If you ask - from where
These tales and legends
With their forest fragrance, The damp freshness of the valley
With the blue smoke of the wigwams
With the noise of rivers and waterfalls
With noise, wild and stonewalling, Like thunder in the mountains? -
I will tell you, I will answer:
From forests, desert plains, From the lakes of the Midnight Country, From the land of the Ojibuei, From the land of the wild Dakotas, From the mountains and tundra, from the swamps, Where among the sedge wanders
The gray heron, Shuh-shuh-ha.
I repeat these tales
These old legends …
Henry Longfellow. Song of Hiawatha. Per. I. Bunina
Indian Wars. I read my first book "About Indians" by James W. Schultz "With Indians in the Rocky Mountains" long ago as a child, and then I read everything about them, starting with "The White Leader" by Mein Reed and ending with Liselotte Welskopf Heinrich's trilogy "Sons Big Dipper ". Well, the film shot based on this book seemed to me something wonderful at all, as well as all the films I saw at the same time in cinemas about Winneta, the leader of the Apaches. We often played Indians, so I made myself a headdress of Crow Indians from black feathers nesting near my school of ravens, but my comrades had to be content with chicken and cock from domestic chicken coops - for some reason, at the schools where they studied, black glossy crows They did not want to live and did not lose their feathers. Recently I again walked through the square near my former school, and the crows, like half a century ago, still lived there the same way. I wanted to remember that old hobby and immediately thought about what “Indian” I hadn’t written in “VO” yet. He wrote about the Battle of Little Bighorn, and about the Battle of Roseblood… But there was another battle, and at the same time when General Caster was going to meet his death. This is the Battle of White Bird Canyon, which took place on June 17, 1877 in Idaho, exactly nine days before the Little Bighorn! And today our story will go about her …
Gold is the cause of all the dramas
White Bird Canyon was the initial battle of the War of the Non-Persian (or Pierced Noses) Indians and the United States of North America. This battle became another, and it would be more correct to say, the first significant defeat of the US army, which was at that time at war with the Prairie Indians. And it happened in the western part of modern Idaho, southwest of the city of Grangeville.
And it so happened that according to the original treaty between the US government and the non-Persians, signed in 1855, white settlers should not encroach on the ancestral lands reserved for the non-Persian reservation. But in 1860, gold was found in the places of residence of the Ne-Persians, which led to an uncontrolled influx of miners and settlers into the area. Despite numerous violations of the treaty, the non-Persian Indians remained quite peaceful.
De facto and de jure
Then, wishing de jure to fix what de facto had already taken place, the US government in 1863 invited the non-Persians to sign a new treaty that reduced the size of their reservation by 90%. However, the leaders of the clans who lived outside the new reservation refused to sign the "theft agreement" and continued to live outside it until the spring of 1877.
In May 1877, after several attacks from the US Army, the Indians nevertheless moved to a new reservation. But the clan Wal-lam-wat-kain (Wallova), led by the leader Joseph, lost a large number of horses and cattle, as he had to cross the rivers, swollen from the spring runoff. Groups of Indian Chief Joseph and Chief White Bird eventually gathered at Tepahlwam, a traditional Kamas Prairie Indian camp on Lake Tolo, to enjoy the last days of their traditional lifestyle. Moreover, although the leaders managed to convince their people that the Whites are white people, stronger and they should submit to the inevitable, not all of their people agreed with the course of peace and harmony with the pale-faced.
Non-persce on the warpath
The leaders in the Indian tribes never had authoritarian power and in some cases simply could not give orders to their people. On June 14, 17 young men went to the Salmon River area to avenge the murder of the father of one of them and others killed in the previous attacks in 1875. The target of the attacks, however, was not the soldiers, but the settlers who lived in the area. On June 15, the attack was carried out and was crowned with success. At least 18 settlers were killed. Success encouraged others, and other non-Persians joined the avengers. And the settlers had no choice but to send messengers to the nearest fort Lapwai and ask the military for help.
The Ne-Persians at Tepahlwam knew that General OO Howard was preparing to send his soldiers against them. Since they could only be reached through White Bird Canyon, on June 16 the Indians moved to its southern end, and it was about five miles long, a maximum of one mile wide and bounded on all sides by steep mountain slopes. At night, sentries announced the approach of American soldiers from the north. After much deliberation, the non-Persians decided that they would remain in White Bird Canyon and would do their best to avoid war, but would fight if forced to do so. Everyone was ready to die, but they did not leave their land. In addition, the fact that Joseph's brother Allokot had brought reinforcements into the canyon added to his confidence.
Forces and position of the parties
Captain David Perry in this operation commanded Company F, and Captain Joel Graham Trimble commanded H Company, US 1st Cavalry. The officers and soldiers of both companies altogether numbered 106 people. Eleven civilian volunteers also rode with them, and at Fort Lapway they were joined by another 13 Indian scouts from tribes hostile to the non-Persians. Almost half of the soldiers were foreigners who spoke poor English. In addition, most of them were inexperienced riders and shooters. Both horses and riders were unprepared for battle. In addition, both humans and horses were exhausted by the two-day march over 70 miles, and they arrived in White Bird Canyon in poor physical condition.
There were slightly more non-Persian warriors: 135 people, but in their raids on the settlers they stole such a large amount of whiskey that they drank all night long, and therefore on the morning of June 17, many of them were too drunk to fight. Therefore, only about 70 soldiers took part in the battle. Allokot and White Bird led squads of roughly equal numbers. Chief Joseph may have also participated in the battle, but he was not the military leader. The Ne-Persians had 45-50 firearms at their disposal, including hunting shotguns, revolvers, ancient muskets and Winchester carbines, which they again obtained from settlers in settlements. Some warriors still fought with bows and arrows. Although the non-Persians had no experience of fighting white soldiers, their knowledge of the terrain, their superior craftsmanship, and their well-trained Appaloosa horses proved to be a great asset to them. Non-Persians were accustomed to using bullets sparingly when hunting and were good marksmen. They usually dismounted from their horses to shoot, and the horse stood quietly and ate the grass while its master fought. On the contrary, many US cavalry horses, hearing the shots and the battle cry of the Indians, were frightened and carried, and this panic among the horses became the main reason for the defeat of the soldiers in the White Bird Canyon.
Broken truce
At dawn on June 17, non-Persians (shall we say, those who could confidently hold onto the saddle) prepared for the expected attack. Waiting for the soldiers, Chief Allokoth's 50 warriors were stationed on the west side of the canyon, and 15 on the east side. Thus, the soldiers moving down the canyon were set in two fires. Six non-Persian warriors with a white flag awaited the approaching soldiers to negotiate a truce.
Soldiers, civilian volunteers, and scout scouts descended into Whitebird Canyon along the road with carts from the northeast. The advance group, consisting of Lieutenant Edward Teller Company, John Jones Trumpet Player, several Scouts, seven F Company soldiers, and civilian volunteer Arthur Chapman, met the Indians first. Seeing the white flag, the soldiers stopped. Negotiations have begun. The Indian Yellow Wolf later recounted the incident as follows: “Five warriors led by Vettivetti Hulis … were sent from the other [western] side of the valley to meet with the soldiers. These soldiers received instructions from the leaders not to shoot. Of course they carried the white flag. Peace could be concluded without a fight, the leaders decided. Why, and why no one knows, a white man named Chapman shot the truce. The warriors with the white flag immediately took cover, and the rest of the non-Persians immediately returned fire.
And the battle broke out
After the first shots, Lieutenant Teller ordered the cavalry to dismount, dismounted himself and deployed his men in a chain at the top of a low hill. And then there was a real chain of mistakes and a fatal combination of circumstances, which ultimately led to the defeat of white Americans and the victory of the Redskins. It began with the fact that the trumpeter Jones was ordered to give a signal that the vanguard of the detachment was attacked so that all other troops would quickly go to his aid. But before Jones could sound the trumpet, he was shot and killed by the Oststotpoo warrior, who was more than 300 yards (270 m) away from him and was also on horseback. Captain Perry dismounted and with his company took up position on the east side of the canyon. Company H, led by Captain Trimble, deployed to the west side of Teller's position. Civilian volunteers attempted to occupy one of the hills on the flank of the cavalry.
Captain Perry believed that his left (eastern) flank was protected by volunteers. However, he could not see their position. Meanwhile, the volunteers, led by George Shearer, encountered the Indian warriors who were hiding in the bushes by the river. He also ordered his men to dismount and fight on foot, and several people obeyed him, but the rest, apparently frightened by the Indians, left the scene of the battle and galloped north. In an effort to protect Perry's soldiers, Shearer led the remaining men to the top of the hill. In this position, he found himself between the Ne-Persian warriors attacking the left flank of Perry, and the well-aimed fire of the Indian warriors who defended the White Bird camp.
Perry attempted to join Teller and attack the non-Persian warriors threatening his left flank. At the same time, for some reason, he ordered to abandon the Springfield single-shot carbines and use six-shot revolvers. He ordered the trumpet player Daly to sound the signal to attack, but then it turned out that he had lost his pipe. Thus, Perry's connection with his soldiers was lost along with the pipe, and the order was not transmitted. Then Perry ordered those soldiers who were in his field of vision to take the horses and lead them out of the line of fire to a protected location. Further, both Perry himself and the rest of the soldiers of Company F advanced on foot.
Company H, meanwhile, attempted to deploy in a chain at five-yard intervals along the slope of the canyon. But the horses of the cavalrymen scattered, frightened by the shots. The Indians rushed to catch them, but the soldiers could not shoot at them for fear of hitting the horses.
Captain Perry, who on his horse maintained communication between the two companies, saw the volunteers retreat to the exit of the canyon. To compensate for their departure, Captain Trimble dispatched Sergeant Michael M. McCarthy and six men to occupy the highest point above the battlefield to defend his right flank. Perry also noticed a suitable high hill and tried to send his soldiers there to help McCarthy.
But it was too late, the soldiers suffered heavy losses from the fire of the Indians. Company F, misinterpreted Perry's order to occupy the hill as a signal for a general retreat. Company H, seeing the retreat of Company F, also began to withdraw, and left McCarthy and his men on the hill without support.
Sensing victory, Allokoth's mounted warriors began to pursue the retreating soldiers. McCarthy, realizing that he was cut off from the main detachment, galloped to the retreating troops. But Captain Trimble ordered McCarthy and his men to return to their position and hold it until help arrived. However, Trimble was never able to gather soldiers to help McCarthy. True, McCarthy and his men briefly detained the non-Persians, and then were even able to retreat, but they could not catch up with the main part of Trimble's company. McCarthy's horse was killed, but he escaped by hiding in the bushes on the banks of the river that flowed through the canyon. He sat in them for two days, and then went on foot to Grangeville. For his courage in this battle, he received the US Congressional Medal of Honor.
A retreat like an escape …
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Teller was trapped in a steep rocky gorge, and in addition he ran out of ammunition. As a result, both he and the seven soldiers who remained with him were killed by the non-Persian Indians. Captain Perry and Captain Trimble fled northwest, making their way up the steep slopes. Finally they reached the prairie at the top of the ridge and there they saw the ranch of a certain Johnson. There they received help. Another part of the surviving soldiers continued to retreat along the canyon, periodically exposed to attacks by non-Persians. A detachment of volunteers who came up saved them from death.
How did it end?
By mid-morning, 34 US Army cavalrymen had been killed and two wounded, and two volunteers were wounded early in the battle. In contrast, only three non-Persian warriors were injured. 63 carbines, many revolvers and hundreds of bullets were captured by the non-Persian warriors as trophies. These weapons significantly improved their arsenal and were actively used during the remaining months of the war. The bodies of some of the dead soldiers were found only ten days after the battle, as they were scattered over an area of ten miles. That is why many of them were buried right at the place of death, and not in a mass grave, as was planned at first.
But, like all Indian victories, the defeat of the US cavalry in White Bird Canyon was only a temporary victory for the non-Persians. They won their first battle with outnumbered soldiers, but in the end they still lost the war.
After the battle, the non-Persians crossed to the east bank of the Salmon River, and when General Howard arrived a few days later with more than 400 soldiers, they began to mock him and his people from their side of the river. The tribe then had about 600 men, women and children, many tents, 2000 horses and other livestock. The general managed only with difficulty to cross the Salmon River, but the Indians, instead of fighting the superior forces of Howard, quickly crossed the river in the opposite direction, leaving him on the opposite bank. By doing this, they gained time and were able to break away from the US army. Chief Joseph offered to retreat to Montana. And this retreat of Joseph and his people was recognized as one of the brightest episodes in US military history. After meeting with the Crow, the non-Persians asked for help. But they refused, and then the non-Persians decided to leave for Canada.
After that, they crossed the Rocky Mountains twice, then repulsed the attack of John Gibbon's detachment at the Battle of Big Hole, crossed Yellowstone National Park and crossed the deep Missouri again. As a result, they traveled 2,600 km long, but on September 30, 1877, in the Bair Po mountains, they were nevertheless surrounded by soldiers under the command of Colonel Nelson Miles. But even then, part of the non-Persians still managed to slip away and go to Canada. The rest defended themselves for five whole days. But since there were women and children with the soldiers, Joseph was forced to lay down his arms. On October 5, 87 men, 184 women and 147 children surrendered to Whites.
The Indians were transferred to the reservation, where they remained to live. Chief Joseph was held in high esteem by both his countrymen and whites. He made several trips to Washington and defended the interests of his people. Met with Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. He died on September 21, 1904 on the Colville Reservation.
References:
1. Wilkinson, Charles F. (2005). Blood Struggle: The Rise of Modern Indian Nations. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 40–41.
2. Josephy, Jr., Alvin M. (1965). The Nez Perce Indians and the Opening of the Northwest. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. pp. 428-429.
3. McDermott, John D. (1978). "Forlorn Hope: The Battle of White Bird Canyon and the Beginning of the Nez Perce War". Boise, ID: Idaho State Historical Society. pp. 57-68, 152-153.
4. Sharfstein, Daniel (2019). Thunder in the Mountains. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. p. 253.
5. Greene, Jerome A. (2000). Nez Perce Summer 1877: The U. S. Army and the Nee-Me-Poo Crisis. Helena, MT: Montana Historical Society Press.
6. West, Elliott (2009). The last Indian war: the Nez Perce story. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Greene, 7. Jerome A. (2000). A Nez Perce Summer 1877. Helena: Montana Historical Society Press. Accessed 27 Jan 2012.
