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He wished to meet his adversaries according to their own standards
of warfare； but he afterward learned that in spite of professions
of humanity； white soldiers have not seldom been known to kill
women and children indiscriminately。
Another remarkable thing about this noted retreat is that
Joseph's people stood behind him to a man； and even the women and
little boys did each his part。 The latter were used as scouts in
the immediate vicinity of the camp。
The Bittersweet valley； which they had now entered； was full
of game； and the Indians hunted for food； while resting their
worn…out ponies。 One morning they had a council to which Joseph
rode over bareback； as they had camped in two divisions a little
apart。 His fifteen…year…old daughter went with him。 They
discussed sending runners to Sitting Bull to ascertain his exact
whereabouts and whether it would be agreeable to him to join forces
with the Nez Perces。 In the midst of the council； a force of
United States cavalry charged down the hill between the two camps。
This once Joseph was surprised。 He had seen no trace of the
soldiers and had somewhat relaxed his vigilance。
He told his little daughter to stay where she was； and himself
cut right through the cavalry and rode up to his own teepee； where
his wife met him at the door with his rifle； crying： 〃Here is your
gun； husband！〃 The warriors quickly gathered and pressed the
soldiers so hard that they had to withdraw。 Meanwhile one set of
the people fled while Joseph's own band entrenched themselves in a
very favorable position from which they could not easily be
dislodged。
General Miles had received and acted on General Howard's
message； and he now sent one of his officers with some Indian
scouts into Joseph's camp to negotiate with the chief。 Meantime
Howard and Sturgis came up with the encampment； and Howard had with
him two friendly Nez Perce scouts who were directed to talk to
Joseph in his own language。 He decided that there was nothing to
do but surrender。
He had believed that his escape was all but secure： then at
the last moment he was surprised and caught at a disadvantage。 His
army was shattered； he had lost most of the leaders in these
various fights； his people； including children； women； and the
wounded； had traveled thirteen hundred miles in about fifty days；
and he himself a young man who had never before taken any important
responsibility！ Even now he was not actually conquered。 He was
well entrenched； his people were willing to die fighting； but the
army of the United States offered peace and he agreed； as he said；
out of pity for his suffering people。 Some of his warriors still
refused to surrender and slipped out of the camp at night and
through the lines。 Joseph had； as he told me； between three and
four hundred fighting men in the beginning； which means over one
thousand persons； and of these several hundred surrendered with
him。
His own story of the conditions he made was prepared by
himself with my help in 1897； when he came to Washington to present
his grievances。 I sat up with him nearly all of one night； and I
may add here that we took the document to General Miles who was
then stationed in Washington； before presenting it to the
Department。 The General said that every word of it was true。
In the first place； his people were to be kept at Fort Keogh；
Montana； over the winter and then returned to their reservation。
Instead they were taken to Fort Leavenworth； Kansas； and placed
between a lagoon and the Missouri River； where the sanitary
conditions made havoc with them。 Those who did not die were then
taken to the Indian Territory； where the health situation was even
worse。 Joseph appealed to the government again and again； and at
last by the help of Bishops Whipple and Hare he was moved to the
Colville reservation in Washington。 Here the land was very poor；
unlike their own fertile valley。 General Miles said to the chief
that he had recommended and urged that their agreement be kept； but
the politicians and the people who occupied the Indians' land
declared they were afraid if he returned he would break out again
and murder innocent white settlers！ What irony！
The great Chief Joseph died broken…spirited and
broken…hearted。 He did not hate the whites； for there was nothing
small about him； and when he laid down his weapons he would not
fight on with his mind。 But he was profoundly disappointed in the
claims of a Christian civilization。 I call him great because he
was simple and honest。 Without education or special training he
demonstrated his ability to lead and to fight when justice
demanded。 He outgeneraled the best and most experienced commanders
in the army of the United States； although their troops were well
provisioned； well armed； and above all unencumbered。 He was great
finally； because he never boasted of his remarkable feat。 I am
proud of him； because he was a true American。
LITTLE WOLF
If any people ever fought for liberty and justice； it was the
Cheyennes。 If any ever demonstrated their physical and moral
courage beyond cavil； it was this race of purely American heroes；
among whom Little Wolf was a leader。
I knew the chief personally very well。 As a young doctor； I
was sent to the Pine Ridge agency in 1890； as government physician
to the Sioux and the Northern Cheyennes。 While I heard from his
own lips of that gallant dash of his people from their southern
exile to their northern home； I prefer that Americans should read
of it in Doctor George Bird Grinnell's book； 〃The Fighting
Cheyennes。〃 No account could be clearer or simpler； and then too；
the author cannot be charged with a bias in favor of his own race。
At the time that I knew him； Little Wolf was a handsome man；
with the native dignity and gentleness； musical voice； and pleasant
address of so many brave leaders of his people。 One day when he
was dining with us at our home on the reservation； I asked him； as
I had a habit of doing； for some reminiscences of his early life。
He was rather reluctant to speak； but a friend who was present
contributed the following：
〃Perhaps I can tell you why it is that he has been a lucky man
all his life。 When quite a small boy； the tribe was one winter in
want of food； and his good mother had saved a small piece of
buffalo meat； which she solemnly brought forth and placed before
him with the remark： 'My son must be patient； for when he grows up
he will know even harder times than this。'
〃He had eaten nothing all day and was pretty hungry； but
before he could lay hands on the meat a starving dog snatched it
and bolted from the teepee。 The mother ran after the dog and
brought him back for punishment。 She tied him to a post and was
about to whip him when the boy interfered。 'Don't hurt him；
mother！' he cried； 'he took the meat because he was hungrier than
I am！'〃