The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Nez Perce War (1877) - July 13th, 2003

http://www.bitterroot.net/usdafs/NezPerceWar.html ^

[SAMWolf]

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The Nez Perce War

The 1877 Nez Perce War, one of the most studied and debated Indian wars in American history, has been told from as many perspectives as there are people telling the story...
...army officers defending their decisions.
...Bitterroot settlers justifying their about-face maneuvers.
...Nez Perce trying to understand why they were driven from their scared homelands.

The Bitterroot Saga Begins

The Nez Perce believe the Creator molded them from the earth. The Nee-Me-Poo--"the people"--lived for centuries as a loosely-knit confederation of small bands.



In their native homeland, now southeastern Washington, notheastern Oregon, and northcentral Idaho, the Nez Perce depended on the land for their survial. The earth and rivers provided roots and berries, fish, and game. Farming and land ownership were foreign to the Nez Perce. They believed the earth was not to be disturbed by hoe and plow. The land was their home, not a commodity to be bought or sold.

Chief Yellow Wolf, a relative of Chief Joseph and survivor of the Nez Perce War, said, "We were always here. Nature placed us in this land of ours."

Disputes Intensify... war erupts

In the mid 1800's, Indian-settler disputes intensified in the west. In the Nez Perce homeland, the federal government failed to enforce an 1855 treaty prohibiting unlawful encroachment on Indian reservation land.

Preceded by explorers, fur traders, miners and missionaries, others seeking the bounty of Idaho's natural resources swarmed into Nez Perce territory. As a result, in 1863, the seven-million acre Nez Perce Indian Reservation was reduced to an area 10% of its original size. During the 1870's there was increasing pressure to force all non-treaty Nez Perce onto the reduced reservation. After a decade of mistreatment and abuse endured by the Nez Perce, five Nez Perce chiefs refused to sign the new treaty.

Increasing pressure between the Nez Perce and settlers resulted in the first battle at White Bird Canyon, Idaho, June 17, 1877.

Before fleeing eastward over the Buffalo Trail (Lolo Trail) to Montana, the non-treaty Nez Perce fought several more battles with army units commanded by General Howard and settler volunteers.


Looking Glass, 1871

The Nez Perce believed the Army and its volunteers were just chasing them out of Idaho and they would be safe in Montana. They intended to travel peacefully to a place where they could find peace--someday returning to their homeland.

The Flight to Freedom...
unsettled settlers

Fear spread among Montana settlers as reports of the unrest in Idaho reached Montana. Newspapers fanned the flames of fear by printing distorted stories. The Nez Perce were heading over the Lolo Trail toward Montana.

Many Montana settlers were accustomed to Nez Perce visits. Some settlers claimed Nez Perce as friends, but panic prevailed. Newspaper editors demanded action by Montana Territorial Governor Benjamin Potts. Telegrams to President Hayes demanded that the army punish "the hostiles," ignoring the fact that the Nez Perce were defending their homeland.

Montana settlers formed volunteer militia groups. Stevensville, Montana settlers hastily rebuilt Fort Owen, a crumbling, walled trading post. Corvallis, Montana and Skalkaho residents built sod forts to protect their families.


Nez Perce child

Bitterroot Salish Chief Charlo, and his people, had been friendly to both settlers and Nez Perce. However, the Salish were also experiencing increasing pressure from settlers to give up their land in the Bitterroot Valley. Nobody was sure how the Salish would react to the Nez Perce presence.

By the time the Nez Perce reached Lolo Pass, Montana residents has been reading of supposed "terrible atrocities" for five weeks.

"it is an outrage that the Nez Perce shall be allowed to pass through our territory..."
J.H. Mills, editor, New Northwest.

The highly publicized fate of Custer, the year before at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, magnified the settler's fear. While the Nez Perce intended to pass peacefully through Montana, the panic stricken settlers feared their lives.

Bitterroot Salish

Traditionally, the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana was home to the Bitterroot Salish, but they ranged hundreds of miles in all directions to hunt buffalo, fish for salmon, trade and visit neighboring tribes.


Heinmot Tooyalakekt,
or Chief Joseph,
October 23, 1877

The 1855 Hellgate Treaty established a reservation about 75 miles north of Montana's Bitterroot Valley for several other Salish bands and they considered the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana a reservation for the Bitterroot Salish. However, white settlers pressured the Federal government to create a second treaty in 1872. This treaty forced the Bitterroot Salish onto the reservation to the north.

Lolo Trail Barricade... "Fort Fizzle"

To block the Nez Perce from entering Montana, Captain Rawn, 7th Infantry, with thirty enlisted men and four officers from nearby Fort Missoula, Montana, entrenched themselves behind log breastworks in a small opening along the Lolo Creek drainage adjacent to the Lolo Trail. About 150 settlers joined th esoilders. The 750 Nez Perce, with their 1000+ horses, were camped about five miles to the west.

At a meeting of the Nez Perce chiefs and Army officers, the Nez Perce made four things very clear: they had no intention of molesting settlers or property; they wanted to travel in peace; they would not surrender their horses, arms and ammunition; and they were not ready to return to the hostile environment in Idaho.

"I had a talk with Chief's Joseph, White Bird and Looking Glass, who proposed if allowed to pass unmolested, to march peaceably through the Bittertoot Valley in western Montana."
Captain Rawn.

Soon after the meeting, many settler volunteers returned home. Some reports say they were convinced that the Next Perce wanted a peaceful trip through the valley.



Others, "at the sight of so many Indians...deserted," said Corporal Loynes, 7th Infantry.

"Now could we see the Indians passing within sight of us. Of course they did not want us to see them, and we did not." reported Corporal Loynes, 7th Infantry

Captain Rawn had clear orders. He said the Nez Perce could not pass; however, the barricade failed when the Nez Perce, with their horses and possessions, climbed a steep ravine behind the ridge to the north and bypassed the soldiers. This maneuver earned White Bird the nickname of the "Indian Hannibal" and the previously unnamed barricade became a ridiculed "Fort Fizzle."

"How easy any Indian force, whether seeking pillage or only escape, could not pass around, through and by our untrained troops. So far as infantry goes, expect to defend the larger towns or some fortified position."
The Helena Daily Herald, July 30, 1877

"The Indians were fagged out, their cayuses scarcely able to walk, and their cartridge balets almost empty. To let them go by was equivalent to giving them new horses, plenty of ammunition and ample provisions. It was, in a word, breathing new life into a corpse.
"Sergeant T.A. Sutherland, Volunteer aide-de-camp to General Howard.

[SAMWolf]

:-)

[Soaring Feather]

I want to come to dinner, too. See I knew you would make her work!

Have a wonderful time!LOL

[SAMWolf]

OK, I'll throw an extra chop on and there's always the dishes to wash.

[SAMWolf]

Our Military Today
Tarawa's Marines Come Home

Marines from 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit unload from a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter as they return to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in San Diego County Saturday, July 12, 2003, after a six-month deployment in Iraq. Over 2,200 Marines with MEU returned after taking part in Operation Iraqi Freedom. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


Marine Corps Capt. Jay Whalen holds his son one-year-old son, Daniel, as his wife, Tina Whalen, right, and son Noah, 5, left, look on after he returned to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, in San Diego, Saturday, July 12, 2003.(AP Photo/Denis Poroy


Marine Corps Major Boyd Miller is kissed by his wife, Laura Miller, as his son, Andrew, 4, looks on after he returned to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, in San Diego County on a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter Saturday, July 12, 2003 after a six-month deployment in Iraq. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hello everybody! Hi Snippy and Sam, how are you guys doing? I know… you're having a fantastic time. I shouldn't ask, hahaha.

click on the graphic

[U S Army EOD]

Had you rather have your children grow up in a country like this or one in the Middle east. I hope we can help them.

[SAMWolf]

HI Victoria. Just got back from the Zoo. Nice day for it not too sunny or hot soi the animals were all pretty active.

[snippy_about_it]

Yep, I had to wake him up and make him get to work. Then we went off to the zoo.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi Sam!!! You there? Life isn't the same without you around. I need a butt to kick, LOL!!!

[snippy_about_it]

Good afternoon Victoria, like SAM said we just got back from a last minute decision to run off to the zoo. It was great. We hope to post some pictures later today, but we are both really tired and still have dinner to make and dishes to wash. lol. And I have a thread to finish up.

[snippy_about_it]

He's sitting right behind me. Making plans for the rest of the week, his wife is helping us with the weather forecast from the local paper so we know which day trip to take when. I have to work on my thread so I have the computer right now. lol.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I love the zoo, too, and I'd love to see some pics as well. But don't work too hard, we can always keep posting on the same thread for a couple of days.

[snippy_about_it]

Oh no, SAM wouldn't hear of it. It will be somewhat abbreviated but it will still be the news thread.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Okey dokey, okey pokey. :-D

[SAMWolf]

LOL! And mine is sooooooooooooo kickable right?

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL!!! There you are!

[Soaring Feather]

IN GRATITUDE

When I consider the blessings 

day after day 

I, in gratitude gather them in like hay 

and store them in a sacred place 

my soul sanctuary ...without 

a trace of anger or resentment 

or hatred black... those things gone 

for they lack the joy of loving 

I do not hold the resentment card 

before the fold... 

God is Good and light is bold 

his tender mercies to behold... 

Thank You Lord for this new day 

you've given me and asked no pay... 



 

bentfeather ©

[SpookBrat]

Today's thread looks fascinating. I had a long busy day and now I have to go to bed. I'm going to get up early tomorrow and read it. I'm not familiar with this bit of history.

Thanks for the hard work. I hope you are having a good time enjoying Snips. Give her my hello's.

Good night Victoria. Have a good day tomorrow.

[PhilDragoo]

Along the way back Lewis and Clark stopped again at the Nez Perce village, which had helped them back to health after their trip over the Bitterroots.

[The chief of the Nez Perce] "said that the whitemen might be assured of their warmest attachment and that they would always give them every assistance in their power; that they were poor, but their hearts were good...they are the most hospitable, honest and sincere people we have met with in our voyage." 3

-Meriwether Lewis

Nez Perce Chief Joseph, one of the most famous tribal leaders in American history. His surrender speech included the poetic phrase, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

Nez Perce Man on Horseback with Two Children

Nez Perce Baby

"The Big Chiefs," Nez Perce and Yakima Indians in Oregon in 1911

This photograph shows a group of Nez Perce Chiefs and Warriors

Chief Joseph

All in all a very bad show. Hysteria and "journalists" leading to shameful acts.

The self-righteous yuppies with Free Tibet bumper stickers will vote for Hillary--

--though she (as copresident) made China a nuclear hegemon astride more than a billion subjects.

The loss of the Tibetan culture would be (Churchill was here first) the lights going out in Asia.

May the arrows of Hitlery and Hu fall short--if not circuit the orb to jab them in the butt.

Pierce Arrows:

[SAMWolf]

Lovely Feather.