The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-08-03
INDIAN SCOUTING ~ THE
SETTLEMENT or LEMHI
Alex crulekshanks "reminiscences.
Article S.


Alex crulekshanks "reminiscences.
Article S.
After the burial at Canyon creek
| was detailed with a fOraging party
TO hunt some meat for the army. We
were supposed to kill game but oft.
times substituted COW or calf ON the
soldiers as there were not many Of
them that knew the difference. We
came To the Yellowstone river at
place where stage station had been
located. The Nez Perces had reach
ed here at the same time that
coach, set FIRE to the station and
had arrived They captured il. des-
troyed the mail and killed some of
the passengers while others escaped
ed into the brush. With this stage
and six horses the warriors disport-
ed themselves for some time, having
all manner OF fun and amusement in
ldashing back and forth with the
coach loaded with Indians. AT last
they cut loose the horses from the
lcoaeh, ste FIRE to the station and
buildings and left. Not far from the
station we found a notice posted on
a board saying. Come on the river
/ bank and boiler loud, we are in trou-
BILE" While looking for this party
found q lone man In q cotton wood
grove. He was acting as sentinel and
had surprised him but instantly he
, threw his gun on me. When l told
him | was one of Towards scouts he
: was glad TO see me and said he was
proud to meet a white man. He gave
a yell and presently Ave other par
ties came out OF the prush, one OF
whom was annie Clark. .-ey were
the remnant of the passengers thai
: had been aboard the stage.
= As we entered the basin ! helped
to kill several buffalo for the army
had seen countless thousands oI
, these animals on the plains and had
kiIed numbers OF them but this wal
my last buffalo hunt Our command
: followed the Indian trail as far Al
> Cow island in the Missouri river
when Gen. Howard left US and wen
to Gen. Miles at Bear Paw wher'
g they received the surrender of Chic
e Joseph. l was mustered out OF ser
q vice at Fort Ellis.
I. Thus ended one of the most mem
q orable Indian wars OF history. !
bringing into service forty eompan
d les of soldiers besides hundreds o
;, volunteers and scouts Gen. Howar,
g. the Indians over fifteen hundrel
e miles, the severity of the trip havinI
q been rarely equalled and the dis
g lance of the war path over which tn
lighting occurred never having bee
surpassed Chief Joseph, because O
u his mastery retreat. became famon
u as the "Xenephon of the Red men.
u He claimed Wallowa valley. Oregon
d as an Inheritance, but II had bee
+ ceded by treaty to the government
T. by the NeZ Perez nation. The vale
was opened to settlement and the II
80 dams ordered onto the reservation
-, Chief Joseph and his bands, consis
= ing of about FIVE hundred warrior
as refused and went upon the war pat
m He defeated the soldiers At Whit
~ Bird creek canyon, but was In tuT
80 defeated by Gen. Howard at the ba
y, tie of Clearwater, after which he CO
:, lected his tribe OF men women an
40 children and commenced h. retrei
N through Idaho and across Montar
r. in an endeavor to join forces vii
some other hostile tribeF. With
force OF more than twice his humble
Gen. Miles surrounded him at Be
Paw mountain. Montana, and after
FIVE days desultory fight and sieg
os the General demanded his surrendt
lal to which Chief Joseph replied, "a
ed ing, Tell Gen. Howard l know
heart. What he told me before ! ha
in my heart. ] am tired OF hghtin
Our chiefs are killed. The old M
are all dead II Is the young M
,ut who say yes or no. He who led
oil. the young men is dead. II is CO
his and we have no blankets. The lit
on children are freezing 10 death.
OF people, some OF them. have run aw
en- to the hills, and have no blanke
aid no food: no one know where tn
b. Iare-perhaps freezing TO death.
want to have time TO look for I
children and see how many OF III,
can find. maybe | shall find th'
among the dead. Hear me, my chic
tie I am tired: my heart IL sick and a
hiy From where the sun now stands
w viii fight no more forever" And
40 Ibid not On October 5th, 1877,
zen surrendered to Gen. Miles, one HI
era Idred warriors, three hundred won
we and children, and seven hundred
go. MES. Iney were taken 70 tns Ihn
isit territory Dut N 1909 were aIlo" ~
n go upon the colyllle reservation
DIV Joseph Afterwards became recon
cd To civilization and discouraged
vices and aided In the education
his tribe, yet II is eaiu thst he v
be ofttimes seen 20 brood over
ut campfire as II he observed 20
"a