1.
American Indian Wars
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These conflicts occurred in the current boundaries of the United States from the time of earliest colonial settlements until 1924. In many cases, wars resulted from competition for resources and land ownership as Europeans, Warfare and raiding also took place as a result of conflicts between European governments and later the United States. These governments enlisted Native Americans tribes to help them conduct warfare against each others settlements, after 1776, many conflicts were local, involving disputes over land use, and some entailed cycles of reprisal. In the 1800s, conflicts were spurred by ideologies such as Manifest Destiny, in the years leading up to the Indian Removal Act of 1830 there were many armed conflicts between settlers and Native Americans. Prior to the Act of 1830, some conflicts were resolved through sale or exchange of territory through treaties between the government and specific tribes. The 1830 act authorized the removal of indigenous peoples who lived East of the Mississippi River to the West. As United States citizens continued to settle areas towards the Pacific, the policy of removal was refined to move some indigenous peoples to very specific reservations. The 2010 census found 2,932,248 Americans who identified themselves as being Native American, no consensus exists on how many native people lived in the Americas before the arrival of Columbus, but extensive research has been and continues to be conducted. Estimates on the population of pre-Colombus North America range from a low of 2.1 million to 7 million people to 18 million, scholars believe that the overwhelming main causes were new infectious diseases carried by European explorers and traders. Native Americans had no acquired immunity to diseases, which had been chronic in Eurasian populations for over five centuries. For instance, some estimates indicate case fatality rates of 80–98% in Native American populations during smallpox epidemics. They have cost the lives of about 19,000 white men, women and children, including those killed in individual combats, the actual number of killed and wounded Indians must be very much higher than the number given. Fifty percent additional would be a safe estimate, from about 1600 onwards, the process of European colonization of North America by the English, French, Spanish, Dutch and Swedish was contested by various indigenous tribes. Similarly, in the American Revolution and the War of 1812, the British planned to set up an Indian nation in what is now the Ohio-Wisconsin area to block further American expansion. The U. S. protested and finally, in 1812, most Indian tribes, especially those allied with Tecumseh, supported the British and were ultimately defeated by General William Henry Harrison. The latter were defeated by General Andrew Jackson, during and after such warfare, many refugees from defeated tribes went over the border to Canada, those in the South went to Florida while it was under Spanish control. During the early 19th century, the government was under pressure by settlers in many regions to expel Native Americans from their areas. Some resisted fiercely, most notably the Seminoles in a series of wars in Florida and they were never finally defeated, although some Seminole did remove to Indian Territory
2.
Oregon
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Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Oregon is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Washington, on the south by California, on the east by Idaho, the Columbia River delineates much of Oregons northern boundary, and the Snake River delineates much of the eastern boundary. The parallel 42° north delineates the boundary with California and Nevada. Oregon was inhabited by indigenous tribes before Western traders, explorers. An autonomous government was formed in the Oregon Country in 1843 before the Oregon Territory was created in 1848, Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14,1859. Today, at 98,000 square miles, Oregon is the ninth largest and, with a population of 4 million, the capital of Oregon is Salem, the second most populous of its cities, with 164,549 residents. Portland is Oregons most populous city, with 632,309 residents, Portlands metro population of 2,389,228 ranks the 23rd largest metro in the nation. The Willamette Valley in western Oregon is the states most densely populated area, the tall conifers, mainly Douglas fir, along Oregons rainy west coast contrast with the lighter-timbered and fire-prone pine and juniper forests covering portions to the east. Abundant alders in the west fix nitrogen for the conifers, stretching east from central Oregon are semi-arid shrublands, prairies, deserts, steppes, and meadows. At 11,249 feet, Mount Hood is the states highest point, Oregons only national park, Crater Lake National Park, comprises the caldera surrounding Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. The state is home to the single largest organism in the world, Armillaria ostoyae. Because of its landscapes and waterways, Oregons economy is largely powered by various forms of agriculture, fishing. It is also the top timber-producer of the lower 48 states, Technology is another one of the states major economic forces, which began in the 1970s with the establishment of the Silicon Forest and the expansion of Tektronix and Intel. Sportswear company Nike, Inc. headquartered in Beaverton, is the states largest public corporation with a revenue of $30.6 billion. The earliest evidence of the name Oregon has Spanish origins and this chronicle is the first topographical and linguistic source with respect to the place name Oregon. There are also two other sources with Spanish origins such as the name Oregano which grows in the part of the region. Another early use of the name, spelled Ouragon, was in a 1765 petition by Major Robert Rogers to the Kingdom of Great Britain, the term referred to the then-mythical River of the West. By 1778 the spelling had shifted to Oregon, in his 1765 petition, Rogers wrote, The rout. is from the Great Lakes towards the Head of the Mississippi, and from thence to the River called by the Indians Ouragon
3.
Idaho
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Idaho is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. It borders the state of Montana to the east and northeast, Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, to the north, it shares a small portion of the Canadian border with the province of British Columbia. With a population of around 1.7 million people and an area of 83,569 square miles, Idaho is the 14th largest, the states capital and largest city is Boise. Idaho prior to European settlement was inhabited solely by Native American peoples, in the early 19th century, Idaho was considered part of the Oregon Country, an area disputed between the U. S. and the United Kingdom. Idaho was eventually admitted to the Union on July 3,1890, forming part of the Pacific Northwest, Idaho is divided into several distinct geographic and climatic regions. In the states north, the relatively isolated Idaho Panhandle is closely linked with Eastern Washington, the states south includes the Snake River Plain, while the south-east incorporates part of the Great Basin. Idaho is quite mountainous, and contains several stretches of the Rocky Mountains, additionally, around 38 percent of Idahos land is held by the United States Forest Service, the most of any state. Industries significant for the economy include manufacturing, agriculture, mining, forestry. Idahos agricultural sector supplies a number of different products, but the state is best known for its potato crop, the official state nickname is the Gem State, which references Idahos reputation for gemstones and, more broadly, its many wilderness areas. The exact origin of the remains a mystery. Willing later claimed that he had invented the name. Congress ultimately decided to name the area Colorado Territory when it was created in February 1861, thinking they would get a jump on the name, locals named a community in Colorado Idaho Springs. However, the name Idaho did not fall into obscurity, the same year Congress created Colorado Territory, a county called Idaho County was created in eastern Washington Territory. The county was named after a steamship named Idaho, which was launched on the Columbia River in 1860 and it is unclear whether the steamship was named before or after Willings claim was revealed. Regardless, a portion of Washington Territory, including Idaho County, was used to create Idaho Territory in 1863. Despite this lack of evidence for the origin of the name, the name Idaho may be derived from the Plains Apache word ídaahę́, which means enemy. The Comanches used this word to refer to the Idaho Territory, a 1956 Idaho history textbook says, Idaho is a Shoshoni Indian exclamation. The word consists of three parts, the first is Ee, which in English conveys the idea of coming down
4.
Wyoming
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Wyoming /waɪˈoʊmɪŋ/ is a state in the mountain region of the western United States. The state is the tenth largest by area, the least populous, Wyoming is bordered on the north by Montana, on the east by South Dakota and Nebraska, on the south by Colorado, on the southwest by Utah, and on the west by Idaho. Cheyenne is the capital and the most populous city in Wyoming, the state population was estimated at 586,107 in 2015, which is less than the population of 31 of the largest U. S. cities. The Crow, Arapaho, Lakota, and Shoshone were some of the inhabitants of the region. Southwestern Wyoming was included in the Spanish Empire and then Mexican territory until it was ceded to the United States in 1848 at the end of the Mexican–American War. The region acquired the name Wyoming when a bill was introduced to Congress in 1865 to provide a government for the territory of Wyoming. The territory was named after the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, with the name ultimately being derived from the Munsee word xwé, wamənk, the mineral extraction industry—especially coal, oil, natural gas, and trona—along with the travel and tourism sector are the main drivers behind Wyomings economy. Agriculture has historically been an important component of the economy with the main commodities being livestock, hay, sugar beets, grain. The climate is generally semi-arid and continental, being drier and windier in comparison to the rest of the United States, except for the 1964 election, Wyoming has been a politically conservative state since the 1950s, with the Republican party winning every presidential election. Wyoming is one of three states to have borders along only straight latitudinal and longitudinal lines, rather than being defined by natural landmarks. Wyoming is bordered on the north by Montana, on the east by South Dakota and Nebraska, on the south by Colorado, on the southwest by Utah, and on the west by Idaho. It is the tenth largest state in the United States in total area, from the north border to the south border it is 276 miles, and from the east to the west border is 365 miles at its south end and 342 miles at the north end. The Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming, the state is a great plateau broken by many mountain ranges. Surface elevations range from the summit of Gannett Peak in the Wind River Mountain Range, at 13,804 feet, to the Belle Fourche River valley in the states northeast corner, at 3,125 feet. In the northwest are the Absaroka, Owl Creek, Gros Ventre, Wind River, in the north central are the Big Horn Mountains, in the northeast, the Black Hills, and in the southern region the Laramie, Snowy and Sierra Madre ranges. The Snowy Range in the central part of the state is an extension of the Colorado Rockies in both geology and appearance. The Wind River Range in the west central part of the state is remote and includes more than 40 mountain peaks in excess of 13,000 ft tall in addition to Gannett Peak, the highest peak in the state. The Big Horn Mountains in the central portion are somewhat isolated from the bulk of the Rocky Mountains
5.
Montana
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Montana /mɒnˈtænə/ is a state in the Western region of the United States. The states name is derived from the Spanish word montaña, Montana has several nicknames, although none official, including Big Sky Country and The Treasure State, and slogans that include Land of the Shining Mountains and more recently The Last Best Place. Montana has a 545-mile border with three Canadian provinces, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, the state to do so. It also borders North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, Montana is ranked 4th in size, but 44th in population and 48th in population density of the 50 United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges, smaller island ranges are found throughout the state. In total,77 named ranges are part of the Rocky Mountains, the eastern half of Montana is characterized by western prairie terrain and badlands. The economy is based on agriculture, including ranching and cereal grain farming. Other significant economic activities include oil, gas, coal and hard rock mining, lumber, the health care, service, and government sectors also are significant to the states economy. Millions of tourists annually visit Glacier National Park, the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, the name Montana comes from the Spanish word Montaña and the Latin word Montana, meaning mountain, or more broadly, mountainous country. Montaña del Norte was the name given by early Spanish explorers to the mountainous region of the west. The name was changed by Representatives Henry Wilson and Benjamin F. Harding, when Ashley presented a bill to establish a temporary government in 1864 for a new territory to be carved out of Idaho, he again chose Montana Territory. This time Rep. Samuel Cox, also of Ohio, objected to the name, Cox complained that the name was a misnomer given most of the territory was not mountainous and that a Native American name would be more appropriate than a Spanish one. Other names such as Shoshone were suggested, but it was decided that the Committee on Territories could name it whatever they wanted, with an area of 147,040 square miles, Montana is slightly larger than Japan. It is the fourth largest state in the United States after Alaska, Texas, and California, the largest landlocked U. S. state, and the worlds 56th largest national state/province subdivision. To the north, Montana shares a 545-mile border with three Canadian provinces, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, the state to do so. It borders North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, the states topography is roughly defined by the Continental Divide, which splits much of the state into distinct eastern and western regions. Most of Montanas 100 or more named mountain ranges are in the western half. The Absaroka and Beartooth ranges in the states south-central part are part of the Central Rocky Mountains
6.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
7.
Nez Perce people
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The Nez Perce /ˌnɛzˈpɜːrs/ are an Indigenous people of the Plateau, who live in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, which is on the Columbia River Plateau. They are federally recognized as the Nez Perce Tribe and govern their reservation in Idaho and they are one of five federally recognized tribes in the state. Anthropologists have written that the Nez Percé descend from the Old Cordilleran Culture and this name was given to this tribe and the nearby Chinook people by French explorers and trappers, meaning pierced nose, but only the Chinook used that form of decoration. Their name for themselves is Nimíipuu, meaning, The People, in their language, Nez Percé is an exonym given by French Canadian fur traders who visited the area regularly in the late 18th century, meaning literally pierced nose. English-speaking traders and settlers adopted the name in turn, since the late 20th century, the Nez Perce identify most often as Niimíipu in Sahaptin. The tribe also uses the term Nez Perce, as does the United States Government in its dealings with them. Older historical ethnological works and documents use the French spelling of Nez Percé, the original French pronunciation is, with three syllables. In his journals, William Clark referred to the people as the Chopunnish /ˈtʃoʊpənɪʃ/, Walker in 1998, writing for the Smithsonian, this term is an adaptation of the term cú·pʼnitpeľu. The term is formed from cú·pʼnit and peľu, by contrast, the Nez Perce Language Dictionary has a different analysis than did Walker for the term cúpnitpelu. The prefix cú- means in single file and this prefix, combined with the verb -piní, to come out. Finally, with the suffix of -pelú, meaning people or inhabitants of, together, these three elements, cú- + -piní + pelú = cúpnitpelu, or the People Walking Single File Out of the Forest. Nez Perce oral tradition indicates the name Cuupnitpeluu meant we walked out of the woods or walked out of the mountains, the interpreter of the Lewis and Clark Expedition mistakenly identified this people as the Nez Perce when the team encountered the tribe in 1805. They did not practice nose piercing or wearing ornaments, the tribe known as pierced nose lived on and around the lower Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. They are commonly called the Chinook tribe by historians and anthropologists, the Chinook relied heavily upon salmon as a food staple, as did the Nez Perce. The peoples shared fishing and trading sites, but the Chinook had a different culture and more hierarchical social arrangements. The Nez Perce language, or Niimiipuutímt, is a Sahaptian language related to the dialects of Sahaptin. The Sahaptian sub-family is one of the branches of the Plateau Penutian family, the tribal area extended from the Bitterroots in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west between latitudes 45°N and 47°N. In 1800, the Nez Perce had more than 100 permanent villages, ranging from 50 to 600 individuals, depending on the season, archeologists have identified a total of about 300 related sites including camps and villages, mostly in the Salmon River Canyon
8.
Palus people
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The Palus /pəˈluːs/ are a Sahaptin tribe recognized in the Treaty of 1855 with the Yakamas, negotiated at the 1855 Walla Walla Council. A variant spelling is Palouse, which was the source of the name for the prairie of Washington. Today they are enrolled in the federally recognized Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and are represented by the Colville Confederated Tribes. The people are one of the Sahaptin speaking groups of Native Americans living on the Columbia Plateau in eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, the people of the region lived in three main groups, the Upper, Middle, and Lower bands. Traditional lands included areas around such as the Columbia, Snake. The ancestral people were nomadic, following food sources through the seasons, the Palus people gathered with other native peoples for activities such as food-gathering, hunting, fishing, feasting, trading, and celebrations that included dancing, sports and gambling. They lived near other groups including the Nez Perce, Wanapum, Walla Walla, in October 1805, Lewis and Clark met with the tribe, although most were away from the area for fall food-gathering and hunting. Lewis and Clark presented one of the expeditions silver peace medals to Chief Kepowhan, the Diaries of the Corps of Discovery describe the people as a separate and distinct group from the Nez Perce. The people were expert horsemen and the term Appaloosa is probably a derivation of the term Palouse horse, hundreds of tribal horses were slaughtered to cripple the tribe during the Indian Wars in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Chalfant, Stuart A. Ethnohistorical reports on land use and occupancy, Spokan Indians, Palus Indians, Columbia Salish. Note, S. A. Chalfants report was presented before the United States Indian Claims Commission as docket no, the conquest of the Coeur dAlenes, Spokanes and Palouses, the expeditions of Colonels E. J. Steptoe and George Wright against the northern Indians in 1858, trafzer, Clifford E. and Richard D. Scheuerman. Renegade Tribe, The Palouse Indians and the Invasion of the Inland Pacific Northwest, great battle of the Spokane plains, Washington Territory. Note, One and a half columns of text published in the September 23,1858 issue of The Press, Philadelphia. The newspaper story quotes dispatches sent by Col. G. Wright regarding an expedition against Northern Indians, camp on the Spokane River, one, spokane-Coeur dAlene-Paloos War Yakima War Cayuse War Okanagan Trail Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation National Geographic article
9.
Oliver Otis Howard
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Oliver Otis Howard was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. Howards Bureau was primarily responsible for the affairs of the freedmen. He attempted to protect freed blacks from hostile conditions, but lacked adequate power, Howards allies, the Radical Republicans, won control of Congress in the 1866 elections and imposed Radical Reconstruction, with the result that freedmen were given the vote. With the help and advice of the Bureau, freedmen joined Republican coalitions, Howard was also a leader in promoting higher education for freedmen, most notably in founding of Howard University in Washington and serving as its president 1867–73. After 1874, Howard commanded troops in the West, conducting a campaign against the Nez Perce tribe. Oliver Howard was born in Leeds, Maine, the son of Rowland Bailey Howard, Rowland, a farmer, died when Oliver was 9 years old. Oliver attended Monmouth Academy in Monmouth, North Yarmouth Academy in Yarmouth, Kents Hill School in Readfield and he then attended the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1854, fourth in his class of 46 cadets, as a brevet second lieutenant of ordnance. He served at the Watervliet Arsenal near Troy, New York, in 1855, he married Elizabeth Anne Waite, with whom he would have seven children. In 1857 he was transferred to Florida for the Seminole Wars and it was in Florida that he experienced a conversion to evangelical Christianity and considered resigning from the Army to become a minister. His religious proclivities would later earn him the nickname the Christian general, Howard was promoted first lieutenant in July 1857, and returned to West Point the following September to become an instructor of mathematics. As the Civil War began with the surrender of Fort Sumter, thoughts of the ministry were put aside, Howard was appointed colonel of the 3rd Maine Infantry regiment and temporarily commanded a brigade at the First Battle of Bull Run. He was promoted to brigadier general effective September 3,1861 and he then joined Maj. Gen. George B. McClellans Army of the Potomac for the Peninsula Campaign, on June 1,1862, while commanding a Union brigade in the Fair Oaks, Howard was wounded twice in his right arm, which was subsequently amputated. Brig. Gen. Philip Kearny, who had lost his arm, visited Howard. Howard recovered quickly enough to rejoin the army for the Battle of Antietam and he was promoted to major general in November 1862 and assumed command of the XI Corps the following April, replacing Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel. Since the corps was composed largely of German immigrants, many of whom spoke no English, at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Howard suffered the first of two significant military setbacks, which together led to his occasional nickname, Uh-Oh Howard. On May 2,1863, his corps was on the flank of the Union line. Robert E. Lee and Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson devised a plan in which Jacksons entire corps would march secretly around the Union flank
10.
John Gibbon
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John Gibbon was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Gibbon was born in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and he is the brother of Lardner Gibbon. When Gibbon was nearly 11 years old the family moved near Charlotte, North Carolina and he graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1847 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 3rd U. S. Artillery. The manual was a scientific treatise on gunnery and was used by both sides in the Civil War. In 1855, Gibbon married Francis Fannie North Moale and they had four children, Frances Moale Gibbon, Catharine Katy Lardner Gibbon, John Gibbon, Jr. and John S. Gibbon. When war broke out between the states, Gibbon was serving as a captain of Battery B, 4th U. S, Artillery at Camp Floyd in Utah. Upon arrival in Washington, Gibbon, still in command of the 4th U. S. Artillery, in 1862, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the brigade of westerners known as Kings Wisconsin Brigade. Gibbon quickly set about drilling his troops and improving their appearance, ordering them to wear white leggings and distinctive, black,1858 regular army and their famous hats earned them the nickname, The Black Hat Brigade. He led the brigade into action against the famous Confederate Stonewall Brigade at the Battle of Brawners Farm, a prelude to the Second Battle of Bull Run. He was in command of the brigade during their strong uphill charge at the Battle of South Mountain, from then on, the brigade was known as the Iron Brigade. Gibbon led the brigade at the Battle of Antietam, where he was forced to take away from brigade command to personally man an artillery piece in the bloody fighting at the Cornfield. Gibbon was promoted to command the 2nd Division, I Corps at the Battle of Fredericksburg, the wound was minor but kept getting infected, so Gibbon was out of action for a few months. Shortly after returning to duty he learned of the death of his son, John Gibbon, Jr. Gibbon returned for the Battle of Chancellorsville. At the end of the council of war on the night of July 2, army commander Maj. Gen. George G. Meade took Gibbon aside and predicted, If Lee attacks tomorrow, it will be on your front. And his division did bear the brunt of fighting during the defense against Picketts Charge on July 3, Gibbon was back in command of the 2nd Division at the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, and Cold Harbor. During the Siege of Petersburg, Gibbon became disheartened when his troops refused to fight at Reams Station. He briefly commanded the XVIII Corps before going on sick leave and his troops helped achieve the decisive breakthrough at Petersburg, capturing Fort Gregg, part of the Confederate defenses. He led his troops during the Appomattox Campaign and blocked the Confederate escape route at the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse and he was one of three commissioners for the Confederate surrender
11.
Nelson A. Miles
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Nelson Appleton Miles was a United States soldier who served in the American Civil War, Indian Wars, and the Spanish–American War. Miles was born in Westminster, Massachusetts, on his familys farm and he worked in Boston, read military history, and mastered military principles and techniques, including battle drills. Miles was working as a store clerk in Boston when the Civil War began. He entered the Union Army on September 9,1861, as a volunteer and he became a lieutenant in the 22nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 61st New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment on May 31,1862. He was promoted to colonel after the Battle of Antietam, other battles he participated in include Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and the Appomattox Campaign. Wounded four times in battle, on March 2,1867 he was brevetted a brigadier general in the army in recognition of his actions at Chancellorsville. He was again brevetted, this time to the rank of general for his actions at Spotsylvania Court House. He received the Medal of Honor for his gallantry at Chancellorsville and he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers as of May 12,1864, for the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House. On October 21,1865, he was appointed general of volunteers at age 26. After the war, he was commandant of Fort Monroe, Virginia, during his tenure at Fort Monroe, Miles was forced to defend himself against charges that Davis was being mistreated. In July 1866, Miles was appointed a colonel in the Regular Army, in March 1869 he became commander of the 5th U. S. On June 30,1868, he married Mary Hoyt Sherman, Miles played a leading role in nearly all of the U. S. Armys campaigns against the American Indian tribes of the Great Plains. In 1874–1875, he was a commander in the force that defeated the Kiowa, Comanche. In the winter of 1877, he drove his troops on a march across Montana. For the rest of Miles career, he would quarrel with General Oliver O. Howard over credit for Josephs capture, the heliographs were supplied by Brig. Gen. Albert J. Myer of the Signal Corps. In December 1880, he was promoted to general in the Regular Army. Crook had relied heavily on Apache scouts in his efforts to capture the Chiricahua leader, instead, Miles relied on white troops, who eventually traveled 3,000 miles without success as they tracked Geronimo through the tortuous Sierra Madre Mountains. Gatewood, who had studied Apache ways, succeeded in negotiating a surrender, under the terms of which Geronimo and his followers, agreed to spend two years in a Florida reservation
12.
Samuel D. Sturgis
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Samuel Davis Sturgis was an American military officer who served in the Mexican-American War, as a Union general in the American Civil War, and later in the Indian Wars. Sturgis was born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and his parents were Mary Brandenburg and James Sturgis. He entered United States Military Academy at the age of twenty and was graduated 32/59 in the class of 1846 as a brevet second lieutenant in the 2nd U. S. Dragoons. That class also included among its graduates John Gibbon, George B, mcClellan, Jesse Reno, and George Stoneman, who would fight on the Union side and Ambrose Powell Hill, Thomas Jonathan Stonewall Jackson, and George Pickett, who would fight on the Confederate side. During the Mexican-American War, he served with the 1st U. S. Dragoons and was captured and held for eight days as a prisoner of war while making a reconnaissance near Buena Vista, Mexico. After the war, he served in the West, was promoted to first lieutenant and captain, during this time, Sturgis was sent to West Ely, Missouri, where he met Jerusha Wilcox. In 1851 they married and had six children, when the Civil War broke out, Sturgis served in the 1st U. S. Cavalry. He was promoted to major and in August 1861, at the Battle of Wilsons Creek, in March 1862 he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers to rank from August 10,1861, the day of the battle. After a tour of duty in the Washington, D. C. defenses and his reaction was his now-famous remark, I dont care for John Pope one pinch of owl dung. Sturgis then commanded the 2nd Division in the IX Corps at the battles of South Mountain, Antietam and he went west with IX Corps in 1863 and later had a number of relatively unimportant commands in Tennessee and Mississippi. He also served as Chief of Cavalry of the Department of the Ohio, in June 1864 he was routed by Nathan Bedford Forrest at the Battle of Brices Crossroads in Mississippi, an encounter that effectively ended his Civil War service. Sturgis was breveted brigadier general and major general, regular army, in March 1865 and he reverted to his regular rank of lieutenant colonel of the 6th U. S. Cavalry. On May 6,1869, he became colonel and commander of the 7th U. S. Cavalry, Sturgis was on detached duty at St. Louis, Missouri when parts of the 7th Cavalry were destroyed at the Battle of Little Big Horn. Samuel Sturgis then took command of the regiment and led the 7th Cavalry in the campaign against the Nez Percé in 1877. Sturgis and his soldiers headed off the Nez Perce and waited to attack them after when they emerged from their passage through the wilderness of Yellowstone Park, the Indians deceived Sturgis with a feint and eluded him, continuing their flight northward toward Canada. Sturgis soon caught up with the Nez Perce but at the Battle of Canyon Creek, Sturgis retired in 1886 and died at Saint Paul, Minnesota. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and his son Samuel D. Sturgis, Jr. became a general in the United States Army, and was a division commander in the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. His grandson Samuel D. Sturgis, Jr. also became a general in the United States Army, the city of Sturgis, South Dakota, is named for Samuel D. Sturgis
13.
Chief Joseph
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They were pursued eastward by the U. S. Army in a campaign led by General Oliver O. Howard. This 1, 170-mile fighting retreat by the Nez Perce in 1877 became known as the Nez Perce War, coverage of the war in United States newspapers led to widespread recognition of Joseph and the Nez Perce. For his principled resistance to the removal, he became renowned as a humanitarian, Chief Joseph was born Hinmuuttu-yalatlat (alternatively Hinmaton-Yalaktit or Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, or Hinmatóoyalahtqit in the Wallowa Valley of north eastern Oregon. He was known as Young Joseph during his youth because his father, Tuekakas, was baptized with the same Christian name, while initially hospitable to the regions newcomers, Joseph the Elder grew wary when settlers wanted more Indian lands. Tensions grew as the settlers appropriated traditional Indian lands for farming and grazing livestock, isaac Stevens, governor of the Washington Territory, organized a council to designate separate areas for natives and settlers in 1855. Joseph the Elder and the other Nez Perce chiefs signed a treaty with the United States establishing a Nez Perce reservation encompassing 7.7 million acres in present-day Idaho, Oregon, the 1855 reservation maintained much of the traditional Nez Perce lands, including Josephs Wallowa Valley. It is recorded that Chief Josephs father requested that Young Joseph protect their 7. 7-million-acre homeland, an influx of new settlers, attracted by a gold rush, led the government to call a second council in 1863. Government commissioners asked the Nez Perce to accept a new, much smaller reservation of 760,000 acres situated around the village of Lapwai in Idaho, in exchange, they were promised financial rewards, schools, and a hospital for the reservation. Chief Lawyer and one of his allied chiefs signed the treaty on behalf of the Nez Perce Nation and their refusal to sign caused a rift between the non-treaty and treaty bands of Nez Perce. The treaty Nez Perce moved within the new boundaries, while the non-treaty Nez Perce remained on their lands. Joseph the Elder demarcated Wallowa land with a series of poles, proclaiming and it circles the graves of our fathers, and we will never give up these graves to any man. Joseph the Younger succeeded his father as leader of the Wallowa band in 1871, before his death, the latter counseled his son, My son, my body is returning to my mother earth, and my spirit is going very soon to see the Great Spirit Chief. When I am gone, think of your country and you are the chief of these people. They look to you to guide them, always remember that your father never sold his country. You must stop your ears whenever you are asked to sign a treaty selling your home, a few years more and white men will be all around you. They have their eyes on this land and my son, never forget my dying words. This country holds your fathers body, never sell the bones of your father and your mother. Joseph commented, I clasped my fathers hand and promised to do as he asked, a man who would not defend his fathers grave is worse than a wild beast
14.
Looking Glass (Native American leader)
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Looking Glass was a principal Nez Perce architect of many of the military strategies employed by the Nez Perce during the Nez Perce War of 1877. He, along with Chief Joseph, directed the 1877 retreat from eastern Oregon into Montana and he led the Alpowai band of the Nez Perce, which included the communities of Asotin, Alpowa, and Sapachesap along the Clearwater River in Idaho. He inherited his name from his father, the prominent Nez Percé chief Apash Wyakaikt or Ippakness Wayhayken and was called by the whites Looking Glass. His village of about 140 people was already within the bounds of the reservation on the site of the present-day Kooskia National Fish Hatchery in Idaho, whipple and his men arrived at the village on July 1. After a random shot was fired by a party, the soldiers opened fire on the village with Gatling guns. Looking Glass and most of his band escaped, but the village, after the attack, Looking Glass and his followers joined Josephs band, raising the total number of the group to about 800 men, women, and children. Looking Glass persuaded the others to flee eastwards across the Bitterroot Mountains, because of his experience, Looking Glass became perhaps the most important battle leader of the Nez Perce. His prestige, however, was diminished when he allowed the Nez Perce to be surprised by the U. S. army at the Battle of the Big Hole, Looking Glass encouraged the Nez Perce to travel east and seek sanctuary with the Crow nation in Montana. He had helped the Crow defeat the Dakota Sioux in a battle in 1874, however, the Crow, fearing retaliation by the U. S. military, refused to grant the Nez Perce sanctuary. The Nez Perce, pursued by the army, then turned north to attempt reaching safety in Canada, however, on September 29,1877, they were surrounded 40 miles short of Canada in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana. After the five-day siege and the Battle of Bear Paw Chief Joseph proposed surrender, white Bird and Looking Glass opposed the surrender and they and their bands attempted to break through the siege and continue on to Canada and join the Lakota leader Sitting Bull. White Bird and 150 Nez Perce succeeded but Looking Glass was killed by a Cheyenne scout employed by the Army, joseph’s famous surrender speech later that same day, October 5, mentioned that Looking Glass was dead
15.
White Bird (Native American leader)
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White Bird, also referred to as White Pelican, was leader, war chief and tooat of the Lamátta or Lamtáama band of the Nez Perce tribe with the Lamata village along the Salmon River. His band and the village took its name from Lahmatta, by which White Bird Canyon was known to the Nez Perce, Chief White Bird, like many of his people, was a Dreamer, a follower of the teachings of Smohalla, the Wanapam shaman and prophet. Alongside Chief Joseph, White Bird directed the 1877 withdrawal from eastern Oregon into Montana, White Birds following was second in size to Josephs but did not exceed 1000 men. White Bird and Joseph led the Nez Percé Indians until October 1877, following a five-day fight, Joseph and many of the fatigued band acknowledged a cessation of hostilities, surrendered to Miles, and became prisoners of war. White Bird refused to relinquish and left on the night of October 5 and he effectively slipped through enemy lines with over a hundred of the band. In October 1877, about ninety adults and a number of children led by White Bird arrived with some three hundred head of horses at Sitting Bulls camp in Saskatchewan. White Bird and his family settled in Pincher Creek, Alberta, the war chief never returned to the United States, choosing to stay in Canada at Pincher Creek. White Bird was murdered on March 6,1892, by a fellow Nez Percé named Charley Hasenahamahkikt, the 22-year-old killer was captured and sent to the Stony Mountain Penitentiary, in Manitoba, Canada to serve a life sentence. The town of White Bird, Idaho, and the adjacent White Bird Hill in Idaho County are named for the chief, the Battle of White Bird Canyon took place in this area in June 1877
16.
Ollokot
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Ollokot was a war leader of the Wallowa band of Nez Perce Indians and a leader of the young warriors in the Nez Perce War in 1877. Ollokot was the son of Tuekakas or Old Joseph and the brother of Chief Joseph. His father and brother were advocates of peace and passive resistance to encroachments by White settlers and miners on the land of the Nez Perce. S. in early 1877, Ollokot participated with Chief Joseph in negotiations with General O. O. Howard. Howard demanded that Joseph’s and Ollokot’s people move from their lands in the Wallowa Valley of Oregon to a reservation established for them in Idaho. ”Ollokot was married to Tamalwinonmi. The Nez Perce, numbering only about 800 with less than 200 fighting men, then undertook a remarkable 1,400 mile retreat across Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. The Nez Perce won victories, or escaped from larger U. S. army forces, in battles at Cottonwood, Clearwater, Big Hole, and Canyon Creek. Ollokot and 60 young men surrounded and pinned down a number of soldiers at the Battle of the Big Hole. Later, he and others immobilized General Howard by stealing his pack mules at the Battle of Canyon Creek. However, the Nez Perce were surrounded in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana by hundreds of U. S. soldiers, only 40 miles from their objective, after the five-day Battle of Bear Paw, Chief Joseph surrendered on October 5,1877. Ollokot had been killed on the first day of the battle, in his famous surrender speech Joseph acknowledged Ollokot, “He who led the young men is dead. ”
17.
Battle of White Bird Canyon
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The Battle of White Bird Canyon was fought on June 17,1877 in Idaho Territory. White Bird Canyon was the battle of the Nez Perce War between the Nez Perce Indians and the United States. The battle was a significant defeat of the U. S. Army and it took place in the western part of present-day Idaho County, southwest of the city of Grangeville. The original treaty between the U. S. government and the Nez Perce, signed in 1855, established a reservation that acknowledged the ancestral homelands of the Nez Perce. In 1860, the discovery of gold on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation brought an influx of miners and settlers into the area. Despite numerous treaty violations, the Nez Perce remained peaceful, in 1863, responding to pressures to make land available to settlers, the U. S. government forced another treaty on the Nez Perce, reducing the size of the reservation by 90%. The leaders of the bands living outside the new reservation refused to sign the steal treaty, in May 1877, after several attacks from the U. S. Army, the non-treaty bands moved from their homelands towards the new reservation. The Wal-lam-wat-kain Band, led by Chief Joseph, lost a number of horses. Josephs and Chief White Birds bands eventually gathered at Tepahlewam, the camping ground on the Camas Prairie at Tolo Lake to enjoy the last days of their traditional lifestyle. It was a rendezvous, not all the people agreed with the course of peace and compliance. On June 14, seventeen young men, including Wahlitits, entered the Salmon River area to seek revenge for the 1875 murder of Wahlitits father, Tipyahlanah Siskan and others killed in the attacks. The proclaimed success of their mission roused the desire for vengeance among other warriors, at least 18 settlers were killed by the Nez Perce. Settlers sent messengers from the community of Mount Idaho to Fort Lapwai describing these events, the Nez Perce at Tepahlewam were aware that General O. O. Howard was preparing to send his soldiers against them. By June 16, the bands had moved to the end of White Bird Canyon, about five miles long, one mile wide at its maximum. That night, sentinels reported the approach of U. S. soldiers from the north, after much deliberation, the Nez Perce decided that they would stay at White Bird and make an effort to avoid war, but fight if they were forced to do so. Captain David Perry commanded Company F and Captain Joel Graham Trimble commanded Company H of the U. S, the officers and men of the two companies totaled 106. Eleven civilian volunteers rode with the soldiers and 13 Nez Perce scouts from treaty bands had been recruited at Fort Lapwai, nearly half the soldiers were foreign-born and most were inexperienced and inexpert horsemen and marksmen. Their horses, as well as the riders, were untrained for battle and both men and horses arrived exhausted at White Bird Canyon after a two-day ride of more than 70 miles
18.
Battle of Cottonwood
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The Battle of Cottonwood was a series of engagements July 3–5,1877 in the Nez Perce War between the native American Nez Perce people, and U. S. Army soldiers and civilian volunteers. After their victory at the Battle of White Bird Canyon the Nez Perce crossed the Salmon River to escape General O. O. Howard, the Nez Perce numbered about 600, of whom 150 were warriors. With them were more than 2,000 livestock, mostly horses, with the guns and ammunition the Nez Perce had captured at White Bird Canyon, they were fairly well-armed. Their objective in the Battle of Cottonwood was to engage the whites only long enough allow the passage of their families. After recrossing the Salmon and leaving Howard behind, the Nez Perce headed east across the Camas Prairie, in their path, stationed at Nortons Ranch was Captain Stephen Whipple with 65 soldiers and several civilian volunteers. On July 3, two of Whipples civilian scouts stumbled across the Nez Perce horse herd, the Nez Perce killed one man but the other escaped and reported that the Nez Perce were nearby. Whipple sent out Lieutenant Sevier Rains with 10 soldiers and two civilians to investigate, the Nez Perce ambushed the Rains group and killed them all. Whipple dug in around Nortons ranch with his remaining soldiers and he was reinforced on July 4 by Captain David Perry with 20 soldiers and six civilian volunteers. Perry, who had led the soldiers in the White Bird Canyon battle two weeks earlier took command of the soldiers and volunteers, now numbering about 85. For the remainder of the day the soldiers stayed in their rifle pits while the Nez Perce sniped at them from long distance, the soldiers did not contest their passage. A group of 17 civilian volunteers appeared near Cottonwood at this time and they attempted to reach the soldiers by breaking through the Nez Perce screen, but they had to take up a defensive position on a hilltop about one and 1.5 miles west of Cottonwood. Three of the volunteers were killed and two wounded, one elderly Nez Perce warrior was killed – the first to die in the war – and one wounded. Although Captain Perry could see from his fortifications the plight of the volunteers he declined to help until the Nez Perce had withdrawn. That evening 50 civilian volunteers arrived to reinforce Perry, but the Nez Perce were gone, casualties for the engagements totaled eleven soldiers and six civilian volunteers dead and several wounded. The Nez Perce suffered one dead and one wounded, Captain Perry was severely criticized for his tardiness in rescuing the civilian volunteers. He requested a Court of Inquiry, which declared that his delay was not excessive under the circumstances, the civilian volunteers acquired a place in Idaho history as the Brave Seventeen. The Nez Perce continued their journey east unmolested for 25 miles, the band of Looking Glass and other Nez Perce joined the main group there and brought their strength up to about 800 with about 200 fighting men. A few days later General Howard and a force of more than 500 men caught up with the Nez Perce, ten members of Company E and L of the 1st Cavalry killed in this battle are buried at the Fort Walla Walla Cemetery
19.
Battle of the Clearwater
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The Battle of the Clearwater was a battle between the Nez Perce under Chief Joseph and the United States army. The army under General O. O. Howard surprised a Nez Perce village, the Nez Perce counter-attacked and inflicted significant casualties on the soldiers, but they were forced to abandon the village. After the battle, the Nez Perce retreated in good order, after the defeat of the U. S. Army by the Nez Perce at the Battle of White Bird Canyon, General Oliver Otis Howard took personal command of the army. Howard dispatched a force to capture the neutral Looking Glass. Along their route they burned 30 ranches and farms, the proprietors had fled to nearby Mt. Idaho. The ranches and farms were on the Nez Perce Reservation and illegal in the view of the Nez Perce and they established a camp in the steep-walled valley of the South Fork of the Clearwater River north of the present day town of Stites. There, on July 7, they were joined by Looking Glass, on July 8, a company of 75 civilian volunteers under Edward McConville, found the Nez Perce camp and reported its location to General Howard. The Nez Perce discovered the volunteers the next morning and attacked them, forcing them to refuge on a hilltop. Out of water and their horses stolen by the Indians, the volunteers dubbed their hilltop “Fort Misery. ”About noon on June 11 the volunteers withdrew from their hill to Mount Idaho without opposition. About noon on July 11, Howard spotted the village, spread along both banks of the Clearwater, perhaps lulled into complacency by their previous successes, the Nez Perce were surprised at his sudden appearance. To combat approximately 200 Nez Perce warriors, Howard had 440 soldiers plus civilian packers, scouts, messengers and Indian scouts, among the Indian scouts were some Nez Perce. The old warrior Toohoolhoolzote and 24 Nez Perce, including Yellow Wolf and they built a stone fort and began firing at the soldiers, stalling Howard’s cavalry. Soon, they were surrounded and they retreated back to the village. About 100 Nez Perce opposed Howard as he advanced and took up positions on the prairie, “Although we outnumbered the Indians, ” said a correspondent, “we fought to a great disadvantage. The redskins were in a fortified canyon…while our men were obliged to approach them along an open and treeless prairie. ”After extensive fighting all afternoon, the soldiers spent the night hungry and thirsty. The Nez Perce in the line were supplied by women from the village in their rear. On the morning of July 12 Howard’s entire force was facing the Nez Perce on the prairie and he drove the Nez Perce away from a spring and was able to provide water and food to his men. Howard prepared an attack on the Nez Perce left flank by Captain Marcus Miller, unexpectedly, a pack train of 120 mules bearing supplies for Howard appeared on the battlefield
20.
Fort Fizzle (Montana)
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Fort Fizzle was a temporary military barricade erected in July 1877 to intercept the Nez Perce Indians in their flight from Idaho across the Lolo Pass into the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. The name describes the effectiveness of the fort, in the Nez Perce War the U. S. Army defeated, but did not demoralize, the Nez Perce under Chief Joseph at the Battle of the Clearwater, July 11–12,1877. The Nez Perce were familiar with this region, having been frequent visitors while en route to the plains to hunt buffalo. White settlers and U. S. Army soldiers in the Bitterroot Valley, informed by telegraph that the Nez Perce were coming their way, Captain Charles Rawn had only 35 soldiers to defend the valley. The youths had been released to bring a message from the Nez Perce that they wished to pass peacefully through the settlements. Rawn, however, was ordered to “compel the Indians to surrender their arms and ammunition, on July 26, Rawn met with Looking Glass who requested to traverse the Bitterroot Valley without violence. Rawn demanded that the Nez Perce surrender their arms and ammunition, the next day,216 armed men, including 15 to 20 Flathead Indian scouts were gathered at the improvised fort and the Governor of Montana, Benjamin F. Potts, had arrived. Rawn and Looking Glass met again and each repeated their demands. When Rawn returned to the fort and said that he anticipated a battle with the Nez Perce, most of the left, declaring that “no act of hostility on their part should provoke the Indians. ”The next morning, July 27, less than 100 men were left to man the fort. Governor Potts had also found reason to depart, according to Chief Joseph, Captain Rawn agreed to allow the Nez Perce to pass through Bitterroot Valley in peace. Rawn never admitted making such an agreement. The barricade where Rawn and his men were entrenched was in a constricted 200 yard wide passage in the canyon enclosed on both sides by precipitous ridges where “a goat could not pass. ”Nevertheless, on July 28 the Nez Perce – men, women, children, and livestock—climbed the ridges and bypassed the barricade, leaving the defenders in their rear. Rawn and his soldiers exchanged a few shots with the Nez Perce on the ridge and then abandoned the fort, an advance party of soldiers bumped into the rear guard of the Nez Perce. Looking Glass exchanged friendly greetings with them, fifty of the civilian volunteers stumbled into the Nez Perce camp and were captured, but were released after Looking Glass promised no violence against anybody. Thus, the fort acquired its name -- “Fort Fizzle. The Fort Fizzle fiasco prompted volleys of charges and counter-charges of cowardice and ineptitude between and among the government and citizens of Montana and the U. S. government, a volunteer explained that “we were not silly enough to uselessly incite the Indians to devastate our valley. However, the respite from war of the Nez Perce was brief, lulled into complacency by their peaceful passage through the Bitterroot Valley, they would be attacked on August 9 by Colonel John Gibbon and 200 men in the bloody Battle of the Big Hole. A portion of the fort has been reconstructed at Fort Fizzle Historic Site, the Fort Fizzle Historic Site parallels the historic Lolo trail once used by the Nez Perce, Salish and Kootenai tribes and Lewis and Clark
21.
Battle of the Big Hole
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The Battle of the Big Hole was fought in Montana, August 9–10,1877, between the U. S. Army and the Nez Perce tribe of Native Americans during the Nez Perce War. The Nez Perce withdrew in order from the battlefield and continued their long fighting retreat that would result in their attempt to reach Canada. The Nez Perce leaders had led their people on an extensive trek after the Battle of the Clearwater to escape the soldiers of General Oliver Otis Howard, the Nez Perce crossed from Idaho into Montana via rugged Lolo Pass. After a brief confrontation at Fort Fizzle on July 28 the Nez Perce entered the Bitterroot Valley, Looking Glass seems to have taken over leadership from Chief Joseph. Looking Glass persuaded the Nez Perce that Howard was far behind, thus, their progress was leisurely and they took few precautions for defense, not sending out scouts or setting pickets to guard their encampments. They left the Bitterroot Valley, crossed a range, and camped in the Big Hole Basin. The Nez Perce numbered about 750 persons in all with about 200 warriors, unknown to the Nez Perce, Colonel John Gibbon had left Fort Shaw with 161 officers and men and one howitzer. Following the trail of the Nez Perce he collected 45 civilian volunteers in the Bitterroot Valley, on August 8, Gibbon located the Nez Perce encampment in the Big Hole. That night Gibbon marched overland to the Nez Perce camp, reaching it at dawn, leaving his 12-pound howitzer and he had come to fight, his orders were no prisoners and no negotiations. Between Gibbon’s position and the Nez Perce encampment, which consisted of 89 tipis in a V-shaped pattern, was the waist-deep, approaching the Nez Perce encampment on foot at dawn, Gibbon’s men encountered an old Nez Perce man and killed him. The soldiers crossed the river and rushed into the village and began firing into the tipis where most of the Nez Perce were still sleeping, the Indians were taken by surprise and fled in all directions. Gibbon’s men fired indiscriminately at men, women, and children – although some of the women were said to have been armed, lieutenant James H. Bradley, leading Gibbon’s left wing, was killed early in the battle. Leaderless, his men did not continue their advance and left the part of the village unoccupied, giving a refuge. Gibbon halted his men in their pursuit, not wishing his force to be scattered and this proved difficult to do and the pause gave the Nez Perce time to regroup. The voices of White Bird and Looking Glass rallying their men from the end of the village were heard by the soldiers. From sheltered positions the Nez Perce began to return fire, gibbons horse was hit and he was wounded in the leg and several other soldiers were killed. As usual, the Nez Perces marksmanship was excellent – although, according to the warrior Yellow Wolf, most of the Nez Perce warriors had fled without their weapons, the soldiers dug rifle pits and constructed rock and log barriers. At this point Gibbon’s howitzer appeared on the battlefield and fired two or three ineffectual rounds, the Nez Perce killed or wounded most of the howitzer crew, who abandoned the gun but not before dismantling it
22.
Battle of Camas Creek
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The Battle of Camas Creek, August 20,1877, was a raid by the Nez Perce Indians on a U. S. Army encampment and a subsequent battle during the Nez Perce War. The Nez Perce defeated three companies of U. S. cavalry and continued their retreat to escape the U. S. Army. The Nez Perce were aware that the U. S. army was pursuing them and, to confound the army, they took a circuitous route less familiar to them than their usual direct route to the Montana Great Plains. During this section of their retreat, their guide and the leader of their march was a half-Nez Perce, half-French man of several names, the most common being Poker Joe. The White settlers in the Lemhi Valley had been warned that the Nez Perce might be coming their way, Howard was coming under severe criticism for his failure to defeat the Nez Perce during a campaign that had now lasted two months. The Nez Perce pursued by Howard probably numbered, after their losses at the Big Hole battle, about 700 persons with less than 200 warriors. The death of many Nez Perce women and children at the Big Hole Battle caused a thirst for revenge among the warriors of the Nez Perce. On August 12, the Nez Perce killed five ranchers on Horse Prairie, on August 13, after crossing into Idaho over Bannock Pass, the Nez Perce encountered a stockade full of White settlers at Junction. Leaders Looking Glass and White Bird met with the settlers and expressed their friendship for the settlers, however, two days later, the Nez Perce on Birch Creek encountered a caravan of eight covered wagons and eight men. The initial contact was friendly, but after the Indians demanded and were served whiskey the situation became ugly, one White escaped and two Chinese were released. One Nez Perce was killed, apparently in a brawl with another warrior. The leaders poured the remainder of the whiskey on the ground, from Birch Creek the Nez Perce turned eastward and headed toward Henrys Lake. Howard’s route paralleled them to the north in Montana on the side of the Continental Divide. Howard’s plan was to cross into Idaho via the Monida Pass and intercept the Nez Perce at Camas Creek near Dubois, on August 17, Howard was overtaken by 39 Virginia City volunteers under the command of James E. Callaway, who joined Howards cavalry. That same day, Captain Randolph Norwood and fifty cavalry men, designated as Company 4 of the Second Infantry. Howard expended all energy to intercept the Nez Perce near Camas Creek, Bannock Indian scouts, ahead of Howards cavalry, observed the Nez Perce rear guard cross the road toward Camas Meadows. Chief Buffalo Horn, one of Howards scouts, obtained a view of their camp, on August 18, the Nez Perce camped at Camas Meadows 15 miles to Howards east in a meadow bisected by Spring and Camas creeks. The Nez Perce name for their camp was Kamisnim Takin, meaning camas meadows, Howard marched to Camas Meadows on August 19
23.
Nez Perce in Yellowstone Park
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The Nez Perce in Yellowstone Park was the flight of the Nez Perce Indians through Yellowstone National Park between August 20 and Sept 7, during the Nez Perce War in 1877. As the U. S. army pursued the Nez Perce through the park, by late August, the Nez Perce had travelled hundreds of miles and fought several battles in which they defeated or held off the U. S. army forces pursuing them. The Nez Perce had the notion that after crossing the next mountain range or defeating the latest army sent to oppose them they would find a peaceful new home. The Nez Perce War was extensively reported in the nation’s press, the fighting retreat of the Nez Perce had made their leader Chief Joseph something of a national hero and a military genius in the eyes of many in the American public. On Aug 9,1877 the Nez Perce engaged the U. S. Army under the command of Colonel John Gibbon at the Battle of the Big Hole near the headwaters of the West fork of the Big Hole River in Montana. By all accounts, this battle was a draw with heavy casualties on both sides, but the Nez Perce escaped to the south and into Idaho. General Oliver O. Howards force, just a ride to the west from the Big Hole encounter. The Army was embarrassed by its failure to defeat the Nez Perce, on August 20,1877 the Nez Perce and the U. S. Army engaged again at the Battle of Camas Creek 44°21′52″N 111°53′40″W just west of Henrys Lake, Idaho. The Nez Perce raided a camp of soldiers, stealing mostly mules, the ensuing fight lasted a full day, but resulted in few casualties. General Howard’s Bannock scouts and White scout Stanton G. Fisher followed the Nez Perce a day behind and they reported back to Howard and he predicted correctly that the Nez Perce’s objective was to cross the Yellowstone plateau and then head for the Crow agency on the Yellowstone River. Howards command was exhausted and did not immediately pursue the Nez Perce into the park, Major Hart with 250 cavalry and 100 Indian scouts was to guard the Shoshone River exit also on the east. To the south, Colonel Wesley Merritt with 500 men was positioned on the Wind River, to the North at Fort Keogh46°22′32″N 105°53′00″W in Montana, Colonel Nelson Miles was standing by with a force of several hundred soldiers. Against 2,000 soldiers plus hundreds of Indian scouts, the Nez Perce numbered only about 700, poker Joe, one-half White and fluent in English, was their guide through Yellowstone. Their leadership was collective, drawn from each of the five bands of the tribe represented among the refugees, looking Glass was probably the most influential war leader. Although Chief Joseph is credited with being the leader of the Nez Perce. The chiefs attempted to restrain their men from taking revenge on White non-combatants. When the Nez Perce entered Yellowstone there were eight or nine parties of tourists totaling at least 35 persons in the park, Two of these parties would experience hostile encounters with elements of the Nez Perce. The Radersburg Party as they became known, nine tourists from Radersburg, made up of George F. and Emma Cowan, Emmas brother and sister, Frank and Ida Carpenter, Charles Mann and Henry Meyers, this group also included A. J
United States
