Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-09-18
TELEGRAPH KEPT
NEE PIERCE FROM
CANADIAN GOAL
JOSEPH AND HIS PEOPLE COULD
HAVE ESCAPED If MILES
PURSUIT KNOWN

hAvk kSSAEkD II MILLS
PURSUIT KNOWN
In Blaine county. Is miles south OF
Chinook, is the spot where was fought
for four days, beginning Sept. 80, 1877,
one Of the most important battles In
American Indian warfare. The battle
was important not only because II
brought together. in combat, Gen,
Nelson A Miles (then colonel who
became Americas greatest Indian
fighter, and Chief Joseph OF the Nee
Perces, who was undoubtedly the In
dams greatest military strategist, but
also because it was the climax OF a
series of maneuvers on the part OF
both General Miles and Chief Joseph
which are now recognized as the
greatest military feats in American
history.
Here on July 10, 1925. nearly SO
years afterwards, a party of historians
and important Americans from all
parts of the United States, among
them Gen. Hugh L. Scott, himself a
great Indian fighter and friend OF
Chief Joseph, paid high tribute to the
military genius of General Miles and
to the excellent character of Chief
Joseph.
Joseph Was Retreating
Chief Joseph and his band OF Nez
Perez warriors had successfully de-
feated General Towards men on the
Lolo trail, fought drawn battle with
General Gibbon at the Big Hole and
were rapidly retreating by q circuit
Gus trail to join Sitting Bull in Can
ada, but the telegraph of the white
man was working against him. I'm
known to this Indian chieftain, Gen.
eral Miles was rapidly marching to
the northwest to intercept him before
he could reach the border. Had Chief
Joseph known of this he could have
easily escaped with all his people as
he crossed the Missouri full day
ahead of Miles, but the Three Daugh-
tiers OF the Night decreed otherwise
and the opposing forces met at this
spot Sept. 80, 1877.
Three days later General HoYard
arrived on the scene and on Oct. 4
Joseph surrendered with 81 warriors
of whom 40 were wounded, 1874 SQuawS
and lat children.
This remarkable Indian had accom-
plished a feat that will be long re-
the first magnitude His small force,
which at no time numbered more than
300 warriors, had retreated for nearly
1000 miles through an enemy coun-
try, carrying with them their squaws
and children. They had met United
States troops II different times and
had fought five pitched battles with
them, of which they had won three,
Il NOT ie
more remarkable when it is known
that the total force opposing them
was nearly 1000 men. But greatest of
all is the fact that this campaign was
conducted without destruction of prop
erty and the numbering of soldiers
that usually was part of Indian
warfare.
OF Chief Joseph's early life not
much is known save that he was born
in eastern Oregon about 1910.
Master Strategist
This retreat was a masterpiece of
military strategy, his men often hold
ing superior forces at bay while a
small detachment of them slipped
around one side and cut off the enc
mics supplies. His warriors-although
the Nez Perces had been at peace for
years-were perfectly trained in all
the arts of war; in fact at one time
he formed 40 of his men in columns
of four and in the dusk of early night
pulled a surprise attack on Towards
troops-the sentry thinking by their
orderly formation, that they were part
of General Towards cavalry.
General o. o. Howard in his book
about the Nez Perces and Chief JOS
eph's retreat says of this particular
instance that "at the Camas meadows,
not far from Henry lake, Joseph's
night march, his surprise of my camp
and capture of over 100 animals, and
after a slight battle making sue
cessful escape, showed an ability to
plan and execute equal to that of
many a partisan leader whose deeds
have entered into classic story"
Even in his last battle he held out
for four days against a force that
outnumbered his two to one and his
quiet dignity and forbearance at the
time of his surrender won him the
Miles
They Fought Nobly
Thus" says General Sherman,
speaking of Joseph's surrender to
General Miles, has terminated one
of the most extraordinary Indian wars
of which there is any record. The
Indians throughout displayed cour-
age and skill that elected universal
praise; they abstained from scalping.
let captive women go free, did not
commit indiscriminate murder of
peaceful families, which is usual, and
fought with almost scientific skill,
using advance and rear guards, Skin
mish lines and field Notifications"
After his surrender, he and his
people were sent to Fort Leavenworth
and later to Baxter Springs, Kan. In
these places many Of the Indians died
but it wasn't until 1885 that the sorry
remnant Of this audacious band was
sent to spend the remainder of their
lives on the Colville reservation, in
northern Washington country SIM
liar to their beloved Valley Of the
Winding Waters and q place where
they could live in peace in a climate