Looking Glass
Nez Perce
Topics covered in this document:
Introduction
Looking Glass (c.1832-1877), the son of a prominant Nez Perce
chief, was born in what is now western Montana. His native name is
Allalimya Takunin.
Although he bitterly resented white settlers encroaching on his
ancestral homeland, he also opposed going to war with the U.S. over
its plans to force his people onto the small reservation at Lapwai,
Idaho.
Real Red Napoleon
The Nez Perce first clashed with the U.S. Army at Whitebird Canyon on
June 17, 1877. Looking Glass, a respected battlefield commander, was
living on the Lapwai reservation at the time, as he had promised to do.
Attempted Arrest
Fearing that Looking Glass might decide to join in the fighting, General
Oliver Howard sent a detachment of troops to arrest him. However, Howard's
worst fears were soon realized.
Looking Glass managed to elude arrest and fled the reservation to join
up with Chief Joseph's fugitive band.
Looking Glass convinced Joseph's band to flee to Montana, despite
Chief Joseph's opposition. Once in Montana, Looking Glass hoped to enlist
the aid of the fierce Crow warriors.
In spite of the fact that Chief
Joseph received the title of the "Red Napoleon" in the popular press,
the great Nez Perce retreat of 1877 bore the definite mark of Looking
Glass's leadership.
Serious Miscalculation
The problem was, however, that Looking Glass was accustomed to fighting
wars with other Indian tribes, not with the U.S. Army, which caused at
least one costly miscalculation. He and his band stopped at Big Hole
where he believed they would be safe from attack.
However, soldiers under the command of Colonel John Gibbon proved him
wrong.
On August 9, 1877, the army attacked the Nez Perce camp at Big Hole,
inflicting heavy casualties. After that, Looking Glass lost much of his
status as a war chief.
Looking Glass's Death
Nearly two months later, army troops under Colonel Nelson A. Miles
surrounded the Nez Perce in northern Montana's Bearpaw mountains.
Looking Glass adamantly refused to surrender. But Chief Joseph had
concluded that surrender was the only viable option.
On October 5, 1877, as Joseph rode out to hand over his rifle, Looking
Glass headed the other way.
Looking Glass intended to join with Sitting Bull in Canada.
But before he could make it to the Canadian border, he was killed by a
Cheyenne scout.
And the real "Red Napoleon" died.
What Next?
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