The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
CHIEF J0SEPH'S WARFARE.
THE WONDERFUL CAMPAIGN OF THE
NEZ PERCE IN I8sf.

be dismissed with n word" said n veteran OF
the plains when tho picturesque Nez Perc6
visitor passed in the line Of parade at the
Grant celebra lion. II got M nickname Scar
faced Jack In that affair, and as l shall carry
n souvenir OF It to the grave there is salts
faction In knowing It was given me by foemen
of nett and in dlgniieJ wnrfnre. A soldier
dislikes to be mangled and marred in a SOM
mon place border rumpus.
mo man whose exploits are recorded in his
tory ever mado a moro glorious fight In de-
fence OF freedom. lands, homes. wives and
children, than did this same savage General
when no led our arinies n chase of 1 800 miles
along n bloody trail stretching from the sal
mon River to the Missouri. through the blind
passes OF tho Rocky Mountains. along widc
exposed valleys and across their foothills, with
enemies. thoroughly equipped and OF tried
courage In front OF him, behind him. tc the
right and to the left OF him. Defeat was his
certain fate. and the humiliation Of his tribe
probable.
"Joseph's people were not turbulent In.
dians, nor was he a o t.hcaded leader. The
quarrel came about through tho revocation of
n treaty grant. followed by the murder. at the
hands OF q white man, of q brother OF Joseph.
The Indians demanded that tie murderer be
tried. It was not done, and yet the peacefully
StslNSSe A'NN = - eboh AthhAao uAtN ttNk
them by the Governne nt. Then one Of those
unfortunate border episodes stirred up n 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 the few. and
under the leadership of one OF the war chiefs
known as White Bird. the discontented young
bucks declared that they would not stay upon
The reservation which had been allot cd them
In western Idaho, between the Salmon and
Clearwater rivers. Unfortunately, at that
~junctrre Gen. Howard sent Capt. David Perry
tn the scene with Two companies of cavalry.
This act was interpreted by the excited In
dams as q declaration Of war on the part Of
the Government. White Bird called upon his
braves 10 take to the warpath, ard Chief Jo-
o. phi was dragged In by the enthusiasm Of his
fighting men. Capt. Perry attacked the two
bands at White Bird Canon and was repulsed
after tie slaughter of thirty-three OF his troop
ers. This bloody victory was turned TO ac-
count by the war party of the Nez PercGs,
who made the people believe that their cen;
tribe would DO punished for the death of so
many soldiers. and the only thing left to do
was 20 go to war In self-dcfencc.
"The Government had the best OF the situa-
tion from the start. The regular troops on
tne plhlnb were leu Dy experienced eOlulSr9
OF the civil war. Strong forts and camps had
been established throughout the region and
were strongly Earrisonec. 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 around
the Nez PercGs' reservati. n. and every avenue
OF escape was filed with armed soldiery be-
fore the Indians had time to get their families
and ponies together. Chief Joseph announced
1t as the intention of the triba to 40 upon
their annual buffalo hunt along the Missouri.
but Gen. Towards cavalry. armed with Cat
ling guns and howitzers. seized and closed
that route.
"Jose nh, then made = circaitsTs march
north and eastward to til" Clearwater. where
Howard headed him of and gave him battle
on july, II aud IL. The lntian village was in
OF the howitzers and Calling guns. which tho
soldiers, planted on the su %ounding bluffs.
guards. scouts. &c. and the Indians also num-
bcrcd 100 fighting men. but their move nents
were hampercd by the presence ( women.
children. baggage. and a herd OF extra ponies.
About 300 braves took part in the fg. t. Our
men rlaimed that the souaws acted as reserves
and fought as well rs the male warriors.
The savage General made use of every
form O! tactics possible at the battle OF Clear
their ponies and again CHARGE. on foot. They
erected bnrricades Of stones and timbers at
every point exposed TO ~attacK: Their sharp.
shooters were Always at tie front. acting as
sSirmishers. and although the Gatling guns
and howitzers kept up q steady fire. they held
way out. The losses were about equal. How
ard captured 81 Indians and found 30 dead
Killed and 90 wounded. The wounded Indi,
ans were. of course. carried of with the tribe.
Ro ~ c i%Y between T%s 0" Chief !h0 J RssiHn'" and The The
promised land Of his people. the buffalo trails
Of the upper Missouri. Every pass through
AMI beyond It. in the valleys and at the cross
inrs OF the streams aud Ia the Gaps, in the
could be. JAILED forts. and ida Sil Of them " We're
connected oy telegraph. Not alone were the
soldIery In arms AGAINST the Indiana. but also
out for Missouri through Lo Lo Pass with his
sauaws and children and ponies and wounded
the hardest ever trod hy man or beast. The
order OF march was that OF an advance guard
up and blocking the trail bv cutting down
trees and rolling rocks from the mountain side
to choke up the narrow tas.nGes. The last
was so successful that Howard was ba.fled
ana gave, UP the pursuit.
The first obstacle met with was m army
was stationed with a small company. The
post was as detenslble as Thermopylm. and
indians t" terms. Fl. ref reused TO allow Tr,"t them IN
TO pass unless they surrendered their arms.
This they refused 10 do. and the Captain adopt
cd n ruse tn detain them until Gen, Howar,.'s
troop,s or another force under Col. Gibbon.
which was moving from the East. should ar
rive: But thief Joseph was equally, willy. aad
he flankeh the atricr by having his people
climb the hills and scatter in all directions,
me eating NJ II rendezvous in Bitter Root Valley.
Meanwhile Gibbons forces reached Missoula
10 find the Indians gone " md after
1--WE. days % terrible climbing over tho rugged
broken country they came w to the Indian vii.
lage at Big Hole Basin in Montana. The SOL
diers made their way in the darkness through
the herds OF ponies without alarming the saw
ages. and lay down cloSe 10 the village and in
sight OF the t"pees To watch for the dawn OF
day. AT daybreas the line moved forward in
silence. and at a signal opened fire upon The
tepees where the Indians were sleeping. The
startled braves rushed from their lodges IN
every direction. and finding cover In the brush
a. we'll as behind the bank OF n creek. pOured
a terrible fire into the troops she moment tho
soldiers got out into open ground. In twenty
minutes Gibbons men were in possession OF
the camp and had tet fire To the lodges. hut the
officers and soldiers fell RAPIDLY and Gihuon
give orders to retire for shelter in the timber.
The fight continued all day. and soon after
night,all the Indians gave the troops u parting
vollev and disappeared.
From the battle OF Biz Hole Basin Joseph
marched on across the main diyid. OF the
Rockies. He left behind him eighty. nire dead
Indians. whilu diboon's loss was only sky
nine killed and wounded; The Indians crossed