Chief Joseph

(1840–1904)

Nez Percé Tribal Leader

Chief Joseph is often referred to as the “Red Napoleon” because of his skill as a military strategist; he outmaneuvered and outfought 2,000 American soldiers with only 800 Nez Percé. He led his band of Nez Percé across 1,400 miles of rugged terrain over three months in resistance to the U.S. government's reservation concentration policy. His incredible journey and ability to elude and defeat the U.S. Army gained him recognition as a skilled leader and tactician.

The Nez Percé tribes of the Northwest had early contact with missionaries and were converted to Christianity long before Joseph was born. Joseph's father was one of the first members of the tribe to convert to Christianity, adopting the name Joseph after his conversion and baptism in 1838. The elder Joseph was involved in early treaty agreements between the United States and the tribe. His son Joseph was born in 1840 in the Wallowa Valley of present-day northeastern Oregon.

In 1855, Joseph, the father, helped set up the Nez Percé reservation in Washington Territory. In 1863, gold was discovered on the reservation and whites moved into the area. The U.S. government took back almost one million acres of the Nez Percé reservation to meet the demands of the white miners and settlers. This left the tribe with only one-tenth of their original land. The elder Joseph denounced the treaty and moved his band to the Wallowa Valley to avoid hostile confrontations with the white settlers. He died in 1871 and his son Joseph became the new leader.

White settlers and miners in the region continued to pressure the government to remove all the Nez Percé from the area. On June 15, 1873, Pres. Ulysses S. Grant set aside 1,425 square miles of the Wallowa Valley for Joseph and his band and ordered all whites to leave the area; nevertheless, whites continued to settle on the land. Responding to the demands of the settlers, the federal government rescinded the order in 1875 and opened the area for white settlement. Joseph and his band continued to live in the valley despite orders for them to move. On January 13, 1877, Commanding Gen. William T. Sherman ordered Gen. Oliver O. Howard to remove the Nez Percé from the area.

Joseph, wishing to avoid conflict with the Army and white settlers, began leading his people toward Idaho. But on June 14, 1877, three young Nez Percé got drunk and raided a white settlement; fearing retaliation by white settlers and knowing that troops were moving into the Wallowa Valley, Joseph and his band quickly fled. A few days later, 17 of his warriors became intoxicated again and killed more white settlers. Determined to stop the fleeing Nez Percé, General Howard dispatched Army troops to pursue them.

Joseph's retreat is still remembered as the most brilliant in military history. In late June 1877, the Nez Percé proved to General Howard they were worthy adversaries by defeating the Army at White Bird Canyon. In response, General Howard strengthened his command by adding additional troops. By July 15, 1877, the Nez Percé decided to head east across the Bitterroot Mountains to Canada to join Sioux leader Sitting Bull. General Howard relentlessly pursued them with 25 Bannock scouts, 200 cavalry, 360 infantrymen, and a 350-mule pack train. By August 6, the Nez Percé had crossed the Continental Divide and entered into the valley of the Big Hole River. Joseph stopped in the valley to offer his people some rest. On August 9, 1877, Col. Alvin Gibbons and the 7th Cavalry launched a surprise attack on the resting Nez Percé. The warriors retreated a short distance and then attacked the soldiers in their camp. The Nez Percé besieged the soldiers while Nez Percé women and children fled. The next day all the Nez Percé were gone.

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