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Chief Joseph & The Nez Perce
people and their war
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In June, 1877 just one year after the custer debacle, a new
and unexpected indian out break flared in the west. To an american public wearied and disgusted with a govermental policy, or lack of policy, that seem to breed Indian wars this one, an uprising by formaly peaceful Nez Perces of Oregon and Idaho, was dramatized by what apeasred to be superb indian generalship. One army detachment after another. officered by veterans of the civil war, floundered in battle with hostiles. Western correspondents telegraphed the progress of the great, 1,3200- mile fighting retreat by the indians, swaying popular imaginationin behalf ofthe valiant Nez Perces and one of their leaders, Chief Josephs, who, as handsomeand noble in appearance as a fenimore Cooper indian, was elevated in the public opinion into something of a
combined national hero and military genius.
The goverment received no laurels, either, as the long trail of bitter injustices that had originally driven the Nez Perces to hostility became known. The war, like more indian troubles, had stemmed from a conflict over land. For centuries
the Nez Perces had occupied the high grassy hills and canyon scarred plateau land where Washington and Idaho come together.
A strong and intellegent people, they had lived in peace and friendship with the whites ever since the coming of lewis and clark in 1805, and it was their proud boast that no member of the tribe had ever killed a white man.
To learn more about Chief Joseph & the Nez Perce war their is booklets available in Yellowstone National Park which you can lookup on our wesite,click activities then Yellowstone National Park for information.
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In June, 1877 just one year after the custer debacle, a new and unexpected indian out break flared in the west. To an american public wearied and disgusted with a govermental policy, or lack of policy, that seem to breed Indian wars this one, an uprising by formaly peaceful Nez Perces of Oregon and Idaho, was dramatized by what apeasred to be superb indian generalship. One army detachment after another. officered by veterans of the civil war, floundered in battle with hostiles. Western correspondents telegraphed the progress of the great, 1,3200- mile fighting retreat by the indians, swaying popular imaginationin behalf ofthe valiant Nez Perces and one of their leaders, Chief Josephs, who, as handsomeand noble in appearance as a fenimore Cooper indian, was elevated in the public opinion into something of a
combined national hero and military genius.
The goverment received no laurels, either, as the long trail of bitter injustices that had originally driven the Nez Perces to hostility became known. The war, like more indian troubles, had stemmed from a conflict over land. For centuries
the Nez Perces had occupied the high grassy hills and canyon scarred plateau land where Washington and Idaho come together.
A strong and intellegent people, they had lived in peace and friendship with the whites ever since the coming of lewis and clark in 1805, and it was their proud boast that no member of the tribe had ever killed a white man.
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For more information:
Island Park Reservations
P.O. Box 256
Island Park, ID 83429 US
Email: enchanted@islandparkidaho.com
(208) 558-9675
© Copyright 2007 Island Park Reservations. All Rights Reserved.
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