside the Lapwai Reservation, from Lawyer and other chiefs, but we continued to live on this land in peace until eight years ago, when white 54- Northwestern Fights and Fighters men began to come inside the bounds my father had set. We warned them against this great wrong, but they would not leave our land, and some bad blood was raised. The white man represented that we were going upon the war-path. They reported many things that were false. The United States Government again asked for a treaty council. My father had become blind and feeble. He could no longer speak for his people. It was then I took my father's place as chief. In this council I made my first speech to white men. I said to the agent who held the council : " I did not want to come to this council, but I came hoping that we could save blood. The white man has no right to come here and take our country. We have never accepted presents from the Government. Neither Lawyer nor any other chief had authority to sell this land. It has always belonged to my people. It came un clouded to them from our fathers, and we will defend this land as long as a drop of Indian blood warms the hearts of our men. " The agent said he had orders, from the Great White Chief at Washington, for us to go upon the Lapwai Reservation, and that if we obeyed he would help us in many ways. "You must move to the agency," he said. I answered him: "I will not. I do not need your help; we have plenty, and we are contented and happy if the white man will let us alone. The reservation is too small for so many people with all their stock. You can keep your presents; we can go to your towns and pay for all we need; we have plenty of horses and cattle to sell, and we won't have any help from you; we are free now; we can go where we please. Our fathers were born here. Here they lived, here they died, here are their 0) ^^ OH (J5 w . s a tb EJ ex ^ C ^ c3^ * .5 "03 c i O3 C/3 CJ QJ ^ ^ H o 1.1 ^ 3 U *3 * s- O o 1 S ~ OJ to c " rt 5