Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-08-05

veteran of the plains when the pictur
esque Nez Perez visitor passed in tn,
line of parade at the Grant celebration
II got my nickname 'Scar-faced Jack
in that affair. and as l shall carry ,
souvenir of it to the grave there is sat
isfaction in knowing that it was giveI
me by foemen of mettle and in dignifieC
warfare. A soldier dislikes TO be man
gled and marred in commonplace Dor
der rumpus.
mo man whose exploits are recorded
in history ever made a more gloriou.
fight in defense of freedom, lands
homes. wives and children, than did thi.
same savage general when he led oul
armies a chase of 1900 miles along q
bloody trail stretched from the Salmon
river to the Missouri, through the blind
passes of the Rocky mountains, along
wide exposed valleys and across then
foothills, with enemies thoroughly
equipped and of tried courage in front
of him, behind him, to the right and t.
the left of him. Defeat was his certain
fate. aud the humiliation of his tribe
probable.
''Joseph's people were not turbulent
Indians, nor was he hot-headed leader
The quarrel came about through the
revocation of a treaty grant, followed
by the murder, at the hands of white
man, of a brother of Joseph. The In
dians demanded that the murderer be
tried. 1t was not done, and yet the
peacefully disposed Nez Perces settled
upon lands allotted them by the gov
eminent. Then one of those unfortu-
nate border episode stirred up war.
During a common brawl between whites
and Indians, four of the former were
killed, and their slayers were known to
be'Nez Perces. Past experience taught
the tribe that it would have to suffer
for the guilt of a few, and under the
leadership of one of the war chiefs
known as White Bird. the disconnected
young bucks declared that they would
not stay upon the reservation which
had been allotted them in western
Idaho, between the Salmon and Clear
water rivers. Unfortunately, at that
jnncture, Gen. Howard sent Capt. David
Perry to the scene with two companies
of cavalry. This act was interpreted
by the excited Indians as declaration
of war on the part of the government
White Bird called upon his braves to
take to the warpath, and Chief Joseph
was dragged in by the enthusiasm of his
lighting men. Capt. Perry attacked
the two bands at White Bird canyon
and was repulsed after the slaughter
of 33 of his troopers. This bloody vic
Tory was turned to account by the war
party of the Nez Perces, who made the
people believe that their tribe would be
punished for the death of so many SOL
diers, and the only thing left to do
was to go to war in self-defense.
THE government had the best of the
situation from the start. The regular
troops on the plains were led by eXpe-
rienced soldiers of the civil war. Strong
forts and camps had been established
throughout the region and were strong
Nv garrisoned. On the other hand, the
Nez Perces, having been Christianized
and having learned farming, were not
ready for a campaign.
Gen. Towards troops were alert at
once. Scouts and couriers alarmed the
posts along the Nez Perces' reservation,
and every avenue of escape was filled
with armed soldiery before the Indians
had time to get their families and ponies
together. Chief Joseph announced II
as the intention of the tribe to go upon
their annual buffalo hunt along the
Missouri. but Gen. Towards cavalry,
armed with Calling guns and howit-
zers. seized and closed that route.
"Joseph then made a circuitous
march south and west across Salmon
river. then north and eastward to the
Clearwater, where Howard headed him
off and gave him battle on July II and
70. The Indian village was in the shell
ter of a ravine, but not out of reach OF
The howitzers and Calling guns, which
the soldiers planted on the surrounding
bluffs. Towards force was about 400,
besides rear guards, scouts, etc, and the
Indians also numbered 400 fighting
men. but their movements were ham,
pered by the presence of women, chill
'Iren. baggage, and herd of extra po-
nies. About 800 braves took part in
he fight. Our men claimed that the
souaws acted as reserves and fought as
well as the male warriors.
The savage general made use OF
every form of tactics possible at the bat
tie of Clearwater. His warriors some
times charged on their ponies and again
charged on foot. They erected bar
ricades of stones and timber at every |
point exposed to attack. Their sharp
shooters were always at the 'front.' act
mo as skirmishers, and a't's-.<5h the
sailing guns and how. e. =. kept up
deadly fire. they held the position two
laws, and finally cut their way out.
rbe losses were about equal. Howard
.aptured % Indians and found % dead
warriors on the field. His own loss
was 10 killed and 20 wounded. The
wounded Indians were, of course, car
-ied off with the tribe.
clearwater was only the beginning
rhe Rockies lay between Chief Joseph