The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-09-28
Selected Story.
Chief JOSEPH.

The Christian soldier sat alone in his
guarded tent. He needed not the wind,
which howled dismally without, and he
paid no attention to the distant Yells ofthe
demoniac savages, as they danced around
the encampment, vainly attempting with
insulting taunts to draw the American
Havelock forth to battle. He needed
naught, for his burning sense Of injustice
was taking form in eloquent words. His
rapid pen skipped impetuously to and fro
over the paper; page after page of man
uscript fell futtering like snow fakes to
the ground till the floor Of the tent was
covered with white. The Christian com
mander was replying to the newspaper
criticisms on his conduct of the campaign.
Eff these gentlemen of the press" he
wrote, "knew the true character Of the foe
with whom have to contend, they would
perhaps be slower to ridicule my policy.
The Chief Joseph is a willy, audacious, and
1rnsnrurat, eI,,e>,.e-, IIe.,.-:4-, H.
comprehensive military genius of Napo-
leon with the dash of Massena. Yet he
does not hesitate to employ the most repre-
hensible methods of annoying me, and
eIudes pursuit by stratagems unknown to
civilized warfare. My campaign must not
be judged by the ordinary standards, for
his activity is superhuman, his resources
apparently boundless, aad his lack Of
principle wholly beyond belief"
The progress Of the Generals compost
ton was interrupted by the entrance of a
brenthless and agitated orderly.
Well, said the Christian soldier, after
he had punctuated his last sentence.
The orderly touched his hat. "Joseph's
forces are advancing on the outposts, yell
ling and swearing like devils"
ut is as have written remarked
Howard sadly "This totally unprincipled
Aborigine does rot scruple to attack me
even upon the holy Sabbath Direct the
Chaplain to 60 out and read to The enemy
the fifth chapter of Matthew"
Il have conscientiousIy endeavored,"
continued the General, resuming his pen,
both by moral and logical appeals, to
bring Joseph to acknowledge the unrea-
Sonableness ofhis attitude toward the Unit
ed States Government and toward me, the
representative Of its military arm It seems
to be case where argument is unavail-
ing"
The orderly again appeared at the tent
flap. "They have scalped the Chaplain
and are still advancing" he reported.
He was a good man, reflected Howard,
"and we shall miss him. Try and find
some pious private who will volunteer to
go out and finish the chapter"
Newspaper criticism wrote the Gen,
continuing his letter, serves not only to !
encourage the enemy, but to grieve me
personally. am therefore constrained to /
request that it may be suspended, and :
meanwhile look to history for the vim !
"cdIon OF MY
Another orderly burst into the tent t
The ssntries are shot he cried. What t
shall we do r )
APatent yet mournful look overspread i
The Christian soldiers features. "Put the
nag at half mast he replied, "and make Ii
ne necessary arrangements for the fu- E
neral tomorrow" j
But they have hauled down the flag and e
are making bonfire of tracts and hymn a
books around the pole R
summon my officers hither 10 delib- v
crate on the most prudent course of faction Il
" pursue under the circumstances. la
but the red devils are this very minute Il
S'eaIing your tent pins and the canvas will b
be dc, down on your head si
=, Inns is too much" murmnred the rc
onL'scan commander. Saddle my mule Al
@''n0ut delay, and order retreat te
perca9 ~ s this mysterious leader Of the Nose ri
r'''csa Indians Who il this bold. ii
D. ,aSi,e' extraordinary man that terrorizes til
Northwest and outmarehes, out til