indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第30章
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the pursuing force would consist of not more than two hundred and fifty
soldiers。 He prepared false trails to mislead them into thinking that he
was about to cross or had crossed the Salmon River； which he had no
thought of doing at that time。 Some of the tents were pitched in plain
sight； while the women and children were hidden on the inaccessible
ridges； and the men concealed in the canyon ready to fire upon the soldiers
with deadly effect with scarcely any danger to themselves。 They could
even roll rocks upon them。
In a very few minutes the troops had learned a lesson。 The soldiers
showed some fight； but a large body of frontiersmen who accompanied
them were soon in disorder。 The warriors chased them nearly ten miles；
securing rifles and much ammunition； and killing and wounding many。
The Nez Perces next crossed the river； made a detour and recrossed it
at another point； then took their way eastward。 All this was by way of
delaying pursuit。 Joseph told me that he estimated it would take six or
seven days to get a sufficient force in the field to take up their trail； and the
correctness of his reasoning is apparent from the facts as detailed in
General Howard's book。 He tells us that he waited six days for the
arrival of men from various forts in his department； then followed Joseph
with six hundred soldiers； beside a large number of citizen volunteers and
his Indian scouts。 As it was evident they had a long chase over trackless
wilderness in prospect； he discarded his supply wagons and took pack
mules instead。 But by this time the Indians had a good start。
Meanwhile General Howard had sent a dispatch to Colonel Gibbons；
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
soldi
