ing. The nature of the country was in
their favor and at least they could give the army a chase, but how long
they could hold out they did not know. Even Joseph's younger brother
Ollicut was won over. There was nothing for him to do but fight; and
then and there began the peaceful Joseph's career as a general of
unsurpassed strategy in conducting one of the most masterly retreats in
history.

This is not my judgment, but the unbiased opinion of men whose knowledge
and experience fit them to render it. Bear in mind that these people
were not scalp hunters like the Sioux, Cheyennes, and Utes, but peaceful
hunters and fishermen. The first council of war was a strange business
to Joseph. He had only this to say to his people:

"I have tried to save you from suffering and sorrow. Resistance means
all of that. We are few. They are many. You can see all we have at a
glance. They have food and ammunition in abundance. We must suffer great
hardship and loss." After this speech, he quietly began his plans for
the defense.

The main plan of campaign was to engineer a successful retreat into
Montana and there form a junction with the hostile Sioux and Cheyennes
under Sitting Bull. There was a relay scouting system, one set of
scouts leaving the main body at evening and the second a little before
daybreak, passing the first set on some commanding hill top. There were
also decoy scouts set to trap Indian scouts of the army. I notice that
General Howard charges his Crow scouts with being unfaithful.

Their greatest difficulty was in meeting an unencumbered army, while
carrying their women, children, and old men, with supplies and such
household effects as were absolutely necessary. Joseph formed an
auxiliary corps that was to effect a retreat at each engagement, upon a
definite plan and in definite order, while the unencumbered women were
made into an ambulance corps to take care of the wounded.

It was decided that the main rear guard should meet General Howard's
command in White Bird Canyon, and every detail was planned in advance,
yet left flexible according to Indian custom, giving each leader freedom
to act according to circumstances. Perhaps no better ambush was ever
planned than the one Chief Joseph set for the shrewd and experienced
General Howard. He expected to be hotly pursued, but he calculated that
the pursuing force would consist of not more than two hundred and fifty
soldiers. He prepared false trails to mislead th