The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-18

wives and little ones, than did the Ncz /
Perez war chieftaiu, Joseph, who led a |
chase Of l,5OO miles along the valleys, |
across the foothills and through the blind |
passes of the Rocky mountains, with hos |
tile armies supprbly equipped and of |
dauntlcss valor in front of him, behind /
him, to the right and to the Left of him. .
while almost certain defeat was his single |
prospect, and death stared him in the face |
at every turn.
Every advantage of the situation was
with the army of the government from first
to last 1t was led by experienced soldiers
of the plains and the civil war. Years OF
preparation had established forts and
camps in places the best suited to quell In
dian uprisings The Nez Perces We're, on
the contrary, a peaceful tribe who had kept
aloof from all wars. They had been early
Christianized and We're engaged in farming
on their Idaho reservation, granted in 1900.
Their love of peace was such that up to
1865 they had not slain single white person.
The quarrel of 1871 was put upon them
by the revocation of treaty grant and the
murder of brother Of Joseph by white,
whom the Indians demanded should be
tried Notwithstanding these proyocations
the tribe submitted to settle on the grounds
allotted by the government, and a simple
border incident started the flames of an In
dian war. In private quarrel four whites
were killed by Nel PerCcs. The indians
assumed that thetrbe would have to suffer
for the deed, and one of the war chiefs,
White Bird, declared that he would not 20
on the reservation. The whole tribe was
at that time upon its lands in western Ida
no or on the borders of them, and General
Howard, commanding the Department Of
the Columbia, at once sent two cavalry
companies, under Captain David Perry, to
the scene.
Already agents of the Indian bureau
had investigated the murders charged upon
the Nez Perces, and the appearance Of Per
rvs column was taken by the excited
Indians as a signal Of war. White Bird
mounted his horse, called his braves around
him and started on the warpath. Chief
Joseph was drawn in by the impulse OF hi.
fighting men, and the two bands united at
White Bird canyon on Salmon river. Their,
Perry attacked on June Il and lost 80 mer
killed out of 3d. The soldiers of course re
treated, and the victory heartened up tn,
braves who until then had stood for peace
In fact, they believed that the entire trib,
was compromised by these acts, and tina
there was nothing left to do but take VI
war in self defense.
General Howard instantly set the tele
graph and special scouts and cOuriers a
work to alarm the posts and garrison
surrounding the Nez Perces' lands, anC
the passes Of mountains and rivers wer
filled with armed soldiery before the chief
could get their families and ponies togeth
er for n campaign. Every year the Ne
Perces went on a buffalo hunt along tn
Missouri, and Chief Joseph, whether truth
fully or as ruse, announced that to be hi
fptn Ion, hut - ngti in ON
it short, for he ordered his cavalry, witt
gatling guns and howitzers, to seize tina
route and hedge the Indians in.
Joseph then directed his march soutl
and westward across Salmon river, then OF
circuit north and eastward to the Clearwa
ter, where Howard fought him on July /
and L. The Indians numbered 400 braves
but were encountered with their women
children and baggage, also an extra herr
of about 600 ponies for reserves Theirvil
lage was in the shelter Of a ravne com
manded by bluffs, where the mountain
howitzers and gatling guns Of the arm
could get range. They brought into actiO
about 800 males, but the soldiers asser
that the squaws acted as reserves AM
fought like men.
Howard had 400 fighting men in tn
field, besides rear guard, scouts, etc. Chic
Joseph made use of every form of tactic
to foil the enemy His sharpshoOters ker
well to the front, his warriors charge
mounted and dsmounted, and they barr
caded the ravines and gulles where til
troops were expected to attack. The ga
thing guns and cannons played upon thel
at long range, but they kept the pursuel
at bay two days and finally cut their wa
through to the mountains. Chief JOSEF
lost % warriors killed and % captures
Howard lost 10 killed and "a wounded.
Valorous as he had been in battle an
able in strategems TO battle and elude ii
armies following his pathway the saya
Chief Joseph had only entered upon h
dazzling career as a war leader. EASTWARD
in front of him and between his npoDle an