The daily gazette., 1877-10-18
JOSEPlH!f
GRA PHO DETAILS OF THE SUR
} RENDER OF NEZ PERCES.

GRA PHO DETAILS OF THE SUR
y RENDER OF NEz PEKCEs.
JosErn's A ox.r ArIox ron GYM. NILES.
The correspondent Of the New York
Herald wrItes an interestingi account
Of thesaFEspdss Of the INDIAN band
Of the famous Chief Jeseph:; ..,,.,. =.
i 3 II has been ascel .ained. that the re-
sources Of Chief Joseph, and his band
were on the MOST extensive b scale, their
equipment being 1really, remarkable
i for Iits value ana completeness. Frsm
the time when Joseph 2 tsf left sShis
stronghold in 9regon, until the day he
was encountered by General Miles, on
Snake creek, his band travelled neerlt
Iifteen, hundred 4 miles, THIS was q
Wonderful march,, as Joseph did not
perform il with his WARRIORS alone,
for he had with him, during the, en-
tire campaign, all the wives and child
rem Of his d0sky braves. Sgl M5H to1N
I Although his movements were ,natus
ally encumbered by, the presence Of
these women and children the willy
chief, during his whole march, !, dis
played at all times all those qualities
and devices only possessedby afirst1
rate military Commander, andshe con7
Quoted the march with consummate,
ability and shrewdness.S 1t was this
| superior Intelligence and military
skill ON his part which enabled him to
| outstrip his pursuers and almost gain
success in hisfamous retreat toward
the mountain. I, +. -..-.. ,.-..
The fighting strength of Joseph's
band consisted of something more
three hundred intrepid warriors, all
Injured to the hardshlps Of savage wal
| fare and trained to a.sklllfHl use of
modern firearms. All of these war
riors were magn ificently armed with
the best descriptions of magazine rude
known 10 the military service and it
would be interesting to know how
how these Nez Perces Indians were
able thus to equip themselves. though
it is to be Inferred that these riff
were procured through traders and at
enormous cost, for the prices of such
weapons must have greatly increased
over those asked in the Eastern cities.
Besides these magazine or repeating
lrifles Joseph also carried with him on
his retreat number of needle guns
of the longest range, a few of which
were provided with telescopic sights,
showing how advanced! in military
science and knowledge was the lead
er of the band. One of the rifles in
Joseph's possession was Creedmoor
sporting rifle of the pattern most ap-
proved in New York.
When he started out on his march
in Oregon Joeeph took with him z. .oo0
horses and ponies, so that he bad
enough to enable all of the squaws
and little ones TO ride, and at the
lsame time leave sufficient to provide
three steeds for each fighting. warrior.
General Howard failed to catch Jo-
seph for the simple reason that he be-
gan the pursuit with an inadequate
force, part OF which was totally un-
provided with The necessary equip
ment for the projected campaign.
THUS his eff ctive streng n was reduc-
ed and his movements lmpeded. The
chase after Joseph was entered upon
/ by General Howard with too few
| horses for the long race the Nez
| Perces led his troops, once the pur-
| suit was fairly commenced, sand, be
| ing compelled to make repeated halls
to rest his men and horses, Howard
| lost considerable time and Joseph
was able to increase his distance from
his rursuers: This is a sad admission
| to make, but it is the truth, and the
melanchol; fact remains that a saw
age chieftain was able to equip his
| forces in q manner far superior to
those sent out by great government
who resources should havs enabled it
to place body of troops in perfect
condition and equipped in the most
approved manner and on liberal
| scale.
There can be no question that Joseph
speedily learned to disdain Gen. Howard
| and his tactics. When he was overtaken
and pounced upon by Gen. John Gibbon
at the Big Hole mountains, on the 9th of
August, Joseph was greatly perplexed.
| aWhat kind of an outfit is this ?" he
Iexclaimed. "This cannot be the Bible
chief?"
| And he speedily found out that it was
not Howard, 'stbe Bible Chief" as the
IIpdians have learned to call him. Gen.
IGibbon on 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 BearPaw
mountains, would doubtless have saved
the later officer the trouble of the move
ments he has just made, and carried oil
for himself the glory of the victory
achieved by the more fortunate Miles.
when General lies started in pur
suit of Joseph and his determined band
of warriors, on the 18th of September,
from the mouth of the Tongue river, be
had formed his plan of operations so
shrewdly and accurately that he was led
to say TO one of his officers, pointing to
his map, ,"fhere's where I'll strike Them"
He struck the Nez Perces' camp on the
3Oth of September, after toilsome and
| determined march of twelve days, at a
point within six miles of the spot he had
| indicated on the map before setting his
troops in notion.
The officers and men under General
Miles command were so eager for the
first charge when they came in sight OF
Joseph's intrenched camp, that as IN the
case of General Clusters last and glorl-
oIls fight, several of the men perished
/ A. La,,oI, e6aar oyaoaQ 0f hravnrV and ha"-