9 Facts About Nez Perce Leader Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph, born Hinmatoowyahatqit (Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain), led the Nez Perce in a 1,000-mile flight to Canada in 1877 to avoid forced relocation to a reservation. With only 200 warriors, his retreat is considered one of history's greatest military maneuvers, pursued by 2,000 US troops. After surrendering in October 1877, he gave his famous "I Will Fight No More Forever" speech. Despite promises, his people were sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and later to Oklahoma. Joseph met Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt, pleading for return to the Wallowa Valley. He died on September 21, 1904, at age 64 on the Colville Reservation in Washington, reportedly of a broken heart.
Key facts
- Chief Joseph's Nez Perce name was Hinmatoowyahatqit, meaning 'Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain'.
- His father, Old Joseph, converted to Christianity in 1838 but later renounced it after land was taken.
- In 1877, Joseph led about 800 Nez Perce on a 1,000-mile flight to Canada to avoid a reservation.
- The US army pursued with about 2,000 soldiers; only 87 warriors remained at surrender.
- General William Tecumseh Sherman praised Joseph's military skill.
- Joseph's surrender speech ended with 'From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever'.
- He met with Presidents Hayes, McKinley, and Roosevelt to seek return to the Wallowa Valley.
- Joseph died on September 21, 1904, at age 64, reportedly of a broken heart.
- His brother Olikut died during the flight; another leader, White Bird, escaped to Canada.
- Joseph visited Madison Square Garden in 1897 and met Generals Howard and Miles.
Entities
Artists
- Chief Joseph
- Hinmatoowyahatqit
- Old Joseph
- Olikut
- White Bird
- Sitting Bull
- William Tecumseh Sherman
- Ulysses S. Grant
- Rutherford B. Hayes
- William McKinley
- Theodore Roosevelt
- O.O. Howard
- Nelson Miles
- Charles Milton Bell
- Cyrenius Hall
- Matthew Benjamin Brady
Institutions
- Nez Perce
- Niimiipuu
- US government
- US Army
- National Portrait Gallery
- Library of Congress
- New York Public Library
- Smithsonian Institution
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Washington State History Museum
- The New York Times
- Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
Locations
- Joseph
- Oregon
- United States
- Canada
- Fort Leavenworth
- Kansas
- Indian Territory
- Oklahoma
- Washington DC
- New York
- Madison Square Garden
- Colville Reservation
- Washington
- Wallowa Valley
- Wallowa Mountains
- Yellowstone River
- West Point