The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-10-26
CHIEF JOSEPH.
GRAPHIC DETAILS OF THE SURRENDER OF
THE SEZ PERCEs-JOsEPH's ADMIRA-
TIuN FOR GENERAL MILES.


furnishes the following interesting account
famous Chief Joseph
1t has been ascertained that the resources
of Chief Joseph and his band were on the
most extensive scale their equipment be-
ing really remaI kable for it's value and
completeness. Fion the time when Joseph
first left his stronghold in Oregon, until
the day he was encountered by Genera,
Miles, on Snake creek, his band travelled
nearly fifteen hundred miles. This was a
wonderful march, as Joseph did not perform
it with his warriors alone, for he had with
him, during the eutire campaign, all the
wives and children of his dusky braves.
Although his movements were naturally
encountered by the presence of these wo-
men and children, the willy chief, during
his whole march, displayed at all times all
those qualities and devices only possessed
10y hrstrate military commander, and
he conducted the march with consum-
mate ability and sbrewdness. 1t was this
superior intelligence and military skill on
his part which enabled him to outstrip his
pulsuers and almost gain success in his IA
nous retreat toward the mountain.
The fighting strength of Joseplis band
consisted of something more than three
huHd ed intrepid warriors, all Injured to the
hardships of savage warfare and trained to
these warriors were magnifcently aimed
with the best descriptions of magazine
rifles known to the military service, aud it
would be interesting to know how these
NeZ PeIceS Indians were able thus to equip
themselves, though it is to be inferred that
these rifles were procured through traders
and at enormous cos, for the prices of such
weapons must have greatly increased over
those asked i'll the EASTERN cities. Besides
these magazine OF repeating rifles Joseph
also carried with him on his retreat num-
Der of needle guns Of tire longest range, d
few of which were provided with telescope
sights, showing how advanced in military
science ana knowledge was the leader of
the band. One of the rifles i'll Joseph's
possession was Creedmoor sporting rifle
of the pattern most approved i'll New York
When he started out on his march i'll
| Oregon Joseph took with him 2, 600 horses
aud ponies, SO that he had enough to en-
able all of the squaws and little ones to
ride and at the same time leave sufficient
10 provide three steeds for each fighting
warrior.
General Howard failed to catch Joseph
for the simple reason that he began the
pursuit with an inadequate force, "A part of
which was totally unprOv ided with The ne
ce>Sary equipment Tor the projected catn-
paign. / hus his effective strength was re
duced aud his movements impeded. The
chase after Joseph was catered upon by
| Geucial Howard with too few horses for
! the long race the Nez Perces led his Il oops,
once the pursuit was fairly commenced,
| and. being compelled To make repeated
halts to rest his men and horses, Howard
! lost considerable time aud Joseph was able
| To Increase his distance from his puisueIs.
! This is IL sad adm Issinr to make, but it is
! the truth and the melancholy fact remains
| that a savage chieftaIn was able to equip
E.t hos.
! sent out 10y great government, whose re-
! sources should have enabled it to place a
! body of troops i'll perfect condition and
/ equipped in the most approved manner aud
! on a iIberdl scale.
| There can he no question that Joseph
speedily learned To dIsdaiD General How
! AID and his tactIcs. When he was over
! taken AID pouuced upon by General John
Csibbun AT the Big IInle noul.tains, on the
/ 9th of August, Joseph was greatly per
! picked.
..What kind Of an outfit is this ?' he ex
/ claimed. This cau't be the Bible chic: ?
Aud he speedily found out that 1T was
not Howard, ''the Bible cbief,' as the ln-
diaus have learned to call him. General
! Eibbou on that memorable day, had he had
| as many men under his command as Gen
| eral Miles had VIXEN he encountered the
| Ncz Perces a. the foot of the Bear Paw
| mountains, would doubtless have saved the
| latter officer the trouble Of the movements
he has Just made, and carried off for him
| self the glory vi the victory achieved 10y the
| more fortunate Miles.
When General Miles started in pursuit
| of Joseph and his determined band of war
riors. on the 18th of September, from the
| mouth uf The Tongue river, he had formed
! his plan of operations SO shrewdiy and ac-
curately that he was led to say TO one OF
his officers, pointing to his map. There
! where I'll strike them" He struck the
Ncz Per- ces' camp on the Both OF Septem-
ber after toilsome and determined march
of twelve days, al IA point within six miles
of the syo. he had indicated on the map be
fore setting his troops IN motion.
/ The officers and men under General
! Niles's command were so eager for the
first charge when they came in sight ol
Josepl's intreuched camp that, as in the
case of General Casters last and glorious
fight, several of the men persisted tnroug'
sheer excess of bravery and haidlhood-
But after the first and desperate charge
their general so disposed his troops AS tt
insure the subsequent victory without fur
tber loss Of tbeir lives.
General Miles placed his men i'm rifle
pits, which from day 20 day, or rather from
night to night, when coucealmeht va:
nnss,ble among the barren gulcbes anC
ravines, we've dug nearer and nearer to th'
lines of the Indians. He succeeded at frs
i'm surrounding them, bat that success wa'
pot effectual in compelling them to make
speedy surrender, as the hostlles were
olntted with supplies, amply sufficient fo
long siege.
On ascertaining the fact that provision!
were plenty in the Indian camp Genera
Miles's next endeavor, therefore, was t.
stop their supply of water. His approaches
by a series of new rifle pits, dug during Ih'
following night, promised to do this effec
tually, and Joseph was not slow TO discove
the utter bopelessness OF his holding ou
against the government troops, for the sup
Nv or water once cut off entailed suffering
on his animals, as vel as his braves, thei
souaws aud children
I need not repea: the tale already told t
the readers of the Herald of JoSeph's pro
positions and final preparations for surren