Chief Joseph
Nez Perce
Topics covered in this document:
Introduction
The man known as Chief Joseph (1840-1904) was born in the Wallowa Valley
in what is now northeastern Oregon.
His native name was Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, which means Thunder
Rolling Down the Mountain.
But he was commonly known as Joseph the Younger. And later, as simply
Chief Joseph.
Joseph the Elder
Chief Joseph's father, Joseph the Elder, was one of the first Nez Perce
converts to Christianity, having been baptized by Henry Spalding in 1838
at the Lapwai mission. After his baptism he adopted the Christian name,
Joseph.
Peace Supporter
Joseph the Elder was a staunch supporter of his people's long-standing
peace with the Whites. He even helped Washington's territorial governor
set up a Nez Perce reservation that spanned the Oregon and Idaho border.
Gold Fever Strikes
But once again the lust for gold brought on a severe case of treaty
amnesia among the white settlers.
In 1863, following a gold rush into Nez Perce territory, the federal
government took back nearly 6 million acres of Nez Perce land, restricting
the tribe to a reservation in Idaho that was only one tenth its previous
size.
The term "Indian giver," it seems, has been applied to the wrong group
of people.
Denounced U.S.
Feeling betrayed by the people he had tried to live with in peace,
Joseph the Elder denounced the United States and destroyed his American
flag and his Bible. He refused to sign any more treaties that would make
the new reservation boundaries official.
And that defiant stand stirred up the anger of the politicians who
were used to forcing the Indians to sign all those worthless treaties.
Joseph the Younger
When his father died in 1871, Joseph the Younger was elected to lead
his people. The young Chief Joseph inherited a volatile situation as white
settlers continued to stream into his lands in the Wallowa Valley.
Whites Ordered to Leave Valley
In 1873 Chief Joseph thought he had won a small victory when the federal
government issued an order to remove white settlers from Wallowa Valley.
Government Decision Reversed
But the federal government soon reversed itself.
[Big surprise, right?]
General Howard
General Oliver Otis Howard threatened a cavalry attack if Joseph's band
didn't immediately vacate the Wallowa Valley and return to the Idaho
reservation.
Knowing he could never resist such a military attack, Joseph reluctantly
led his band of about 700 people back toward Idaho.
Nez Perce Rebels
Unfortunately, luck was not with Joseph's band. About 20 young Nez
Perce warriors were outraged at the forced loss of their homeland.
They carried out a series of raids on nearby settlements and killed
several Whites.
Joseph's People Attacked
The army reacted immediately, hunting down Joseph's band. Although he
had opposed war of any kind, Joseph decided it was time to join with the
war leaders.
The Red Napoleon
Relentlessly pursued, Joseph managed one of the most brilliant military
retreats in American history ... though apparently, you had to be there to
appreciate it.
Retreat of Joseph's Band
Even General Sherman, who vehemently hated the Indians, was impressed
by the 1,400 mile retreat.
General Sherman once stated: "The Indians throughout displayed a
courage and skill that elicited universal praise ... [fighting] with
almost scientific skill, using advance and rear guards, skirmish lines,
and field fortifications."
Joseph Holds Off Army
For more than three months, Joseph's small band with less than 200
warriors held off some 2,000 U.S. soldiers and Indian mercenaries in four
major battles and numerous skirmishes.
Legend: Red Napoleon
By the time he surrendered on October 5, 1877, the newspapers had made
a legend out of Chief Joseph, calling him "the Red Napoleon."
False Legend
However, the tabloid sensationalism probably wasn't based on facts. His
people never considered him a war chief. And even within the Wallowa band,
the warriors were most likely led by Olikut, Joseph's younger brother, while
Joseph was left in charge of guarding the camp.
But the story sold papers ... and at least the journalists could
pronounce his Christian name.
Looking Glass
More likely, it was another Nez Perce, Looking Glass, and some of the more
experienced war chiefs who had masterminded the brilliant military
strategies.
In fact, it appears that Chief Joseph vehemently opposed the decision
to retreat into Montana, where the war chiefs planned to seek assistance
from the fierce Crow warriors.
Joseph's Speech of Surrender
But the press knew a good story when they saw one ... a "Christian"
Indian fighting for his people. And after all, they couldn't write about
Looking Glass and the others who were the true strategists since they
had all been killed before the surrender took place.
Assumed Heathens
And besides that, the war chiefs were, in the newspaper's opinion,
just a bunch of "heathens" and not worthy of their time.
Fight No More Forever
It was, however, Joseph's widely published speech of surrender that
has immortalized him as a great military leader in American popular
culture:
I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead.
Toohoolhootzote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men
who say, "Yes" or "No." He who led the young men [Olikut] is dead.
It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing
to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have
no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are -- perhaps freezing
to death.
I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them
I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead.
Hear me, my chiefs! My heart is sick and sad.
From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.
Joseph's Death
His fame in the American press did Joseph little good. Once again,
the government recanted on their promises.
When he surrendered, it was with the belief that he would be allowed
to return home. To look for his children.
Kansas and Oklahoma
Instead Chief Joseph and his band were first sent to eastern Kansas
and then to a reservation in Oklahoma, where many of his band died of
epidemic diseases.
Pacific Northwest
Although he was allowed an audience with President Hayes in 1879, it
wasn't until 1885 that Joseph and his band of refugees were returned to
the Pacific Northwest.
Even then, his band was split up. And half of them, including Joseph,
were taken to a non-Nez Perce reservation in northern Washington. He and
what was left of his band were separated from the rest of their people
in Idaho and from their homeland in the Wallowa Valley.
Injustice Against Native Americans
In his last years, Joseph spoke eloquently against the injustice of
U.S. policy toward his people. To the end, he held fast to the hope that
America's promises of freedom and equality might one day be fulfilled
for Native Americans.
Still in exile from his homeland, he died in 1904, according to his
doctor "of a broken heart." His hope for equality lives on ... yet to be
fulfilled.
What Next?
Return
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Have a pleasant day!
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