Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-05-06
arker Writes Of
Pioneer History
in Idaho County
Grangeville Sage Tells of War
with the Nez Perez
Indians

Following account of the Nez Perez
war of 1917 and the Bannock war
of 1878 appeared recently IN shr Wal
lace Press Times from the pen Of the
Hon. A. f. Parker, the well known his
torian of Grangeville;
..The Ne2 Perces nation has been
divided into distinct tribes, known as
treaty and non-treaty Indians. The
reservation or treaty Indians have ever
been fast friends to the whites, and
have proved their loyalty in the Sc
ries of wars through which the coun-
try has passed in its march to civil
cation. The non-treaties resided III
the Wallowa valley in Oregon. They
had never accepted government bounty,
and refused to live on the Wallowa
reservation, although close relations,
were always maintained between the
two tribes.
"In 1877, after a series of collisions
with the white settlers, the order came
from Washington to eject the non
treaties from the Wallowa and TO
place them on the Lapwai reservation
in Idaho. Council were held at Lap
wal to apportion lands to the various
chiefs of the non treaties, and lt
was thought that all arrangements Tor
their peaceable transfers to the res
ervation had been made, when they
startled the country by series Oh
murders and atrocities upon the sou
tarv settlers which inaugurated the Nez
Perces war of 1877. The settlements on
Camas Prairie and Salmon river were
raided. and Indian vengeance, summary
and swift, was visited upon the
heads of the innocent and unarmed
settlers and their families. Neither age
nor sex was spared in this mercness
crusade.
seThe Indians were finally compelled
70 surrender and with Joseph, their
chief. they were sent to the Indian
territory. 1t is said that Joseph
wished to surrender rather than leave
the country or bring further misery
IN his people, but that in council ne
was overruled by the older chiefs
The retreat was decided on and he lea
the band over rugged mountains 10y
almost impossible trails, passing 10y
settlements, hurting no one ana hllai
; " was within one days march Oh Jan
ada, when he was taken. --
During the Nez Perces war or lot
the Bannocks gave what was though'
to be good proof of friendship Iol
J the whites by furnishing a company OF
Young warriors to act as guldes' cour
= iers and scouts to the troops IN pur
S suit of the Nez Perces. Among th'
Bannocks was a young chief nance
Buffalo Horn who had served as
q scout under Generals Custer and Mlie
G and was in fact, the leader Oh tn
Rannock scouts who assisted the white
t in their war against the Nez Perce
After the war Buffalo Horn returned
s "a the Fort Hall reservation wher
;, he passed the winter. He was Yer,
f nrond of the record he had made Whll
serving with the whites ahd n
made visits to the Boise barraek
and seemed to be very friendly WI
o the officers and men. One day he dl'
. anneared from the neighborhood an
n in a short time there came rumors Una
Il +bere was trouble between the Whlte
l. and the Indians on Camas Pralrle.
u old Alturis county. The news cause
great excitement and Major Patrlc
e Collins. then commanding Fort 80
lie co nromptlv telegraphed Generi
N Howard at Fort Vancouver, and u
TT latter FASTENED preparations to me-
he the tbeatened danger. 1t was SOC
to learned that the Bannocks had bee
~ nersuaded by Buffalo Horn to maj
III war AGAINST the settlers. When u
IS Indians learned Of the approach
r. the troops they called a council, al
'h although urged by Buffalo Horn
fight, most of them fled to the RIO
Hall reservation. Buffalo Horn, at =
n head of about 80 warriors, declu
ch TO take the warpath, but being dlsa
he nointed in not receiving expected
Sc from the Umatillas, he gave up I
re- fght and all of Buffalo Horn 8 arr
es was reduced to demoralized ana SCI
tered bands of Indians.
he ---