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running the gantlet before a firing line。
He did a remarkable thing once when on a one…arrow…to…kill
buffalo hunt with his brother…in…law。 His companion had selected
his animal and drew so powerfully on his sinew bowstring that it
broke。 Roman Nose had killed his own cow and was whipping up close
to the other when the misfortune occurred。 Both horses were going
at full speed and the arrow jerked up in the air。 Roman Nose
caught it and shot the cow for him。
Another curious story told of him is to the effect that he had
an intimate Sioux friend who was courting a Cheyenne girl； but
without success。 As the wooing of both Sioux and Cheyennes was
pretty much all effected in the night time； Roman Nose told his
friend to let him do the courting for him。 He arranged with the
young woman to elope the next night and to spend the honeymoon
among his Sioux friends。 He then told his friend what to do。 The
Sioux followed instructions and carried off the Cheyenne maid； and
not until morning did she discover her mistake。 It is said she
never admitted it； and that the two lived happily together to a
good old age； so perhaps there was no mistake after all。
Perhaps no other chief attacked more emigrants going west on
the Oregon Trail between 1860 and 1868。 He once made an attack on
a large party of Mormons； and in this instance the Mormons had time
to form a corral with their wagons and shelter their women；
children； and horses。 The men stood outside and met the Indians
with well…aimed volleys； but they circled the wagons with whirlwind
speed； and whenever a white man fell； it was the signal for Roman
Nose to charge and count the 〃coup。〃 The hat of one of the dead
men was off； and although he had heavy hair and beard； the top of
his head was bald from the forehead up。 As custom required such a
deed to be announced on the spot； the chief yelled at the top of
his voice：
〃Your Roman Nose has counted the first coup on the
longest…faced white man who was ever killed！〃
When the Northern Cheyennes under this daring leader attacked
a body of scouting troops under the brilliant officer General
Forsythe； Roman Nose thought that he had a comparatively easy task。
The first onset failed； and the command entrenched itself on a
little island。 The wily chief thought he could stampede them and
urged on his braves with the declaration that the first to reach
the island should be entitled to wear a trailing war bonnet。
Nevertheless he was disappointed； and his men received such a warm
reception that none succeeded in reaching it。 In order to inspire
them to desperate deeds he had led them in person； and with him
that meant victory or death。 According to the army accounts； it
was a thrilling moment； and might well have proved disastrous to
the Forsythe command； whose leader was wounded and helpless。 The
danger was acute until Roman Nose fell； and even then his
lieutenants were bent upon crossing at any cost； but some of the
older chiefs prevailed upon them to withdraw。
Thus the brilliant war chief of the Cheyennes came to his
death。 If he had lived until 1876； Sitting Bull would have had
another bold ally。
CHIEF JOSEPH
The Nez Perce tribe of Indians； like other tribes too large to be
united under one chief； was composed of several bands； each
distinct in sovereignty。 It was a loose confederacy。 Joseph and
his people occupied the Imnaha or Grande Ronde valley in Oregon；
which was considered perhaps the finest land in that part of the
country。
When the last treaty was entered into by some of the bands of
the Nez Perce； Joseph's band was at Lapwai； Idaho； and had nothing
to do with the agreement。 The elder chief in dying had counseled
his son； then not more than twenty…two or twenty…three years of
age； never to part with their home； assuring him that he had signed
no papers。 These peaceful non…treaty Indians did not even know
what land had been ceded until the agent read them the government
order to leave。 Of course they refused。 You and I would have done
the same。
When the agent failed to move them； he and the would…be
settlers called upon the army to force them to be good； namely；
without a murmur to leave their pleasant inheritance in the hands
of a crowd of greedy grafters。 General O。 O。 Howard； the Christian
soldier； was sent to do the work。
He had a long council with Joseph and his leading men； telling
them they must obey the order or be driven out by force。 We may be
sure that he presented this hard alternative reluctantly。 Joseph
was a mere youth without experience in war or public affairs。 He
had been well brought up in obedience to parental wisdom and with
his brother Ollicut had attended Missionary Spaulding's school
where they had listened to the story of Christ and his religion of
brotherhood。 He now replied in his simple way that neither he nor
his father had ever made any treaty disposing of their country；
that no other band of the Nez Perces was authorized to speak for
them； and it would seem a mighty injustice and unkindness to
dispossess a friendly band。
General Howard told them in effect that they had no rights； no
voice in the matter： they had only to obey。 Although some of the
lesser chiefs counseled revolt then and there； Joseph maintained
his self…control； seeking to calm his people； and still groping for
a peaceful settlement of their difficulties。 He finally asked for
thirty days' time in which to find and dispose of their stock； and
this was granted。
Joseph steadfastly held his immediate followers to their
promise； but the land…grabbers were impatient； and did everything
in their power to bring about an immediate crisis so as to hasten
the eviction of the Indians。 Depredations were committed； and
finally the Indians； or some of them； retaliated； which was just
what their enemies had been looking for。 There might be a score of
white men murdered among themselves on the frontier and no outsider
would ever hear about it； but if one were injured by an Indian
〃Down with the bloodthirsty savages！〃 was the cry。
Joseph told me himself that during all of those thirty days a
tremendous pressure was brought upon him by his own people to
resist the government order。 〃The worst of it was；〃 said he； 〃that
everything they said was true； besides〃 he paused for a moment
〃it seemed very soon for me to forget my father's dying words；
'Do not give up our home！'〃 Knowing as I do just what this would
mean to an Indian； I felt for him deeply。
Among the opposition leaders were Too…hul…hul…sote； White
Bird； and Looking Glass； all of them strong men and respected by
the Indians； while on the other side were men built up by
emissaries of the government for their own purposes and advertised
as 〃great friendly chiefs。〃 As a rule such men are unworthy； and
this is so well known to the Indians that it makes them distrustful
of the government's sincerity at the start。 Moreover； while
Indians unqualifiedly say what they mean； the whites have a hundred
ways of saying what they do not mean。
The center of the storm was this simple young man； who so far
as I can learn had never been upon the warpath； and he stood firm
for peace and obedience。 As for his father's sacred dying charge；
he told himself that he would not sign any papers； he would not go
of his free will but from compulsion； and this was his excuse。
However； the whites were unduly impatient to clear the coveted
valley； and by their insolence they aggravated to the danger point
an already strained situation。 The murder of an Indian was the
climax and this happened in the absence of the young chief。 He
returned to find the leaders determined to die fighting。 The
nature of the country was in their favor and at least they could
give the army a chase； but how long they could hold out they did
not know。 Even Joseph's younger brother Ollicut was won over。
There was nothing for him to do but fight； and then and there began
the peaceful Joseph's career as a general of unsurpassed strategy
in conducting one of the most masterly retreats in history。
This is not my judgment； but the unbiased opinion of men whose
knowledge and experience fit them to render it。 Bear in mind that
these people were not scalp hunters like the Sioux； Cheyennes； and
Utes； but peaceful hunters and fishermen。 The first council of war
was a strange business to Joseph。 He had only this to say to his
people：
〃I have tried to save you from suffering and sorrow。
Resistance means all of that。 We are few。 They are many。 You can
see all we have at a glance。 They have food and ammunition in
abundance。 We must suffer great hardship and loss。〃 After this
speech； he quietly began his plans for the defense。
The main plan of campaign was to engineer a successful retreat
into Montana and there form a jun