indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第29章
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agreement。 The elder chief in dying had counseled his son； then not
more than twenty…two or twenty…three years of age； never to part with their
home； assuring him that he had signed no papers。 These peaceful non…
treaty Indians did not even know what land had been ceded until the agent
read them the government order to leave。 Of course they refused。 You
and I would have done the same。
When the agent failed to move them； he and the would…be settlers
called upon the army to force them to be good； namely； without a murmur
to leave their pleasant inheritance in the hands of a crowd of greedy
grafters。 General O。 O。 Howard； the Christian soldier； was sent to do the
work。
He had a long council with Joseph and his leading men； telling them
they must obey the order or be driven out by force。 We may be sure that
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 prepar
