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people some rest。 Some of their best men had been killed or wounded in
battle； and the wounded were a great burden to him； nevertheless they
were carried and tended patiently all during this wonderful flight。 Not
one was ever left behind。
It is the general belief that Indians are cruel and revengeful； and surely
these people had reason to hate the race who had driven them from their
homes if any people ever had。 Yet it is a fact that when Joseph met
visitors and travelers in the Park； some of whom were women； he allowed
them to pass unharmed； and in at least one instance let them have horses。
He told me that he gave strict orders to his men not to kill any women or
children。 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
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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。
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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。
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
LITTLE WOLF
If any people ever fought for liberty and justice；