Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-05-02
No. %
AFTER CHIEF JOSEPH.
The NeZ Perces Outbreak of 1887 ant
How ii Re suited.

hO ANCL CICCS vi 1901 anu
How it Resulted.
Sherman's March to the Sea- was the
dramatic and picturesque episode of our
great war. The admirably organized and
disciplined army, complete in it's comis-
sariat and transportation, and unencum-
bered with "deadwood" of any kind, cut
loose from Atlanta and tramped through
the heart of the confederacy to Savannah,
meeting hardly any opposition that its sd
vance guard could not easily brush away.
In proportion to numbers engaged and OBJ
stacles to be surmounted, an Indian Chief,
Joseph by name, simply triple discounted
this brilliant exploit of our brave and bril-
liant general, and, despite pursuing forces,
despite incessant effort to head him off, de-
spite five times his numbers in fighting
foemeD, despite the fact that he was bur.
dened with all the women and children of
his tribe, this cool-headed, yet daring In
dian general,
81 THIS MODERN MOSES
led his people through the wilderness
from the eastern border of Washington
Territory through the prairies of Idaho,
up the valley of the Salmon river, across
the Bitter Root mountains, through Mon.
tana to the Yellowstone park, down Clark's
Fork, across the Yellowstone, then straight
way northward for the British Possessions,
and not until within days march of the
Big MissOuri--not until two days more
would have landed him safely across the
line, was he finally hemmed in and cap
tured, by which time just about half the
cavalry and one-fourth of the infantry OF
the United States army were in the field
engaged in the chase. Sherman's storied
march to the sea was completed in $50
miles with little to hinder. Chief Joseph's
RUSH ACROSS THE CONTINENT
carried him some $50 miles by the way he
had to 60, and it was fight or dodge every
inch of the route. Behind him, close at
his heels, was Sherman's wing commander,
Howard, with a strong array of cavalry
and infantry-stronger far than Joseph's
fighting force. Every now and then they
overhauled and made the Indian turn and
fight-every time with disastrous results.
Lieutenant Theller, Twenty-f first Infantry,
was killed in consequence at White Bird
creek on the 18th of June. Lieutenant
Rains, First Cavalry, was killed in
another tussle, July 3, at Craig's
mountain, Idaho. General John
Gibbon packed what men he had in wagons
and made dash from Fort Shaw to head
them off at Big Hole pass as they crossed
the Bitter Root range. He hardly had $50
effective soldiers when, like the born fighter
that he is, he flew at the throat of his foe
at dawn on the 9th of August. He had
not half that number at noon when forced
to drop his hold and let the fierce Nez
Perce 60. Capt. Logan aud Lieuts. Brady
and English, 7th infantry, with over score
of soldiers killed. Gibbon himself. his
adjutant, Woodruff &c. A., other officers,
and two score men were wounded. Chief
Joseph went on his way and Howard came
1p-Just too late. Sturgis, with the
Seventh cavalry, threw himself across his
path at Clark's fork, ahd Joseph tricked
him into wild goose chase down around
Cedar mountain, leaving the way clear.
After long stern chase, with worn out
horses, the Seventh cavalry flew at his
heels again just after he had crossed the
7 Yellowstone, but it was an unavailing
light.
AT LAST,
IN the Both of September, three months
rom the time OF his start, the worn and
weary chieftain was halted at Battle Eagle
,reek, among the Bear Paw mountains.
snake creek is the name of the main
stream. Gen. Miles, with his hard-fghting
the Fifth Infantry, mounted on
indian ponies, and with detachments of
he Second and Seventh cavalry, had made
me of his quick dashes-25O miles cross
barred the way. Even when
hey rode into the charge Captain
owen Hale and Lieut. j. William Biddle,
# the Seventieth cavalry, met their soldier
eaths. But Joseph could 60 no farther.
lie and the little remnant of his band sur
endered, and the Nez Perce war of II was
t an end. Over three months had he
7ithstood the power of the government.
'ver 700 miles had he fought his way to
reedom, as it looked to him, and his ex-
lott stands to my thinking, without
arallel to modern warfare.
CHARLES KING.