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indian heroes & great chieftains-第26章

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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!'〃



I was told of another kind act of his under trying

circumstances。  While still a youth; he was caught out with a party

of buffalo hunters in a blinding blizzard。  They were compelled to

lie down side by side in the snowdrifts; and it was a day and a

night before they could get out。  The weather turned very cold; and

when the men arose they were in danger of freezing。  Little Wolf

pressed his fine buffalo robe upon an old man who was shaking with

a chill and himself took the other's thin blanket。



As a full…grown young man; he was attracted by a maiden of his

tribe; and according to the custom then in vogue the pair

disappeared。  When they returned to the camp as man and wife;

behold! there was great excitement over the affair。  It seemed that

a certain chief had given many presents and paid unmistakable court

to the maid with the intention of marrying her; and her parents had

accepted the presents; which meant consent so far as they were

concerned。  But the girl herself had not given consent。



The resentment of the disappointed suitor was great。  It was

reported in the village that he had openly declared that the young

man who defied and insulted him must expect to be punished。  As

soon as Little Wolf heard of the threats; he told his father and

friends that he had done only what it is every man's privilege to

do。



〃Tell the chief;〃 said he; 〃to come out with any weapon he

pleases; and I will meet him within the circle of lodges。  He shall

either do this or eat his words。  The woman is not his。  Her people

accepted his gifts against her wishes。  Her heart is mine。〃



The chief apologized; and thus avoided the inevitable duel;

which would have been a fight to the death。



The early life of Little Wolf offered many examples of the

dashing bravery characteristic of the Cheyennes; and inspired the

younger men to win laurels for themselves。  He was still a young

man; perhaps thirty…five; when the most trying crisis in the

history of his people came upon them。  As I know and as Doctor

Grinnell's book amply corroborates; he was the general who largely

guided and defended them in that tragic flight from the Indian

Territory to their northern home。  I will not discuss the justice

of their cause: I prefer to quote Doctor Grinnell; lest it appear

that I am in any way exaggerating the facts。



〃They had come;〃 he writes; 〃from the high; dry country of

Montana and North Dakota to the hot and humid Indian Territory。 

They had come from a country where buffalo and other game were

still plentiful to a land where the game had been exterminated。 

Immediately on their arrival they were attacked by fever and ague;

a disease wholly new to them。  Food was scanty; and they began to

starve。  The agent testified before a committee of the Senate that

he never received supplies to subsist the Indians for more than

nine months in each year。  These people were meat…eaters; but the

beef furnished them by the government inspectors was no more than

skin and bone。  The agent in describing their sufferings said:

'They have lived and that is about all。'



〃The Indians endured this for about a year; and then their

patience gave out。  They left the agency to which they had been

sent and started north。  Though troops were camped close to them;

they attempted no concealment of their purpose。  Instead; they

openly announced that they intended to return to their own country。



We have heard much in past years of the march of the Nez

Perces under Chief Joseph; but little is remembered of the Dull

Knife outbreak and the march to the north led by Little Wolf。  The

story of the journey has not been told; but in the traditions of

the old army this campaign was notable; and old men who were

stationed on the plains forty years ago are apt to tell you; if you

ask them; that there never was such another journey since the

Greeks marched to the sea。 。 。 。



〃The fugitives pressed constantly northward undaunted; while

orders were flying over the wires; and special trains were carrying

men and horses to cut them off at all probable points on the

different railway lines they must cross。  Of the three hundred

Indians; sixty or seventy were fighting men  the rest old men;

women; and children。  An army officer once told me that thirteen

thousand troops were hurrying over the country to capture or kill

these few poor people who had left the fever…stricken South; and in

the face of every obstacle were steadily marching northward。



〃The War Department set all its resources in operation against

them; yet they kept on。  If troops attacked them; they stopped and

fought until they had driven off the soldiers; and then started

north again。  Sometimes they did not even stop; but marched along;

fighting as they marched。  For the most part they tried  and with

success  to avoid conflicts; and had but four real hard fights;

in which

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