The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-27
FIGHTING 1T BIG HOLE
"REMINISCENCES OF REGULARS
WHO WE'RE IN THE MONTANA
CAMPAIGN WITH MILES
SUBDUING THE NEZ PERCEs
Veterans Now Living in st. Paul
Took Part In the Exciting
Fights Of the 50'A With
the Reds.

The army building is the rendezvous OF
a number Of old-time regulars, whose ex-
periences IN half forgotten campaigns
are both interesting and peculiar. Among
the veteran Indian fighters of the Old days
in the West is John Phillips a nen-com-
missioned officer. formerly of the Second
cavalry. and a member OF the expedition
under Gen. Miles which chased the Nez
Perces through three states in the los
A chance reference to the campaign re-
Gently brought an interesting account
from the veteran cavaIryman. Some Of
the peculiar features of the expeditions
month after month fight. which led to the
capture of Chief Joseph. and odd facts
concerning the famous war chief himself
are included in the account
Those who speak of Joseph, the Joseph
who is at present on the Colviile reserva-
tion," said he, are misInformed concern
ing his part in the famous campaign
The present Joseph is not the great fight
ing chief, but son. Old Joseph was kill
ed early in the campaign of 1851 and
his son became chief by hereditary right
Il do not suppose there are many out
side the army who know that that cam
paiSn was engineer ed, according to our
information at that time, by a white man
His Indian name was White Bird. and he
was the war chief of the Nez Perces.
"A peculiar tribal custom of those In
dams was the selection of a chief who
was head of the tribe, and of 4 war CHIEF
who was the military leader. The system
Is somewhat similar to our own of max
ing comman0er-tn-chief of the army
and d president. White Bird was war
chief. and the campaign was undoubtedly
laid out by him. 1t was one which was
admirably managed, and many an army
officer to this day will testify that its
failure was not due to lack of strategy.
There was something mysterious about
this White Bird Nez Perces after the
fight at Snake creek. told me that he was
a white man. From other Indians also I
have heard the same thing But I never
saw the war chief, and have never seen
a man who was in that campaign who
saw him. That he. or whoever 1t was that
directed the Neg Perces vas a skiliful
and daring warrior there is no question
The Big Hole fight is one which has
become most familiar in the annals of
the campaign. After a flight from
the expeditions chasing them, the Nez
Perces were over taken early one morning
at this junction. Joseph was surrounded
and his herd cut off Then tie fight be-
san III earnest w lLn MS Ednd he made
most determined resistance, an5 finally
cut his way through the lines Of regulars
and escaped again. Gen. Gibbons and his
men Of the Seventh lost several killed
and the Indian loss was Considerable
Joseph took to fight again and crossed
into Yellowstone park, near Mount Wash
ington Gen. Howard followed with troops
and met the band a. Camas Meadow I.
troop of my regiment, the Second cavalry.
in ahead nf
them early the next morning There was
a sharp fight. and Joseph turned agaiu
and crossed the Missouri at Cow Island
Then there was the old familiar routine
of tiresOme marches until the Nez Perces
were finally located in the Bear Paw
mountains.
The Indians made camp in a dry cou-
lee, cacheing' their valuabes and goods
under its banks. There, in a circular pr.
in the dry bed Of Snake creek, they made
their last stand. Miles followed and over
took them. The first days fight was the
worst and the troops suffered severely
The Indian loss was also considerable.
Then came parley, and then fighting
again. and IL was four days before the
men under Joseph surrendered.
To show the manner in which the two
opposing forces played for the upper
hand. Miles sent Lieut.. Jerome one day
when white flag had been displayed to
the Indian camp We thought they had
surrendered. He had four men with him
to bring out the arms, and as soon rs he
was received he was surrounded and cap
tured. Then, after waiting for him 10
return, Gen. Miles sent forward to hold
parley and induced Joseph to come out
with few of his braves. A file of sol
diers quietly surrounded him and he was
held in return. Then there was another
| cessation Of hostilities, and We waited
Finally the Nez Perces surrendered.
| and We captured the entire band. with the
exception of a few who escaped. In the
sand banks of the coulee we found their
provisions, rifles and vaIuables, an I'M
mense quantity Of stuff which had been
hid away.
During the fighting at Snake creek four
Nez Perces made 3 rush and got outside
the coulee, under the shelter Of a big
rock. FrCm behind this they potied sew
eraI men and finally several Of CUR Crow
scouts went after them. Advancing they
began to sing songs OF derision at the
warriors behind the rock. Then began
the duel
''The Crows were led by a tall strapfdng
fellow, who advanced cautiously and
waited his chance. Firing from behind
cover, he made no killing. and finally
stung by the Insults heaped upon him by
the four Neg Perces he made q rush and
gained the opposite side of the rock.
Climbing up, he tried to shoot over the
! top at the warriors behind. He miscal-
culated. however, and just as he was
about to fire one of their bullets went
crashing through his skull
Then the four made rush. One by
one they got up and dashed for shelter.
They were picked off by our men, how
ever. and all were killed
AFTER Josephs surrender, we met IN
dams at Fort Beiknap. near the boundary.
who told US that Nez Perez emissarfes had
come over into the country of the AS
sinaboines, to enlist their support In the
fight against Miles, soldiers. We were
told that the little band was received in a
friendly manner and conferences were
held. Then they left and the Assinaboines
sent few young men with them presum-
ably as an escort These turned suddenly
upon the NeZ Preces. who unsuspecting1y
fell into the trap. and way up In the
mountains. killed them all White Bird,
| the war chief who was supposed to have
fed before the capture Of the band. IS
said to have been one of these"
Commenting on the fight at Big Hole.
! Mont. Sergeant NJ. c. Stewart formerly
of the Seventh, now retired, says:
Joseph lost Jos killed at Big Hole The
| fight occurred on June 8, 1871 Col. Glib
5ons. Seventh United States infantry. lost
! On the field two officers and twenty-five
| men, and in addition five citizens who
| Joined the expedition. l am positive Of
! these facts as l WAS on the field at the
time and counted the dead"