THE TRUE STORY OF THE NEZ PERCE WAR. 
H. B, NORTON. 
I find nothing to criticize in Major 
Brooke’s interesting article, “A Ride 
Through the Land of the Nez Perces,” 
save his assertion that Uncle Sam paid a 
round sum to recoup the losses sustained 
by settlers during the Nez Perce war. My- 
self a loser by that uprising, | know that 
not a cent has been paid for property de- 
stroyed by Joseph and his band. 
In the early days of what was then 
known as Camas prairie, the settlers for 
miles around were accustomed to gather 
each 4th of July at Mt. Idaho and cele- 
brate the day. On such occasions the In- 
dians were always invited to take part. 
At the time of the outbreak Chief Joseph 
had planned to assemble all his warriors 
ate Mt.2"Idaho.- July 4th “and massacre 
the entire white population of the prairie; 
but on the afternoon of June 13 3 young 
bucks, Mox Mox, Walltits, and another 
who is unknown, killed the first victim, 
an old man named Richard Devine. He 
was killed at his ranch, 8 miles above 
Slate creek. That night the same Indians 
went down the river to John Day’s creek, 
and early the following morning killed 
Henry Elfres and Henry Beckrodge. Then, 
mounting horses belonging to the mur- 
dered men, they rode on down the river. 
On their way they met Samuel Benedict, 
who was out looking for cattle. They 
wounded him, but he managed to escape. 
The Indians then left the river and 
went to Camas prairie. Returning the 
same day with 15 or 20 more Indians, 
they shot and wounded J. J. Manuel and 
his little girl, and killed James Barker. 
At Benedict’s place they murdered Bene- 
dict and a Frenchman named August Ba- 
con. 
On June 14 they killed Mrs. Manuel, 
whose body was never found; also Wm. 
Osborne and Harry Mason. It is claimed 
Joseph took part in these murders. 
The same day J. M. Crooks, of Grange- 
ville, rode to Joseph’s camp to ascertain 
whether the Indians intended to carry on 
war against the settlers. He was told the 
settlers would be let alone, providing they 
would not help the soldiers. 
By that time the whole country was 
aroused, and settlers came pouring into 
Mt. Idaho from all directions, 
Chief Joseph’s band, including his 
brother Ollicutt, were camped at the head 
of Rocky canyon when the massacre took 
place, but, fearing the approach of troops, 
they went over the White Bird mountains 
99 
and set up their lodges in White Bird val- 
ley, a short distance from Salmon river. 
There they were joined by Chief White 
Bird and his band. 
At sunrise on the morning of June 17th, 
a weary company of ogo soldiers under 
Colonel Perry, together with Io or 15 vol- 
unteers, reached the top of White Bird 
canyon, about 16 miles away. Indians and 
soldiers discovered each other about the 
same time. The Indian encampment was 
instantly aroused. Joseph, Ollicutt, and 
White Bird placed their warriors in posi- 
tion. As the soldiers moved down the can- 
yon they met Mrs. Benedict, a baby in 
her arms, and a little girl by her side. 
She had fled from her home after the 
murder of her husband, and was trying to 
reach a settlement 20 miles away. 
The soldiers continued their march down 
the canyon until they came to 2 small 
buttes. The Indians camped beyond these 
buttes were thought to be only a portion of 
those on the warpath, it being reported 
that the main body had crossed to Salmon 
river. As the troops approached the buttes 
Lieutenant Theller, with 8 men, was 100 
yards in advance of the main force. Colo- 
nel Perry, with the volunteers and his 
Own company, came next. Thrimble with 
his squad brought up the rear, leaving an 
interval of about 50 yards between each 
company. All were in columns of fours. 
Suddenly the Indians popped their heads 
from behind rocks in the gulches and ra- 
vines, and took deliberate and deadly aim. 
Chief Joseph instructed White Bird to 
turn the cavalry at the upper buttes, while 
he went behind the rocks and lay in wait 
for them. Mox Mox was directed to take 
the women, children, and horses down 
White Bird creek and to be ready to send 
horses to the warriors as fast as those they 
had were shot down. All instructions were 
carried out to the letter. The battle had 
not been in progress 10 minutes before the 
cavalry was thrown into confusion. Their 
horses became unmanageable, and all hope 
of defeating the Indians was abandoned. 
There was nothing to do but retreat, striv- 
ing to reach the canyon from which they 
had come. Some were headed off by the 
Indians and fell, bravely fighting. Others 
escaped out of the canyon of death to the 
top of the mountain, where about 20 men 
were rallied by Colonel Perry and Parnell. 
The Indians pursued the retreating cavalry 
within sight of Grangeville. Lieutenant 
Theller was left dead on the field, and of 
