The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-17

"Chief Joseph's campaign Of 1877 is not
to be dismissed with word, SAID
veteran of the plains when the plctur-
esuue NeZ Perez visitor passed IN the
line of parade at the Grant celebra-
ton in New York. IT got my nick
name .Scar-faced Jack in that affair,
and as / shall carry a souvenir OF IL to
the grave there is satisfaction IN KNOW
ing it was given me by foemen OF met
tie and in dignified warfare. A SOL
der disEkes to be mangled and marred
in commonplace border rumpus.
mo man whose exploits are recorded
in history ever made more glorious
fight in defense of freedom, LANDS,
homes, wives and children. than dld
this same savage general when he LED
our armies a chase of 1,500 miles along
a bloody trail stretching from the Sal
mon river to the Missouri, through the
blind passes of the Rocky mountains,
alcng wide exposed valleys and across
their foothills, with enemies thoroughly
equipped and OF tried courage in front
OF him, behind him, to the right ana TO
the left of him. Defeat was his GER
tain fate, and the humiliation OF his
tribe probable.
"Josepn's people were not turbulent
Indians, nor was he a hot-headeo lead
er. Tne quarrel came about through
the revocation of a treaty grant, fol-
lowed by the murder, at the hands or
a white man, of a brother OF Joseph
The Indians demanded that the muir
derer be tried. 1t was not done, ana
yet the peacefully disposed Nez PefceS
settled upon lanoS allotted them by the
government. Then one OF these I'M
fortunate border episodes stirred up
war. During a common braWl between
whites and indians, lour OF the FORMER
were killed, and their slayers were
known to be Nez Perces. Past eX-
perience 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
DISCONTINUED young bucks declared that
Szney would not stay upon the reSerVa-
ton which had been allotted them In
Western Idaho, between the Salmon
and Clearwater rivers Unfortunately,
at that juncture Gen. Howard sent
Capt. David Perry to the scene with
two companies of cavalry. This act
was Interpreted by the excited Indians
as a declaration of war on the part OF
the government. White BIRD called
upon his braves to take to the war
path, and Chief Joseph was dragged
In by the enthusiasm of his fighting
men. Capt. Perry attacked the two
bands at White Bird canyon and was
reIulsed after the slaughter of thirty
three 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 entire tribe
would be punished for the death of so
many soldiers, and the only thing left
to do was to go to war in self-defense.
THE government had the best of the
situation fron1-he start. The regular
troops on the plains were led by eX-
perienced soldiers of the civil war.
Strong forts and camps had been es-
tabhshed throughout the region and
were strongly garrisoned. On the other
hand, the Nez Perces. having been
Christianized and having learned farm
ing, were not ready for a campaign.
Gen. Towards troops were alert at
once. Scouts and courierS alarmed
the posts around the Nez Perces' reser-
walton, and every avenue of escape
was filed with armed soldiery before
the Indians had time to get their
families and ponies together. Chief
Joseph announced it as the Intention
buffalo hunt along the Missouri, but
Gen Howard's cavalry, armed with
GAtling guns and howitzers, seized and
closed that route.
Joseph then made 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
u. The Indian village was in the
shelter 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 num-
bered 400 fighting men, but their move
ments were hampered by the presence
of women, children, baggage, and
herd of extra ponies. About 300 braves
took part in the fight. Our men claim
ed that the squaWs acted as reserves,
and fought as we'll as the male war
riors.
THE savage general made use Of
every form of tactics possible at the
battle of Clearwater. His warriors
sometimes charged on their ponies and
again charged on foot. They erected
barricades of stones and timbers at
every point exposed to attack. Their
sharpshooters were always at the
front, acting as skirmishers, and, al
though the Calling guns and howitzers
kept UP steady fire, they held the
position two days, and finally cut thei1
way out. The losses were about equal.
Howard captured twenty-three Indians
and found twenty-three dead warriors
on the field. His own loss was thirteen
killed and twenty-three wounded. The
wounded Indians were, of course, car
ried off with the tribe.
Clearwater was only the beginning.
The Rockies lay between Chief Joseph