treat of the Indians under Cover of Night. Anecdotes of Personal
Heroism. Burying the Dead-List of Soldiers and Citizens Killed and
Wounded. Eighty-nine Dead Indians Found and Buried on the Field!.
Review of the Fight. Importance of its Place in History. Gibbon and
His Men Officially Commended by Generals Sherman, Sheridan, and
Terry. Trees Still Standing on the Battle-Ground, Girdled with
Bullets, Tell the Story of the Struggle. 78

CHAPTER VI.

Testimony of Officers and Men as to the Courage and Fierceness of
Nez Perce Warriors in Battle. All Concede Them to be the Bravest
Fighters in the West. General Gibbon's Military Record. Previous
History of Captain Logan and Lieutenants Bradley and English.
Present Status and Whereabouts of Officers Who Participated in the
Fight and Who Still Live. Names of Those Who Have Gone to Their
Reward Since That Bloody Day. 105

CHAPTER VII.

Description of the Battle Monument. General Howard's Pursuit of the
Nez Perces After the Battle in the Big Hole. Their Final Capture by
General Miles. Chief Joseph's Curious Message to Howard. White
Bird's Flight to Woody Mountain. His Sad Plight on Arrival There. He
Still Lives Within the British Lines. Chief Joseph on the Colville
Reservation. He Wants "No More Fight" With White Soldiers. 115

THE BATTLE OF THE BIG HOLE.

CHAPTER I.

The Nez Perce Indians are a powerful and populous tribe, who, for
centuries, have made their home in the Snake, Salmon, and Clear Water
Valleys in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. When the great tide of
civilization, which for years flowed toward the Pacific Coast, finally
spread out into these valleys, questions arose between the emigrants
and Indians as to the ownership of certain lands claimed by the latter,
and the United States Government sought to settle these questions
amicably. Commissioners were appointed and sent out to investigate and
define the rights of the Indians, and in 1853, a treaty was concluded
between the United States and the head chiefs and fifty-two of the
principal men of the Nez Perce tribe, defining the boundaries of the
country claimed by them, and ceding to the Government certain other
lands which they had formerly occupied, but to which they had set up no
valid claim.

In 1863, another treaty was made, modifying these boundaries to some
extent, and in 1868, still another was negotiated at Washingto