A RIDE THROUGH THE LAND OF THE NEZ PERCES. 



MAJOR JOHN BROOKE^ U.S.A. 



General Howard, with the column of 

 the right, had gone off on the Lolo trail, 

 in hot pursuit of young Joseph and his 

 murderous band. The column of the left 

 was ordered to go Eastward by the Mullan 

 road, look after the Columbia river rene- 

 gades and malcontent Indians, keep the 

 peace if possible, and then, like the right 

 column, set out for Missoula, Montana. 



After the most rapid transfer of troops 

 then on record in this country — 13 days 

 from Atlanta, Georgia, to camp at the 

 junction of the Snake and Clearwater, in 

 Idaho — we pulled out from the latter place 

 August 1st, 25 years ago. We tramped 

 along, past stockades hastily built by 

 frightened settlers, through deserted farms 

 and by great fields of magnificent wheat. 



Our onward march terminated at Spo- 

 kane Falls, where there was a long pot- 

 latch with the Columbia river renegades, 

 old Moses and his band included. The 

 ceremony was opened by a devout prayer 

 by a pious Indian, which concluded with 

 the usual promise to obey the Great 

 Father at Washington, and .refrain from 

 lifting the hair of those of his children who 

 might wish to plant the rich prairies with 

 wheat and potatoes, instead of raising ca- 

 mas and Cain. The powwow over, we 

 slowly marched back to Lewiston, and 

 thence, while awaiting further instructions, 

 to encamp in the valley of the Lapwai, a 

 short distance above the post. 



Ages ago the Lapwai was a broad and 

 deep river. Its former bed is now a 

 smooth valley, winding between high hills, 

 with here and there deep ravines running 

 down from the tablelands beyond. The 

 river is but a little stream, winding be- 

 tween low, shady banks, with here and 

 there quiet pools, where little trout love to 

 lie. In this valley we passed September, a 

 month of such physical delight as few 

 could understand without the experience. 

 In the mornings I rode through the ra- 

 vines, over the hills and across the table- 

 lands beyond. The afternoons were passed 

 in the alder shade, trying to lure the wily 

 trout. When shadows began to creep over 

 from the hills I took my gun and wan- 

 dered to where chickens most did congre- 

 gate, and killed enough to supply the wants 

 of our mess the following day. 



All this was ended one day by an order 

 directing me to proceed to Camp Howard, 

 the temporary camp of the reserve col- 

 umn, near Mount Idaho. I started in the 

 afternoon, taking with me a man to serve 

 in the double capacity of packer and guide. 

 The duties connected with the former func- 



tion were limited, the pack consisting chief- 

 ly of a government case of surgical instru- 

 ments. The distance was about 70 miles, 

 and we started in time to reach by nightfall 

 a logging camp 15 miles away, where we 

 intended to pass the night. 



After seeing the animals sheltered under 

 the thickest pine tree I could find, for a 

 drizzling rain mixed with snow was fall- 

 ing, I turned in and shared the little 

 old fashioned A tent of the officer in charge 

 of the camp. At daylight we were on our 

 way down the farther slope of the moun- 

 tain, with 55 miles to make by night. It 

 was raining, the trail was slippery, the ani- 

 mals were shivering with cold, and prog- 

 ress was decidedly uncomfortable until we 

 struck the open prairie. 



Camas prairie is a beautiful, rolling plain 

 lying between the Salmon and the Clear- 

 water, and stretching across from Craig's 

 mountain to the spurs which come out 

 from the Bitterroot range. It is a portion 

 of the immense tract of fertile land which 

 Joseph claimed for himself and his band. 

 The rich soil must not be cultivated,, for 

 their ponies must graze there, and their 

 squaws dig camas ; probably a squaw and a 

 pony to 1,000 acres. 



Old Noah, with many others of the Nez 

 Perce tribe, was living peaceably on the 

 reservation. They had comfortable houses, 

 had their own land, which they cultivated 

 profitably, and lived altogether in a man- 

 ner which, for Indians, might be regarded 

 as luxurious. Every effort was made to 

 induce Joseph and his band to give up their 

 nomadic life and settle peaceably on their 

 reservation. Agricultural implements, 

 seeds, material of which to build their 

 houses, everything which the department 

 could supply, was promised. 



"No !" said Joseph. "The earth is part 

 of my body, and I never give up the earth. 

 We will go where we please and do as we 

 please." 



Several councils were held at Fort Lap- 

 wai, and Joseph was informed that he must 

 go on the reservation. At the last meeting 

 he promised he would gather his band, and 

 in a month from that date quietly come in, 

 and give no more trouble. 



The cavalry at Fort Lapwai was largely 

 made up of raw recruits ; men who were 

 far from proficient in the management of 

 their horses and the handling of their arms. 

 During the meeting of the council, Joseph 

 one day rode out on the hills and watched 

 the troops drilling in the valley below. 

 When he went back, he remarked to a 

 reservation Indian, "I'm not afraid of 



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