y inference
the men as well, they persisted on the trail of a party encumbered by
women and children, the old, sick, and wounded.

It was decided to send a detachment of cavalry under Bacon, to Tash
Pass, the gateway of the National Park, which Joseph would have to pass,
with orders to detain him there until the rest could come up with them.
Here is what General Howard says of the affair. "Bacon got into position
soon enough but he did not have the heart to fight the Indians on
account of their number." Meanwhile another incident had occurred. Right
under the eyes of the chosen scouts and vigilant sentinels, Joseph's
warriors fired upon the army camp at night and ran off their mules. He
went straight on toward the park, where Lieutenant Bacon let him get by
and pass through the narrow gateway without firing a shot.

Here again it was demonstrated that General Howard could not depend upon
the volunteers, many of whom had joined him in the chase, and were going
to show the soldiers how to fight Indians. In this night attack at Camas
Meadow, they were demoralized, and while crossing the river next day
many lost their guns in the water, whereupon all packed up and went
home, leaving the army to be guided by the Indian scouts.

However, this succession of defeats did not discourage General Howard,
who kept on with as many of his men as were able to carry a gun,
meanwhile sending dispatches to all the frontier posts with orders to
intercept Joseph if possible. Sturgis tried to stop him as the Indians
entered the Park, but they did not meet until he was about to come out,
when there was another fight, with Joseph again victorious. General
Howard came upon the battle field soon afterward and saw that the
Indians were off again, and from here he sent fresh messages to General
Miles, asking for reinforcements.

Joseph had now turned northeastward toward the Upper Missouri. He told
me that when he got into that part of the country he knew he was very
near the Canadian line and could not be far from Sitting Bull, with whom
he desired to form an alliance. He also believed that he had cleared all
the forts. Therefore he went more slowly and tried to give his people
some rest. Some of their best men had been killed or wounded in battle,
and the wounded were a great burden to him; nevertheless they were
carried and tended patiently all during this wonderful flight. Not one
was ever left behind.

It is the general belief that India