Chief Joseph: War Chiefs

The Nez Perce WarsThe Nez Perce had always been friendly to the white men. But then gold was discovered on their land, and miners, gamblers, and settlers flooded the Columbia Basin. Gradually, the Nez Perce reservation was whittled away by corrupt officials with the backing of the military might of the United States Army.Rather than fight, Chief Joseph, celebrated by military historians as "The Indian Napoleon," led his people north to Canada where they could live in freedom. But the United States had other plans for the Nez Perce. General Oliver Otis Howard was ordered to stop the flight of the Nez Perce at all costs. Literally running for their lives, the Nez Perce were forced to battle the U.S. Army at Bear Paw. Their loss brings to light the pain, wastefulness, and ultimate tragedy of the Indian Wars--in which a general who did not want to fight battled a great War Chief who had no other choice. Impeccably researched, rich with real-life characters and period detail, this powerful historical novel vividly recounts the story of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War--a history marked by harsh reality and inconsolable heartbreak.Fateful Friendship"What do they want with us?" Broken Arm asked.Twisted Hair shrugged, thought about the question for a moment, then said, "I think they want to trade with us. They tell us that there are other white men to the north--they call them British--and say they, too, are traders, but that the Bostons are more generous in their trade.""What do they have to offer us?""I dont know. They showed us some things, but said they were just gifts, things they brought with them to show their goodwill to all the peoples they meet on their journey.""What peoples had they met? Did they tell you? Did they meet the Blackfeet, and are they friendly to the Blackfeet?""They say they want to be friends with all peoples. They had met the Blackfeet and had no trouble with them.""Then how can they be friendly to us?" Broken Arm asked. "How can they be friends to us?" "How can friends of our enemies be our friends, too?" this question was addressed not to Twisted Hair, but to the other chiefs gathered around the council fire.