The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-11-16
AFTER CHIEF JOSEPH.
General Howard Tells of the l,4oo Mile
Chase.

Chief Joseph had as good an idea of
skirmishing as any of US and he could
rally his command, after it had been
broken, as successfully as anyone. He
showed that ability when Gen. Gibbon
attacked him in the Big Hole country"
Major General 0. o. Howard, retired,
who is to be the guest of the Knife and
Fork Club tonight at the Coates House,
was talking this morning about his
chase of l,4o0 miles in 1877 after Jo-
seph, chief OF the Nez Perces Indians.
Joseph" Gen. Howard continued, stud
led tactics from the soldiers at Walla
Walla, Wash. He was shrewd Indi-
an. l met him in the school at Car
isle, Pa, about two months before his
death, which took place in September a
year ago, on the Colville reservation in
Washington. We were on the same plat
form, talking to the Indian pupils. L
tried hard to kill Gen. Howard said
Joseph in his speech, but now | hope
he'll live to a good old age
"Chief Joseph's outbreak against the
governments authority was not entirely
of his own seeking. The Nez Perces
had a large reservation which took in
part OF Oregon and ran up into Idaho.
The government decided they had too
much land and majority of the tribe
voted to reduce it. Joseph voted against
it and all his immediate followers went
with him. These included White Bird,
Looking Glass, Hush Hush Cute and Too
Toll Hol- Suite. They were called non
treaty Indians, because they refused
to sign the treaty between the govern
ment and the majority Of the Nez Per-
ces. A second reduction was made in
the reservation still later, because OF
the discovery of mines, and settlers kept
crowding in. Once more the majority
agreed to the governments terms, but
still Joseph and his four or five chiefs
stood out. They couldn't understand
the situation, or they didn't want to,
and they refused to 90 on the reserva-
ton set apart for them. The interior de-
partment insisted that they must obey,
and | was ordered to see that they did.
Many writer's have blamed me for what
did, but had to do my duty. Then,
to, the Indians were not Of the industri-
Gus sort, they seldom cultivated their
lands, they wanted everything to re-
main as it was, and to be allowed to
roam where they pleased, hunting and
fishing.
Il saw trouble ahead when ! went
to Oregon. ! was forty miles away from
the scene of the first outbreak when
some Of Chief Joseph's young men began
to commit murders. They killed every
one in sight, wounded many and stole
all the horses and cattle. / had to
stop that. The chase began the latter
part Of May and ended in the latter part
latter part OF November, The Indians
had warriors, women, children and stock
with them. 1t led along old buffalo
trails, along rivers, through Montana
and into and across the Yellowstone
National Park, with fighting all the
way. The principal battle was fought
ON the banks Of the Clearwater, where
Joseph surrounded our men and kept
us for two days. We had about an
equal number OF men, 500 or 600, on
each side
Eat one time, before the trouble be-
gan, Chief Joseph promised me that
be would 60 on the reservation, and
think he intended TO, but he could not
control his people,
The chase after Chief Joseph has been
described by noted generals, sherman
and Miles among the number, as the
most extraordinary Indian war of which
there il any record. The Indians through
out displayed courage and skill that
elected universal praise. They are said
to have fought with almost scientific
skill, marching with rear and advance
guards, slSirmish lines and field fortifi-
cations Some army officers declared
that Joseph was the greatest military
mind Of all American Indians. Kansas
City Star.