Selling Your Father's Bones

[lizs]

I saw the title of this book and the jacket front photo - which is the framework of a tipi, a setting sun and a beautiful, white/silver puffy-clouded sky. The subtitle/phrase is "America's 140-year war against the Nez Perce Tribe.

It was written by English author Brian Schofield (what is it with the English and the West? ). It apparently shares the story of Chief Joseph... and the author's modern day journey to do it. And that is just perfectly up my reading/writing alley.

Will let you know how it is when I read it (course you'll remember I think LBH would be just as famous without the markers, so be sure to handicap the review based on that ;D)....

Just wanted to get the alert out about the book. I purchased it at Barnes & Noble.

[biggordie]

Lisa:

That was supposedly Joseph's reply, when he was asked to sell part of the Nez Perce lands: "I will not sell the bones of my father." We shall see two of the battlefields of the Nez Perce War on our trek - Canyon Creek and Big Hole. I'm still thinking of how we could make a trip to Snake Creek [Bear Paw Mts.] and get back in a day. Probably wont be possible, but................

Gordie

[lizs]

I got a $120 speeding ticket in the fall. Someone else's turn to drive if'n ya want to speed and try to make it. ;D Where are those mountains?

[biggordie]

South of Chinook, MT, which is east of Havre and west of Malta, about 60 mikes south of the Canadian line, give or take, It's about 235 miles from Billings, about 290 from our HQ. It would be doable in a day, if we left early, and the more I think of it, the more I think it would be a shame to miss it. It was a major action for the Seventh - Godfrey won his MOH there, Hale was killed, and Eckerson made an ass of himself. Since it was the end of the road for the Nez Perce [Hear me, my chiefs.....From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more, forever], it would be a fitting climax to your reading of that book.

Gordie

[stevewilk]

I just yesterday finished reading Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce by Kent Nerburn. This sad saga, along with the Trail of Tears and the Long Walk of the Navajo rather epitomizes the mistreatment of the American Indians. Nerburn is a Minnesotan, lives in Bemidji; so Liz you might find this on the shelf at your local library as I did. Hard to put it down; though the author's sympathies clearly lie with the Nez Perce, (as most folk's would, given the circumstances) I found it a good read.

I don't know why this tragic story is not included in the upcoming PBS We Shall Remain series. Joseph was a true patriot for his people and fought till his death for their well being; at least for the "tradish" ie non-Christian sect of the tribe. He was for a time the most popular Indian in the US, eclipsing Sitting Bull. But for the Nez Perce it seemed the war was the easy part compared to what they went through afterward. Of the over 800 who embarked on the trek which ended at Bear Paw, only some 300 remained to make the return to the northwest seven years later.

Gordie, how did Eckerson "make an ass" of himself at Bear Paw? He was commended for conspicuous gallantry after taking command of some leaderless troopers. He reported to Miles "I am the only damned man of the Seventh wearing shoulder straps who's still alive".

At Canyon Creek, Major Lewis Merrill came under criticism; he dismounted his men and had them advance on foot. The Nez Perce couldn't understand why he did this as it let them make their getaway.

[biggordie]

Steve:

Eckerson submitted a fraudulent letter [sort of a mini-clone of the Enlisted Men's Petition] seeking promotion, based upon the supposed support of the troopers surviving. As I recall, he was booted out of the Army either shortly before, or maybe just after, this letter was published in the Army Navy Journal. Fred Werner wrote a nice little pamphlet on this fight, and the letter is reproduced in it. I no longer have the pamphlet, having given it to someone more interested in this event than I. Perhaps she'll read this and chirp in.

Eckerson was not, of course, the only officer still alive. Godfrey was, although wounded; so were Moylan and Biddle [2nd Lt K]. Maybe they weren't wearing shoulder straps [he said, tongue in cheek].

Eckerson was dismissed the service for the second time effective 30 June 1878, it says here. I'm guessing that his family had some kind of political pull, as his initial appointment, in 1872, was by Presidential fiat, as was his appointment to the Seventh in May 1876. In between he was cashiered, He got a promotion - to First Lieutenant - before even joining the regiment because of the officer casualties at LBH, which he missed, not having reported until 30 July 1876. One might rightly describe his military career as "checkered."

Kent Nerburn is also the author of "Neither Wolf Nor Dog" which was given me by the same person to whom I sent the Werner pam. It is a wonderful story, and well worth reading, especially if one is interested in the NDN ways.

Gordie

[lizs]

I just found that Kent Nerburn has a blog.... looks interesting:
kentnerburn.com/

[biggordie]

I didn't realize that he was such a prolific writer. I'll have to look for some of those other titles.

Gordie

[clw]

Dear Santa,

One of us is having a senior moment. You've sent me two excellent Werner pamphlets -- one on Rosebud and one on Slim Buttes. In fact I can't wait to get back to Slim Buttes with Fred (Werner!) tucked under my arm. The maps are fantastic.

But I have nothing on any of the Nez Perce battles that I can find or remember seeing. Especially since I was just worrying the other day about going to those battlefields without ever having read more than can be found on the net. Hint, hint.

[biggordie]

clw/steve/anyone who has a functioning brain:

You are correct, clw - I ate an ice cream cone last August, and am suffering from brain freeze. While looking for some information on ammunition production and distribution and usage etc. I discovered the pamphlet to which I referred above.

In the interests of historical, editorial, and other types of accuracy, and throwing myself on the mercy of the court, I must say that the pamphlet was not written by Fred Werner, but by Robert J. Ege, who was a noted historian of the LBH and other western events [I'm not sure that he is dead, so maybe he still is]. Also that Lieutenant Biddle was indeed deaded at the Snake Creek fight. Moylan was not, however, although it may be argued that he was brain dead, like someone else we all know [and adore]. Moylan, like Godfrey, was wounded, to what extent I know not.

Here is the Eckerson Enlisted Men's Petition, from the edition of 27 April 1878 [note the dates in the quote from the same source which follows the letter] of the Army And Navy Journal.

"Ist Lieutenant Eckerson: We the enlisted members of the battalion composed of Companies A, D, and K, 7th Cavalry, who fought for five consecutive days under the command of 1st Lieut. E.P. Eckerson, 7th Cav., in the battle with the Nez Perce Indians during which time he commanded and gallantly led the Battalion to victory, do hereby respectfully offer this as testimonial heartfelt of our appreciation of his services and conspicuous bravery which we so perfectly realize. We further desire to convey the fact and our thankfulness therefore, that when at one time, when the fight was fearfully heavy and raged terribly, on Sept. 30, and we reported to him abut almost being out of ammunition, he gallantly rode through a shower of bullet (in which he had a horse shot) and brought us ammunition, which fact alone enabled us to hold the points we had taken - which if lost could not have been regained without inestimable loss. During the whole of this fight his presence and cheering words sustained us, and many times gave us new heart and vigor. During the severe snow storms which followed the first day's fight, he cared for our comfort in a truly humane and soldierly way, and suffered cheerfully with us the many trials and hardships of the battlefield. Those of us who were wounded bear testimony to the many acts of kindness and humanity shown to us on the field by him. We desire to convey to him, with great respect, our regard for him as an officer and one in whom we take pride, and who we would follow in battle to the death. We are resoectfully, etc.

"Signed by ninety-six non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of Companies A, D, and K, 7th Cav., who survived the battle of Bear's Paw Mountains on Sept. 30, 1877, and October 1,2,3, and 4, 1877, and in which two officers were killed and two wounded and 47 enlisted men were killed and wounded of the Battalion."

From the Army And Navy Journal 29 June 1878:

"Dismissed: Before a General Court Martial Board which convened at Fort Rice, D.T., April 25, 1878, of which Lieut. Col. William P. Carlin, 17th Inf., is president, was arraigned and tried: 1st Lieut. Edwin P. Eckerson, 7th Cav.

Charge I - Conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman.
Charge II - Violation of the 38th Article of War.
Charge III - Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline.

Finding - The Cort, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds the accused, 1st Lt. Edwin P. Eckerson, 7th Cav., as follows:

Charge ! - Guilty
Charge II - Not guilty, but guilty of conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline.
Charge III - Guilty

Sentence: To be dismissed from the service of the United States.

Executive Mansion
June 7, 1878

The proceedings, findings, and sentence in the case of 1st Lieutenant Edwin P. Eckerson, Seventh Regiment of Cavalry, U.S. Army, are confirmed.
(signed) R. B. Hayes

By direction of the Secretary of War, the sentence in the case of 1st Lieut. Edwin P. Eckerson, 7th Cav., will take effect on June 30, 1878, from which date he will cease to be an officer of the army (G.C.M.O.30, H.Q.A., June 7.)"

And I do hereby withdraw the word "fraudulent" from my prior posting on this subject, and do hereby substitute therefor the two-word phrase "possibly spurious." And further saith naught.

Whatziz Name

[zekesgirl]

I've got LBH swirling around my little pea brain and now I need to brush up on Joseph?! I hear the brain fragmenting already.

[biggordie]

Concentrate on LBH, and let the rest of it come as a series of pleasant surprises and revelations, which they would be to most "students" of the Little Horn fights, since there was no George Armstrong Custer there [or Reno either - he was on suspension].

If you look at the casualty figures quoted, you will see that they far exceed those suffered during the famous Reno-Benteen Defense Of The Hill, and the fact is that Bear's Paw, or Snake Creek, involved far fewer Seventh Cavalry Troops, and probably 1/25 of the number of warriors at LBH.

The Nez Perce were wonderful wicked marksmen, and made good use of rifle pits. They had fought various army units [and some civilians who thought they'd throw in] to a frazzle in several fights along their retreat route - or advance toward the safety of the northern plains and the Grandmother's Country, which is what they were really doing. They thought that they would be welcomed by their eastern "brothers:" but the ones who would have done the welcoming had already fled north.

Many Cheyennes and Lakotas were enlisted as army scouts and auxiliaries - even Crazy Horse is said to have stated that he would go north and fight until not a Nez Perce remained alive. The story goes that this was intentionally misinterpreted to say that he would fight until not a white soldier remained alive [by someone who had it in for him], and that this led to his death at the hands of the troops who were holding him at bayonet point.

Gordie

"The more I learn, the less I know. The more I find out, the less I learn. The smoker I drink, the player I get."

[clw]

Hey z-girl ~

Pea brain here too, obsessing about homework before the MMT. To get the lay of the land, you might want to check in at Friends of Bear Paw, Big Hole and Canyon Creek Battlefields.

www.friendsnezpercebattlefields.org/

Similar to Friends of the LBH, there's a wealth of information there and links to more. Enough there to at least orient us.

[lizs]

CLW - very(!!!) interested in Slim Buttes brochure/maps here (hint, hint, as is often said here... lol)

MMT??? Hey, someone run down abbreviations commonly used here for the newbie. Thanks! ;D

[clw]

MMT - Magical Mystery Tour

I'll try to work on the Slim Buttes thing and PM you. It's available used, but relatively pricey.