Saga of Chief Joseph

407 Pages·2017·5.572 MB·English

by  Helen Addison Howard, Nicole Tonkovich

Saga of
Chief Joseph
Bison Classic Edition
Helen Addison Howard
New introduction by
Nicole Tonkovich
Maps and illustrations by
George D. McGrath
University of Nebraska Press
Lincoln & London
Introduction to the Bison Classic Edition © 2017 by the Board of
Regents of the University of Nebraska
Copyright © 1941, 1965 by the Caxton Printers, Ltd. Caldwell, Idaho
First Bison Books printing: 1978
Reprinted by arrangement with The Caxton Printers, Ltd.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Publication of this volume was assisted by a grant from the Friends of
the University of Nebraska Press.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Howard, Helen Addison, author.
Title: Saga of Chief Joseph / Helen Addison Howard; new intro-
duction by Nicole Tonkovich; maps and illustrations by George D.
McGrath.
Other titles: War Chief Joseph.
Description: Bison classic edition. | Lincoln: University of Nebraska
Press, [2017] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Originally published: War Chief Joseph. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton
Printers, 1941.
Identifiers: lccn 2017033955 (print) | lccn 2017034233 (ebook) |
isbn 9781496200587 (pbk.: alk. paper)
isbn 9781496204288 (epub)
isbn 9781496204295 (mobi)
isbn 9781496204301 (pdf)
Subjects: lcsh: Joseph (Nez Percé Chief), 1840– 1904. | Nez Percé
Indians— Wars, 1877. | Nez Percé Indians— Kings and rulers—
Biography.
Classification: lcc e99.n5 (ebook) | lcc e99.n5 j584 2017 (print) |
ddc 979.004/9741240092 [B]— dc23
lc record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017033955
Set in Garamond Premier Pro by Rachel Gould.
To the original Americans— the red Indians of North America

Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction to the Bison Classic Edition xv
Prologue xxiii
Part I. Early History
1. The Valley of Winding Waters 3
2. The Coming of the Missionaries 12
3. Thunder- rolling- in- the- mountains 17
Part II. Treaty History
4. The Council Smoke of 1855 25
5. War in the Columbia Basin— 1856– 58 37
6. The Treaty of 1863 49
7. The Tah- mah- ne- wes Beckons 60
8. The Earth- mother Drinks Blood 73
9. The Council at Fort Lapwai— 1877 93
10. Chief White Bird’s Murders 106
Part III. The Military Campaign of 1877
11. The Settlers Prepare for War 121
12. The Battle of White Bird Canyon 130
13. The Skirmish at Cottonwood 144
14. The Battle of the Clearwater 158
15. The March Over the Lolo Trail 173
16. The Affair at “Fort Fizzle” 188
17. The Battle of the Big Hole 196
18. The Camas Meadows Raid 217
19. The Attack on the Cowan and Weikert Parties 227
20. The Battle of Canyon Creek 246
21. The Skirmish at Cow Island 260
22. Battle of the Bearpaw Mountains 266
23. Joseph’s Surrender 278
Part IV. Later History
24. Prisoners of War 289
25. “Somebody Has Got Our Horses” 291
26. Return from Exile 302
27. The Trail to the Setting Sun 307
Appendix 1: Genealogy Chart 323
Appendix 2: Sidelights 325
Notes 329
Bibliography 359
Index 369
Illustrations
1. Monument to Tu- eka- kas, Chief Joseph’s father 64
2. Major General O. O. Howard 90
3. Chief Joseph 123
4. Map of the Nez Perce country in 1877 124
5. Retreat of the Nez Perces through Montana 186
6. A hand- to- hand encounter in battle of Big Hole 205
7. Big Hole battlefield, looking north 206
8. In the face of Joseph were registered courage, etc. 235
9. Eastward march of Chief Joseph and his Indians 263
10. “He flung out his arm to its full length” 283
11. Escape of Chief White Bird 283
12. Joseph at Lapwai in 1895 303
13– 14. Monument at the grave of Chief Joseph,
Nespelem, Washington 316