1. THE NEZ PERCE: FROM PEACE RIBBON TO FUGITIVE
Westward Expansion:
THE NEZ PERCE: FROM PEACE RIBBON TO FUGITIVE

2. Chronological Order of Primary Sources1. 2. 3. 4.
Chief Joseph's Surrender Speech
October 5, 1877
Tell General Howard I know his Heart. What He told me before I have in my heart. I am tired of fighting, Looking Glass is dead. too-Hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food; no one knows where they are -- perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever. 6. 5.
"My duty shall be done fully and to the letter without complaint.”
"My command is so much worn by overfatigue and jaded animals that I cannot push it much farther.”
"in a few days work my way back to Fort Boise slowly, and distribute my troops before snow falls in the mountains."
"should pursue the Nez Perces to the death, lead where they may If you are tired, give the command to some young energetic officer When the Indians are caught, your men can march to the Pacific Railroad and reach their posts by rail and steamboat. They are not needed back in California and Oregon now, but are needed just where they are."
"You misunderstood me. I never flag. It was the command, including the most energetic young officers, that were worn out and weary by a most extraordinary march. You need not fear for the campaign. Neither you nor General McDowell can doubt my pluck and energy We move in the morning and will continue to the end.”

3. Lewis and Clark
[Clark:] Wednesday (Friday) 20th.. September I set out early and proceeded on through a Countrey as ruged as usial passed over a low mountain into the forks of a large Creek which I kept down 2 miles and assended a high Steep mountain leaveing the Creek to our left hand passed the head of several dreans on a divideing ridge, and at 12 miles decended the mountain to a leavel pine Countrey proceeded on through a butifull Countrey for three miles to a Small Plain in which I found maney Indian lodges, at the distance of 1 mile from the lodges, I met 3 (Indian) boys, when they saw me [they] ran and hid themselves, (in the grass) (I desmounted gave my gun and horse to one of the men,) searched (in the grass and) found (2 of the boys) gave them Small pieces of ribin & Sent them forward to the village (Soon after) a man Came out to meet me, [with great caution] & Conducted me [us] to a large Spacious Lodge which he told me (by Signs) was the Lodge of his great Chief who had Set out 3 days previous with all the Warriers
This website makes available the text of the celebrated Nebraska edition of the Lewis and Clark journals, edited by Gary E. Moulton. Moulton's edition. The site features the full text — almost five thousand pages — of the journals. Also included are a gallery of images, important supplemental texts, and audio files of selected passages plus Native American perspectives. With a focus on full-text searchability and ease of navigation, the Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Online is intended to be both a useful tool for scholars and an engaging website for the general public.

4. Fort Nez Perce
This drawing of fur trading at Fort Nez Perce (also known as Fort Walla Walla) was drawn by Joseph Drayton, one of several artists hired for a United States naval expedition led by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes from 1838 to The drawing depicts Archibald Mckinley, chief trader for the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Nez Perce, inspecting pelts for trade presented by Indian women.
Fort Nez Perce was constructed in 1818 by the Montreal-based North West Company. Located on the Columbia River six miles below the mouth of the Snake River and a half-mile above the mouth of the Walla Walla River, the fort was strategically sited to take advantage of the region’s indigenous trading network, while at the same time affording non-Indian fur traders a bastion of security in the midst a sometimes confrontational trading network

5. Walla Walla Council
A scene at the Walla Walla Treaty Council. Isaac Stevens is standing under a canvas shelter at the center with other Euro-Americans around him. Several Indians are standing under the shelter and some of them appear to be signing the treaty. Many other Indians are seated on the ground around the shelter.

6. John J. McGilvra, U.S. Attorney to Washington Territory, letter to Colonel Thomas Cornelius, describing violations of treaty with Nez Perce and requesting protection for Nez Perce against white settlers, June 16, 1862
This letter describes the Nez Perce's conditions following the Treaty of 1855 in which Washington Territorial Governor, Isaac Stevens, reduced the lands of several Native American tribes and forced them to live on reservation lands. The letter also suggests that white settlers and miners were encroaching on Nez Perce lands. This activity later led the U.S. government to enter into a new treaty with the Nez Perce in 1863 in which the Nez Perce's 7.5 million acre reservation was reduced to .5 million acres. The treaty marked a division between those Nez Perce who had agreed to the treaty and those who did not sign the treaty, including notable figure Chief Joseph (c ). The conflict between the "non-treaty" Nez Perce and white settlers eventually led to the Nez Perce War of 1877 in which these Nez Perce alternately fled and fought the US Army until they were trapped at the Canadian border

7. Treaty Violations Letter Transcript
Walla Walla W. T.
June 16th, 1862
Colonel,
Without being fully advised as to your authority to act in the premises, I deem it my duty to advise you of the condition of things upon the Nez Perces Reservation, hoping that if you do not feel authorized to take any active steps, you will lose no time in conferring with the proper officer. Having spent the last three weeks upon said Reservation, I have seen and know something of the real Condition of affairs there. I find that the treaty terms are being flagrantly and openly violated in almost every particular. The lands of the Indians, even in some instances, their little farms are being taken from them, their stash is being stolen, intoxicating liquor is being sold and given to them without measure, and in one instance at least one of their number was shot down in cold blood by one of these white Robbers. Their condition is indeed wretched and they are almost in despair.
In a word without going further into detail, my opinion is that the prompt action of the military authorities in connection with the civil (for the civil authorities cannot swiftly act among the band of desperados without the presence of the military) in behalf of the Indians by restraining the whites, will prevent the necessity which otherwise must arise and very soon, of sending a larger military force into the field to protect the whites from the just indignation of their wronged and injured natives.
Already there has been an outbreak upon the Umatilla Rservation. The excess nature and extent of which we have not learned.
In view of these bursts I would as one of the civil Officers of the territory request that a detachment of one or more companies of your command be immediately sent to said Nez Perce Reservation at or near Lewiston to assist in the enforcement of the law and to preserve the peace.
I am very truly yours,
John J. McGilvra
U. S. Atty, for W. T.
Col. Cornelius
Commander of Post
N. Terr. Walla Walla

8. General Oliver Otis Howard
The question (about continuing) was resolved in Virginia City beginning August 24, in a heated exchange of telegrams among Howard, McDowell, and Sherman, who was at Fort Shaw, Montana. Replying to Howard's earlier question about continuing, McDowell told him pointedly that his instructions were to go on, and Howard responded,
"My duty shall be done fully and to the letter without complaint.”
But to Sherman he wrote,
"My command is so much worn by overfatigue and jaded animals that I cannot push it much farther.”
If other troops could head off the tribesmen in their front, Howard could,
"in a few days work my way back to Fort Boise slowly, and distribute my troops before snow falls in the mountains.”
Sherman interpreted the message to be that Howard wanted to quit, and he replied that he,
"should pursue the Nez Perces to the death, lead where they may If you are tired, give the command to some young energetic officer When the Indians are caught, your men can march to the Pacific Railroad and reach their posts by rail and steamboat. They are not needed back in California and Oregon now, but are needed just where they are.”
The reprimand gave Howard new resolve, and on August 27, back at Henry's Lake, he sent a message to the commanding general,
"You misunderstood me. I never flag. It was the command, including the most energetic young officers, that were worn out and weary by a most extraordinary march. You need not fear for the campaign. Neither you nor General McDowell can doubt my pluck and energy We move in the morning and will continue to the end.”
August 20: Nez Perce warriors attacked Howard’s camp at Camas Meadows. A volunteer recounted, “The Indians gathered up stock from all parts of both camps, and posted a line of about twenty-five men in front of the citizens' camp, within fifty yards of the wagons, and kept up their terrific fire at that distance, while the remainder of the raiders were driving the animals across the creek and into the open country beyond.”1
August 25, 1877: Howard’s army and animals were exhausted at this point and they had little supplies. They felt compelled to stop for four days while Howard went to Virginia City, 75 miles away, to get clothing, shoes, blankets, and pack horses. He planned to telegraph Generals Sherman and McDowell.
1. Virginia City Madisonian, August 25, "We discovered that a band of screaming Indians were behind our entire mule train, 110 in number, and our loose horses." New York Herald, September 10, 1877.

9. Chief Joseph's Surrender Speech October 5, 1877
Tell General Howard I know his Heart. What He told me before I have in my heart. I am tired of fighting, Looking Glass is dead. too-Hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food; no one knows where they are -- perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.
Chief Joseph wanted an honorable surrender. He rode slowly to Miles and Howard. After the 1300-mile journey, he dismounted and handed Miles his rifle, stepped back, adjusted a blanket to free his right arm, and gave his surrender speech.