indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第27节
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with orders to head Joseph off； which he undertook to do at the Montana
end of the Lolo Trail。 The wily commander had no knowledge of this
move； but he was not to be surprised。 He was too brainy for his pursuers；
whom he constantly outwitted； and only gave battle when he was ready。
There at the Big Hole Pass he met Colonel Gibbons' fresh troops and
pressed them close。 He sent a party under his brother Ollicut to harass
Gibbons' rear and rout the pack mules； thus throwing him on the defensive
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and causing him to send for help； while Joseph continued his masterly
retreat toward the Yellowstone Park； then a wilderness。 However； this
was but little advantage to him； since he must necessarily leave a broad
trail； and the army was augmenting its columns day by day with celebrated
scouts； both white and Indian。 The two commands came together； and
although General Howard says their horses were by this time worn out；
and by inference the men as well； they persisted on the trail of a party
encumbered by women and children； the old； sick； and wounded。
It was decided to send a detachment of cavalry under Bacon； to Tash
Pass； the gateway of the National Park； which Joseph would have to pass；
with orders to detain him there until the rest could come up with them。
Here is what General Howard says of the affair。 〃Bacon got into position
soon enough but he did not have the heart to fight the Indians on account
of their number。〃 Meanwhile another incident had occurred。 Right
under the eyes of the chosen scouts and vigilant sentinels； Joseph's
warriors fired upon the army camp at night and ran off their mules。 He
went straight on toward the park； where Lieutenant Bacon let him get by
and pass through the narrow gateway without firing a shot。
Here again it was demonstrated that General Howard could not depend
upon the volunteers； many of whom had joined him in the chase； and were
going to show the soldiers how to fight Indians。 In this night attack at
Camas Meadow； they were demoralized； and while crossing the river next
day many lost their guns in the water； whereupon all packed up and went
home； leaving the army to be guided by the Indian scouts。
However； this succession of defeats did not discourage General
Howard； who kept on with as many of his men as were able to carry a gun；
meanwhile sending dispatches to all the frontier posts with orders to
intercept Joseph if possible。 Sturgis tried to stop him as the Indians
entered the Park； but they did not meet until he was about to come out；
when there was another fight； with Joseph again victorious。 General
Howard came upon the battle field soon afterward and saw that the Indians
were off again； and from here he sent fresh messages to General Miles；
asking for reinforcements。
Joseph had now turned northeastward toward the Upper Missouri。
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He told me that when he got into that part of the country he knew he was
very near the Canadian line and could not be far from Sitting Bull； with
whom he desired to form an alliance。 He also believed that he had
cleared all the forts。 Therefore he went more slowly and tried to give his
people some rest。 Some of their best men had been killed or wounded in
battle； and the wounded were a great burden to him； nevertheless they
were carried and tended patiently all during this wonderful flight。 Not
one was ever left behind。
It is the general belief that Indians are cruel and revengeful； and surely
these people had reason to hate the race who had driven them from their
homes if any people ever had。 Yet it is a fact that when Joseph met
visitors and travelers in the Park； some of whom were women； he allowed
them to pass unharmed； and in at least one instance let them have horses。
He told me that he gave strict orders to his men not to kill any women or
children。 He wished to meet his adversaries according to their own
standards of warfare； but he afterward learned that in spite of professions
of humanity； white soldiers have not seldom been known to kill women
and children indiscriminately。
Another remarkable thing about this noted retreat is that Joseph's
people stood behind him to a man； and even the women and little boys did
each his part。 The latter were used as scouts in the immediate vicinity of
the camp。
The Bittersweet valley； which they had now entered； was full of game；
and the Indians hunted for food； while resting their worn…out ponies。
One morning they had a council to which Joseph rode over bareback； as
they had camped in two divisions a little apart。 His fifteen…year…old
daughter went with him。 They discussed sending runners to Sitting Bull
to ascertain his exact whereabouts and whether it would be agreeable to
him to join forces with the Nez Perces。 In the midst of the council； a
force of United States cavalry charged down the hill between the two
camps。 This once Joseph was surprised。 He had seen no trace of the
soldiers and had somewhat relaxed his vigilance。
He told his little daughter to stay where she was； and himself cut right
through the cavalry and rode up to his own teepee； where his wife met him
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at the door with his rifle； crying： 〃Here is your gun； husband！〃 The
warriors quickly gathered and pressed the soldiers so hard that they had to
withdraw。 Meanwhile one set of the people fled while Joseph's own band
entrenched themselves in a very favorable position from which they could
not easily be dislodged。
General Miles had received and acted on General Howard's message；
and he now sent one of his officers with some Indian scouts into Joseph's
camp to negotiate with the chief。 Meantime Howard and Sturgis came up
with the encampment； and Howard had with him two friendly Nez Perce
scouts who were directed to talk to Joseph in his own language。 He
decided that there was nothing to do but surrender。
He had believed that his escape was all but secure： then at the last
moment he was surprised and caught at a disadvantage。 His army was
shattered； he had lost most of the leaders in these various fights； his people；
including children； women； and the wounded； had traveled thirteen
hundred miles in about fifty days； and he himself a young man who had
never before taken any important responsibility！ Even now he was not
actually conquered。 He was well entrenched； his people were willing to
die fighting； but the army of the United States offered peace and he agreed；
as he said； out of pity for his suffering people。 Some of his warriors still
refused to surrender and slipped out of the camp at night and through the
lines。 Joseph had； as he told me； between three and four hundred fighting
men in the beginning； which means over one thousand persons； and of
these several hundred surrendered with him。
His own story of the conditions he made was prepared by himself with
my help in 1897； when he came to Washington to present his grievances。
I sat up with him nearly all of one night； and I may add here that we took
the document to General Miles who was then stationed in Washington；
before presenting it to the Department。 The General said that every word
of it was true。
In the first place； his people were to be kept at Fort Keogh； Montana；
over the winter and then returned to their reservation。 Instead they were
taken to Fort Leavenworth； Kansas； and placed between a lagoon and the
Missouri River； where the sanitary conditions made havoc with them。
