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he presented this hard alternative reluctantly。 Joseph was a mere youth
without experience in war or public affairs。 He had been well brought up
in obedience to parental wisdom and with his brother Ollicut had attended
Missionary Spaulding's school where they had listened to the story of
Christ and his religion of brotherhood。 He now replied in his simple way
that neither he nor his father had ever made any treaty disposing of their
country； that no other band of the Nez Perces was authorized to speak for
them； and it would seem a mighty injustice and unkindness to dispossess a
friendly band。
General Howard told them in effect that they had no rights； no voice in
the matter： they had only to obey。 Although some of the lesser chiefs
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counseled revolt then and there； Joseph maintained his self…control；
seeking to calm his people； and still groping for a peaceful settlement of
their difficulties。 He finally asked for thirty days' time in which to find
and dispose of their stock； and this was granted。
Joseph steadfastly held his immediate followers to their promise； but
the land…grabbers were impatient； and did everything in their power to
bring about an immediate crisis so as to hasten the eviction of the Indians。
Depredations were committed； and finally the Indians； or some of them；
retaliated； which was just what their enemies had been looking for。
There might be a score of white men murdered among themselves on the
frontier and no outsider would ever hear about it； but if one were injured
by an Indian 〃Down with the bloodthirsty savages！〃 was the cry。
Joseph told me himself that during all of those thirty days a
tremendous pressure was brought upon him by his own people to resist the
government order。 〃The worst of it was；〃 said he； 〃that everything they
said was true； besides〃 he paused for a moment 〃it seemed very soon
for me to forget my father's dying words； 'Do not give up our home！'〃
Knowing as I do just what this would mean to an Indian； I felt for him
deeply。
Among the opposition leaders were Too…hul…hul…sote； White Bird； and
Looking Glass； all of them strong men and respected by the Indians； while
on the other side were men built up by emissaries of the government for
their own purposes and advertised as 〃great friendly chiefs。〃 As a rule
such men are unworthy； and this is so well known to the Indians that it
makes them distrustful of the government's sincerity at the start。
Moreover； while Indians unqualifiedly say what they mean； the whites
have a hundred ways of saying what they do not mean。 The center of the
storm was this simple young man； who so far as I can learn had never been
upon the warpath； and he stood firm for peace and obedience。 As for his
father's sacred dying charge； he told himself that he would not sign any
papers； he would not go of his free will but from compulsion； and this was
his excuse。
However； the whites were unduly impatient to clear the coveted valley；
and by their insolence they aggravated to the danger point an already
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strained situation。 The murder of an Indian was the climax and this
happened in the absence of the young chief。 He returned to find the
leaders determined to die fighting。 The nature of the country was in their
favor and at least they could give the army a chase； but how long they
could hold out they did not know。 Even Joseph's younger brother Ollicut
was won over。 There was nothing for him to do but fight； and then and
there began the peaceful Joseph's career as a general of unsurpassed
strategy in conducting one of the most masterly retreats in history。
This is not my judgment； but the unbiased opinion of men whose
knowledge and experience fit them to render it。 Bear in mind that these
people were not scalp hunters like the Sioux； Cheyennes； and Utes； but
peaceful hunters and fishermen。 The first council of war was a strange
business to Joseph。 He had only this to say to his people：
〃I have tried to save you from suffering and sorrow。 Resistance
means all of that。 We are few。 They are many。 You can see all we
have at a glance。 They have food and ammunition in abundance。 We
must suffer great hardship and loss。〃 After this speech； he quietly began
his plans for the defense。
The main plan of campaign was to engineer a successful retreat into
Montana and there form a junction with the hostile Sioux and Cheyennes
under Sitting Bull。 There was a relay scouting system； one set of scouts
leaving the main body at evening and the second a little before daybreak；
passing the first set on some commanding hill top。 There were also
decoy scouts set to trap Indian scouts of the army。 I notice that General
Howard charges his Crow scouts with being unfaithful。
Their greatest difficulty was in meeting an unencumbered army； while
carrying their women； children； and old men； with supplies and such
household effects as were absolutely necessary。 Joseph formed an
auxiliary corps that was to effect a retreat at each engagement； upon a
definite plan and in definite order； while the unencumbered women were
made into an ambulance corps to take care of the wounded。
It was decided that the main rear guard should meet General Howard's
command in White Bird Canyon； and every detail was planned in advance；
yet left flexible according to Indian custom； giving each leader freedom to
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act according to circumstances。 Perhaps no better ambush was ever
planned than the one Chief Joseph set for the shrewd and experienced
General Howard。 He expected to be hotly pursued； but he calculated that
the pursuing force would consist of not more than two hundred and fifty
soldiers。 He prepared false trails to mislead them into thinking that he
was about to cross or had crossed the Salmon River； which he had no
thought of doing at that time。 Some of the tents were pitched in plain
sight； while the women and children were hidden on the inaccessible
ridges； and the men concealed in the canyon ready to fire upon the soldiers
with deadly effect with scarcely any danger to themselves。 They could
even roll rocks upon them。
In a very few minutes the troops had learned a lesson。 The soldiers
showed some fight； but a large body of frontiersmen who accompanied
them were soon in disorder。 The warriors chased them nearly ten miles；
securing rifles and much ammunition； and killing and wounding many。
The Nez Perces next crossed the river； made a detour and recrossed it
at another point； then took their way eastward。 All this was by way of
delaying pursuit。 Joseph told me that he estimated it would take six or
seven days to get a sufficient force in the field to take up their trail； and the
correctness of his reasoning is apparent from the facts as detailed in
General Howard's book。 He tells us that he waited six days for the
arrival of men from various forts in his department； then followed Joseph
with six hundred soldiers； beside a large number of citizen volunteers and
his Indian scouts。 As it was evident they had a long chase over trackless
wilderness in prospect； he discarded his supply wagons and took pack
mules instead。 But by this time the Indians had a good start。
Meanwhile General Howard had sent a dispatch to Colonel Gibbons；
with orders to head Joseph off； which he undertook to do at the Montana
end of the Lolo Tra