Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/220

Rh from the Wallowa to the reservation in Idaho. Orders were issued to General O. O. Howard to "occupy Wallowa Valley in the interest of peace." That distinguished and humane soldier endeavored to induce Joseph to comply with the plans of the government. On May 21, General Howard reported that he had a conference with Joseph and other chiefs on May 19, and that "they yielded a constrained compliance with the orders of the government, and had been allowed thirty days to gather in their people, stock, etc." On June 14 the Indians under Joseph from Wallowa, White Bird, from Salmon River, and Looking-glass from Clear Water assembled near Cottonwood Creek, in apparent compliance with their promise, when General Howard, who was at Fort Lapwai, heard that four white men had been murdered by some Nez Perces, and that White Bird had announced that he would not go on the reservation. Other murders were reported. General Howard dispatched two companies under Captain Perry, who made an unsuccessful attack upon the Indians at White Bird Canyon. General Howard then personally took the field, and on July 11, he defeated the Indians in a deep ravine on the Clearwater, driving them from their position."—Harper's Encyclopedia of U. S. History.

Retreat and Capture of Chief Joseph. On July 17, 1877, the famous retreat of Chief Joseph began, followed by the troops of General O. O. Howard. The thrilling story of this retreat, written by some gifted Indian, would sound