The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-01-04
written For The HOLIDAY MINER.
NEE PERCES WAR OF 1877.
Heroisn of the Citizens
OF. Deer Lodge County.
GaUantsy of the People Of Butte
city.
Compiled from official correspondence AND
files Of Territorial papers, by william
F. Wheeler

It is not required of me, nor do l intend
to write a history of the Nez Perces war OF
1877, It would require a volume to do JUS
tice to the subject. l shall, as briefly as pos
sible, compile fromthe documents inmy poss-
ession, such things as relate to the part the
noble men of Butte City and Deer Lodge
county took in the war.
In May 1877, the country was startled py
the news that the Nez Perces, had suddeflV
broken out into hostility, numbering and pill
fering in the Willowla Valley, idaho. This
was considered remarkable, for these Indians
had for years been friendly and had made
rapid advances toward civilization. Many
spoke English we'll and We in Montana were
accustomed to see them go to and return from
the Yellowstone country on their annual
buffalo hunting expeditions. Chief Joseph
was well known and highly esteemed by our
people for his good sense, dignified bearing
and friendliness to the whites. 1t was, there
fore, With great surpries, we heard the news
that he and his tribe had so suddenly be-
come warlike. We all felt that only the
most powerful reasons could have compelled
him to this course. 1t was soon made plain
that the whites were the aggressors in this in
stance. They coveted the beautiful valley
and rich lands of the Nez Perces and forci-
bly tried to remove them. The Indians de-
termined to resist this invasion OF their dear
est rights and a very slight provocation led to
the first bloodshed, as in the Minnesota mas
sacre of 1862, the whites this time drawing
the first blood.
Immediately the people flew to arms the
military forces of the government were called
on for protection; the Indians started on the
war-path and murdered and pillaged every
where. Of course, the government could not
permit this and a regular Indian war was in
augurated.
The people of Montana watched its course
with keen anxiety, hoping it might be ended
before it should approach her borders. But
they were doomed to disappointment.
Towards the end of June, the government
forces and the people of Oregon, Washington
and Idaho, had so far succeeded in the war
as to render it evident to the Indians that they
must surrender or else leave their country.
Then Joseph and White Bird, the great chiefs,
began that magnificent march through an en-
emy's country, carrying along with them all
their women and children and their great
herds of horses and portable property of ev-
cry description-a march, considering the
number engaged in it, the impediments they
carried, the long time and great distance
they traversed and the foes they had to
avoid or fight at every step-a march that
hardly has its parallel in history. To the ev-
erlasting credit of the Indians it was carried
on in the style of civilized warfare while it
lasted in Montana.
The last day of June the news came to
Deer Lodge that the Indians would enter
Bitter Root Valley and raid it. The extras
from the Neeo North West were carried as or
the wings of the wind to every cabin in the
county. At Butte City, the MINER newspap-
er, called upon the citizens to orgaEize into
military companies at once.
Gov. Potts and Secretary Mills promised
arm to all who would enroll themselves in
companies. They sent spare arms to Deer
AouSC alo " thS Adv Va MN PSo
Pile. At Butte, on Saturday June 30th, sixty
gallant men were organized into a company
in less than an hour, leaving all business and
ali employments and held themselves ready
to go wherever they were required at a mo-
ment's notice.
During May and June and a part of July,
the indian had several severe battles and
many skirmishes with the whites, and at Clear
water and Mount Idaho, they murdered
many settlers and destroyed a great deal OF
property. The war was watched with intense
interest by our people.
About the Goth of July, small parties OF
Nez Perces, three or fou at a time, anne in
to the Bitter Root Valley and were hospit-
ably entertained by the Bitter Root and
Flat Head Indians and tried, in vain, to in,
duce them to join in the war. The news.
papers-the North West and the Butte MINER.
published extras and spared no expense to
obtain news for the information of the people.
On the 23d of July, l was at Bozeman and
that morning left on official business foi
Forts Custer and Keogh. Just before start,
ing ! received a telegraphic despatch stating
that the Indians had appeared in force neal
Capt. Rawn's encampment in the Lo Lo Pass
and that Gov. Potts had gone to the scene Of
action and was using all his authority to or.
ganize and arm volunteers. On the 25th
met Gen. Sherman at Bakers battle ground
On the Yellowstone and gave him the first
news Of this invasion. He fastened his
journey to Fort Ellis, SO as to be in commun-
ication with the military authorities. He
telegraphed to Gov. Potts that he had order.
ed his escort company, Capt. Norwood com
manding, and three companies from For,
Custer, to help Gen. Howard. Capt. Nor
woods company afterwards greatly distin.
guished itself at Camas Creek and witt
Gibbons and Miles commands divided the
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