Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-09-09
NEZ PIERCE WAR
IS HELD UNJUST
HISTORY SAYS CHIEF JUSTICE
LEW l.. CALLAWAY
Jurist Recounts Events Leading Up to
Battle of Big Hole Which Resulted
From Army Trying to Turn Back Chief
Joseph On March to Canada

"The campaign against the Nez
Perez Indians and the battle of Big
Hole is the blacklist chapter in Ameri-
can history" Lew L.. Galloway, chief
Justice Of the Montana supreme court,
told the Helena Rotary club the other
day. ut seemed to be the idea of the
American army to wage war against
women and children to exterminate the
Indians" he said.
Chief Justice Galloway outlined the
history Of the campaign leading to the
battle Of the Big Hole in August, 1887.
The Indians had resided in the Idaho
country for many years. Their reserva-
ton had been established by the treaty
in the Walla Walla valley, and in the
Clearwater country. Joseph was their
leader. A delegation of the chiefs went
to Washington. and while there coded
a large portion of the Walla Walla valley
to the whites. This action was not APP
proved by Joseph n other leaders who
disputed the governments position that
the delegation had full authority to act
for the tribe. At his death Joseph
charged his son., Young Joseph, who
later became famous as Chief Joseph, to
hold the Walla Walla country for his
people.
Shocked by Farmers
Settlers came in 1874 and later came
soldiers to protect them. A sect Of the
Indians called the Dreamers were shocked
by the filling of the soil by the white
men n several minor disturbances
arose. In 1877 General Howard was sent
to put the Indians on their reservation.
although Chief Joseph had been in
favor Of peace he chose to lead his people
In war when several leaders were thrown
in Jail and General Howard set out to
punish the tribe for killing q few rene
nn Nv, rnkTnsn1 FA- H. SOD 80
Indians. He had had no military train
ing, but he displayed the best of general
ship in the campaign which followed.
THE Indians were ordered to get onto
the reservation within thirty days, an
impossible thing. When the United
States army set out to capture them.
Joseph was encamped on the Salmon
river. and practically annihilated the
command of Captain Terry. A month
later he was attacked on the Clearwater
by General Howard and after two days of
fighting the Indians retreated in good
order and set out upon a march from the
Clearwater river In Idaho to the Big Hole
In Montana. Their march ranks with
that OF Xenophon and others of history
in the ability OF the commander to
transport his people and possessions over
difficult mountain ranges, fighting and
winning several engagements with the
pursurers.
Followed by Soldiers
Upon entering Montana the Nez
Perces promised not to modest the set
tiers II they were allowed safe passage to
Canada Captain Rawn, OF Fort Mis-
soula, attempted to stop their progress
In the Lolo valley, but the Indians
passed his fortress In the night and con-
ttnued up the Bitter Root valley. AS
they went down Trail creek and into the
Big Hole they were unconscious of the
pursuit OF General Gibbons. of Fort Shaw
who had gathered $50 soldiers and 25 set
tiers to capture them. Lieutenant
Bradley. an experienced Indian fighter,
was chief scout He followed the Indians
almost to camp and reconnoitered.
The attack came the next morning.
Men women n children were shot in
their beds without warning, but within
10 minutes the Indians he'd rallied,
fought back to the tepees from which
they had fled, obtained guns and had
driven the soldiers up the stream into a
narrow ravine where the battle continued
for two days.
"Gibbon was whipped, but Howard
came to his rescue and the Indians with
drew to a strong position on Lake creek.
They were later defeated at the battle
OF Bear Paw