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Our People : Words of Chief Joseph, Nez Perces'
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 Message 7 of 8 in Discussion 
From: MSN NicknameWitchway_Pawnee  in response to Message 1Sent: 3/15/2005 5:56 AM


Page 7

On the fifth day I went to General Miles and gave up my gun and said "from where the sun now stands I will fight no more"  My people needed rest.  We wanted peace.  I was told we could go with General Miles to Tongue River and stay there til spring, when we could be sent back to our country.  Finally it was decided that we were to be taken to Tongue River we had nothing to say about it.  After our arrival at Tongue River, General Miles recieved orders to take us to Bismark.  Reason given was that subsistence would be cheaper there.  General Miles was opposed to this order.  He said "You must not blame me I have endeavered to keep my word but the Chief who is over me has given the order and I must obey it or resign.  That would do no good some other officer would carry out the order".  I believe General Miles would of kept his word if he could have done so.  I do not blame him for what we have suffered since the surrender.  I do not know who is to blame.  We gave up all our horses, over eleven hundred and all our saddles, over one hundred and we have not heard from them since  .Somebody has got our horses. General Miles turned my people to another soldier and we were taken to Bismark.  Captain Johnson ,who had no charge of us recieved and order to take us to Fort Leavenworth.  At Leavenworth we were placed on a low river bottom with no water except river water to drink and cook with.  We had always lived in a healthy country where the mountains were high and the water was cold and clear.  Many of my people sickened and died and we buried them in a strange land.  I can not tell how much my heart suffred for my people while at Leavenworth.  The Great Spirit-Chief who rules above seemed to be looking some other way and did not see what was being done to my people.  During the hot day July 1878 was recieved notice that we would be moved further away from our own country.  We were not asked if we were willing to go.  We were ordered to get into railroad cars.  Three of my people died on the way to Baxter Springs.  It was worse to die there than to die fighting in the mountains.  We were moved from Baxter Springs, Kansas to Indian Territory and set down without our lodges, we had but little medicine and we were nearly all sick.  Seventy of my people died since we moved there.  We had a great many visitors who had talked many ways. Some of the Chiefs, General Fish & General Stickney, from Washington came to see us and select land for us to live upon, we have not moved to that land for it is not a good place to live.  The Commissioner Chief E.A.Hoyt came to see us and told him as I told everyone that I expected General Miles word would be carried out.  He siad it could not be done that white men now lived in my country and all the land was taken up.  If I returned to Wallowa I could not live in peace, that law papers were out against my young men who began the war and that Government could not protect my people.  This talk fell like a heavy stone upon my heart.  I saw that I could not gain anything by talking to him.  Other Law Chiefs, Congressional Commitee came to see me and said they would help me to get a healthy country.  I did not know who to believe. The white men's people have too many Chiefs, they do not understand each other, they do not all talk alike. The Commissioner Chief Mr. Hoyt invited me to go with him and hunt for a better home than we have now.  I liked the land we found west of Osage Reservation, better than any place I have seen in that country, but it is not all healthy land.  There are no mountains and rivers, the water is warm, it is not good country for stock.  I do not believe my people can live there.  I am afraid they all will die.  The Indians who occupy that country are dying off.  I promise Chief Hoyt to go there and do the best I could until the Government got ready to make good General Miles word.  I was not satisfied but I could not help myself.  Then the Inspector Chief general McNiel came to my camp and we had a long talk.  He said I ought to have a home in the mountains country north and that he would write a letter to the Great Chief in Washington.  Again the hope of seeing the mountains of Idaho and Oregon grew in my heart at last.  I was granted permission to come to Washington and bring my friend Yellow Bull and our interpreter with me.  I am glad we came I have shaken hands with a great many friends, but there is something I want to know which no one seems to be able to explain.  I cannot understand how the Government sends a man out to fight us as they did.  General Miles and then breaks his word, such a Government has something wrong about it.  I cannot understand why so many Chiefs are allowed to talk so many different ways and promise so many different things.  I have seen the great Father Chief the President, the next Great Secretary of the Interior, the Commissioner Chief Hoyt, the Law Chief Butler and many other law Chiefs Congressmen and they all say they are my friends and that I shall have justice, but while their mouths talk right, I do not understand why nothing is being done for my people.  I have heard talk and talk but nothing done.  Good words don't last long unless they amount to something.  Words do not pay for my dead people, they do not pay for my country now overrun with white men.  They do not protect my fathers grave, they do not pay for all my horses and cattle.  Good words will not give me back my children.  War Chief General Miles good words will not get my people a home where they live in peace and care for themselves.  General Miles words will not give back promises.  Good words will not give my people good health and stop them from dying.

 


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     re: Words of Chief Joseph, Nez Perces'   MSN NicknameWitchway_Pawnee  3/15/2005 6:01 AM