The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-26
CHIEF JOSEPn'S CAMPAIGN.

CHIEF JOSEPn'S CAMPAIGN.
The Eq nipment and Resources OF the Nc
Perccs and the Genera'ship
of shcir chief.
IL has been ascertained that the re
sources of Chief Joseph and,his band wer,
on the most extensive scale, their equip
ment being really remarkable for it,
value and completeness. From the time
when Joseph first left his stronghold ir
Oregon until the day he was encountered
by Gen. Miles, on Snake Greek, his band
Travelled nearly 1900 miles. This was q
wonderful march, as Joseph did not per.
form it with his warriors alone, for he had
with him, during the entire campaign;
all the wives and children of his dusky
braves.
Although his movements were natu-
rally encountered by the presence OF
these women and children, the willy chief,
during his whole march, displayed at all
times all those qualities and devices only
possessed by a first rate military com
mander, and he conducted the'march
with consummate ability and ~shrewdness.
1t was this superior intelligence and mil
itary skill Oh his part which enabled him
to outstrip his pursuers and almost gain
success in his famous retreat toward the
mountains.
The fighting strength of Joseph's band
consisted of something more than three
hundred intrepid warriors, all Injured to
the hardships of savage warfare and
trained to a skillful use of modern fire.
arms. All of these warriors were mag
nificently armed with the best descrip-
tions of magazine rifles known to the
military service, and it would be inter-
esting to know how these Nez Perces In
dams were able thus to equip themselves,
though 1t is to be inferred that these rifles
were procured through traders and at
enormous cost, for the price of such weap-
ons must have greatly increased over
those asked in the eastern cities. Besides
these magazine or repeating rifles Joseph
also carried with him on his retreat a
number of needle guns of the longest
range, a few of which were provided with
telescope sights, showing how advanced
in military science and knowledge was
the leader of the band. One of the rifles
in Jossph's possession was a Creedmore
sporting rifle of the pattern most APP
proved in New York.
When he started on the march in Ore
gon Joseph took with him 2000 horses
and ponies, SO that he had enough ami
mails to enable all the squaws and little
ones to ride, and at the same time leave
sufficient to provide three steeds for each
fighting warrior.
There can now be no question that
Joseph speedily learned to disdain Gen.
Howard and his tactics. When he was
overtaken and bounced upon by Gen.
John Gibbon at the Big Hole mountains,
on the 9th of August, Joseph was greatly
p%erplexed.
"What kind of an outfit is this? ?" he
exclaimed. "This can't be the Bible
chief ?"
And he speedily found out that it was
not Howard, "the Bible chief" as the
Indians have learned to call him. Gen.
Gibbon, IN that memorable day, had he
had as many men under his command as
Gen. Miles had when he encountered the
Nez Perces at the foot of the Bear Paw
mountains, would doubtless have saved
the latter officer the trouble of the move.
uort he bo, ;r,t uooJo 81 oa.s;l m
hr L;n",d Is' iu'' Maue' anu oaiileu Oh
noLinJh Tue glory Vi tne victory
"0uor.u = my a more io5.unage niles.
n9 ols"ii1eu anu G2 y! Iuls lasC
paV'le oy oosePn anu ms pah9 ueSerVe 10
NC eonsIueIee c"Ieiuily, n16ueI INA !he
n!li'aly genius Vi Ine Ne% ielces cnlei-
1sin may De properly aPPfecialeu.
laSeh IN consiueiaeioh WIN tne prliilan1
a9I suostantial Victory acnieveu Dy uen.
Miles, Ine ehtlre scheme Vi oPela.iohso on
oo.n SUES ueselve nisn iaIk alhons lhe
many campaigns !ha' nav peen iousn'
out a.ohg tne inqian iront,e,. ri
Inc Iact tnat joseph anu MS IIipe OF
Mez Ieices are 1 Inv ~ uuosn LILY 80
uihelenI nun sue nio'A "no .nI DtC
Ting bul comln,sion are Pieseheiy W
meet thaI 'nose wiscaIIe9 = .ue eas'
VINO wouiu e.. .nnu,,adaa ~ Il" . ru
no"ousa = e,ue
staee oi anails . o na IL so" n't
nlen' anu eno PiSSis innmu h,ns "yu,1
anu sene.eus nuJ H. ooen.o "nee
Lsel e,oco T. Io"Sarah;n of S;.t;nu
ageS i ON ~ sonooncr. "s
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