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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。 Those who did not die were then
taken to the Indian Territory； where the health situation was even
worse。 Joseph appealed to the government again and again； and at
last by the help of Bishops Whipple and Hare he was moved to the
Colville reservation in Washington。 Here the land was very poor；
unlike their own fertile valley。 General Miles said to the chief
that he had recommended and urged that their agreement be kept； but
the politicians and the people who occupied the Indians' land
declared they were afraid if he returned he would break out again
and murder innocent white settlers！ What irony！
The great Chief Joseph died broken…spirited and
broken…hearted。 He did not hate the whites； for there was nothing
small about him； and when he laid down his weapons he would not
fight on with his mind。 But he was profoundly disappointed in the
claims of a Christian civilization。 I call him great because he
was simple and honest。 Without education or special training he
demonstrated his ability to lead and to fight when justice
demanded。 He outgeneraled the best and most experienced commanders
in the army of the United States； although their troops were well
provisioned； well armed； and above all unencumbered。 He was great
finally； because he never boasted of his remarkable feat。 I am
proud of him； because he was a true American。
LITTLE WOLF
If any people ever fought for liberty and justice； it was the
Cheyennes。 If any ever demonstrated their physical and moral
courage beyond cavil； it was this race of purely American heroes；
among whom Little Wolf was a leader。
I knew the chief personally very well。 As a young doctor； I
was sent to the Pine Ridge agency in 1890； as government physician
to the Sioux and the Northern Cheyennes。 While I heard from his
own lips of that gallant dash of his people from their southern
exile to their northern home； I prefer that Americans should read
of it in Doctor George Bird Grinnell's book； 〃The Fighting
Cheyennes。〃 No account could be clearer or simpler； and then too；
the author cannot be charged with a bias in favor of his own race。
At the time that I knew him； Little Wolf was a handsome man；
with the native dignity and gentleness； musical voice； and pleasant
address of so many brave leaders of his people。 One day when he
was dining with us at our home on the reservation； I asked him； as
I had a habit of doing； for some reminiscences of his early life。
He was rather reluctant to speak； but a friend who was present
contributed the following：
〃Perhaps I can tell you why it is that he has been a lucky man
all his life。 When quite a small boy； the tribe was one winter in
want of food； and his good mother had saved a small piece of
buffalo meat； which she solemnly brought forth and placed before
him with the remark： 'My son must be patient； for when he grows up
he will know even harder times than this。'
〃He had eaten nothing all day and was pretty hungry； but
before he could lay hands on the meat a starving dog snatched it
and bolted from the teepee。 The mother ran after the dog and
brought him back for punishment。 She tied him to a post and was
about to whip him when the boy interfered。 'Don't hurt him；
mother！' he cried； 'he took the meat because he was hungrier than
I am！'〃
I was told of another kind act of his under trying
circumstances。 While still a youth； he was caught out with a party
of buffalo hunters in a blinding blizzard。 They were compelled to
lie down side by side in the snowdrifts； and it was a day and a
night before they could get out。 The weather turned very cold； and
when the men arose they were in danger of freezing。 Little Wolf
pressed his fine buffalo robe upon an old man who was shaking with
a chill and himself took the other's thin blanket。
As a full…grown young man； he was attracted by a maiden of his
tribe； and according to the custom then in vogue the pair
disappeared。 When they returned to the camp as man and wife；
behold！ there was great excitement over the affair。 It seemed that
a certain chief had given many presents and paid unmistakable court
to the maid with the intention of marrying her； and her parents had
accepted the presents； which meant consent so far as they were
concerned。 But the girl herself had not given consent。
The resentment of the disappointed suitor was great。 It was
reported in the village that he had openly declared that the young
man who defied and insulted him must expect to be punished。 As
soon as Little Wolf heard of the threats； he told his father and
friends that he had done only what it is every man's privilege to
do。
〃Tell the chief；〃 said he； 〃to come out with any weapon he
pleases； and I will meet him within the circle of lodges。 He shall
either do this or eat his words。 The woman is not his。 Her people
accepted his gifts against her wishes。 Her heart is mine。〃
The chief apologized； and thus avoided the inevitable duel；
which would have been a fight to the death。
The early life of Little Wolf offered many examples of the
dashing bravery characteristic of the Cheyennes； and inspired the
younger men to win laurels for themselves。 He was still a young
man； perhaps thirty…five； when the most trying crisis in the
history of his people came upon them。 As I know and as Doctor
Grinnell's book amply corroborates； he was the general who largely
guided and defended them in that tragic flight from the Indian
Territory to their northern home。 I will not discuss the justice
of their cause： I prefer to quote Doctor Grinnell； lest it appear
that I am in any way exaggerating the facts。
〃They had come；〃 he writes； 〃from the high； dry country of
Montana and North Dakota to the hot and humid Indian Territory。
They had come from a country where buffalo and other game were
still plentiful to a land where the game had been exterminated。
Immediately on their arrival they were attacked by fever and ague；
a disease wholly new to them。 Food was scanty； and they began to
starve。 The agent testified before a committee of the Senate that
he never received supplies to subsist the Indians for more than
nine months in each year。 These people were meat…eaters； but the
beef furnished them by the government inspectors was no more than
skin and bone。 The agent in describing their sufferings said：
'They have lived and that is about all。'
〃The Indians endured this for about a year； and then their
patience gave out。 They left the agency to which they had been
sent and started north。 Though troops were camped close to them；
they attempted no concealment of their purpose。 Instead； they
openly announced that they intended to return to their own country。
We have heard much in past years of the march of the Nez
Perces under Chief Joseph； but little is remembered of the Dull
Knife outbreak and the march to the north led by Little Wolf。 The
story of the journey has not been told； but in the traditions of
the old army this campaign was notable； and old men who were
stationed on the plains forty years ago are apt to tell you； if you
ask them； that there never was such another journey since the
Greeks marched to the sea。 。