I Will Fight No More Forever: Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War

by Merrill D. Beal

Book Overview

Unpublished letters and diaries by eyewitnesses, interviews with decedents, an intimate knowledge of the country enrich this narrative of the heroic Nez Perce Indian War waged in 1877 against... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0295740094
• Release Date: January 1963
• Publisher: University of Washington Press
• Length: 393 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent account

A tremendous amount of study involved; Beal received help from National Park services, College officials, archivists, and historical societies. There is an extensive bibliography for further study. Keep a dictionary close. Through eye witness reports we observe the details of the battles, the strategies used, the men who fought, the traversing of the land, the heartache, the despair, and the sadness. Descriptions of the chiefs and officers are also detailed. Misconceptions will be laid to rest. Joseph was considered the leader of the Nez Perce, but there were many chiefs. It is not till towards the end of the book where we hear most of his words. He was a man of great wisdom; a diplomat, and a man of faith. He blames his men and the white man for the war; he tried to avoid it. "Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." The officers were amazed by the outstanding leadership, the resiliency and the exceptional fighting ability of the Nez Perce. By miscellaneous observers we understand their way of life: they were prosperous, welcoming, good natured, thoughtful, and forgiving; comparably more than other tribes. We get a good description of their physical appearance, early history, character, and home land. The war began because of Indian retaliation against local minors. The military had difficulties tracking the bands down. The Nez Perce fought well and were able to allude the military throughout the northwest. The battle of the "Big Hole": some say one of the most bitterly fought in the annals of warfare. Indian Woman and children were killed, but some woman engaged in the fight. The story ends of course with their eventual surrender, for the purpose of saving his (Joseph) people. We follow their journey by land and river too the reservation (see "Trail Of Tears"). How they survived so weakened is a true testament to the will to survive. Some honored the treaty some did not. When will white man learn tell truth. The white man has been called wicked for his actions, but this may not be justified. Settlers were quite sincere to treaty terms. Indians lacked unity, some committed murders and there was fighting between tribes. Although there were atrocities committed on both sides, there were few. It was destined to happen, although sad the way it went down. Wish you well Scott

A Heartbreaker!

This book is gut-wrenching and difficult to read at times. It is packed with so much emotion. The book also helped me in understanding more about the Indian Wars and how they were fought on the Western Frontier. Good Book!

A Story of How Everything Went Wrong

Written in a vivid way which allows you to follow the flight of the Nez Perce as they struggled to survive, Mr. Beal keeps you reading until the heartbreaking end. This story of how a people were forced into battle, chased by the army and eventually shipped away, shows the errors of our past and adds perspective to the present. Mr. Beal's writing not only presents history, but helps to identify a culture that america tried to destroy within our own boundaries. A must read for anyone interested in the history of the American West.

A well-done piece of Native American history.

I Will Fight No More Forever is an excellent telling of the Nez Perce and their flight to escape destruction. The story shows the real maening of the Indian wars,and the real people behind the legends. A must-read for anyone interested in American history.

Excellent book on the character of Chief Joseph

I found this book quite interesting on the Indian issues in general and Chief Joseph in particular. If one is from the Pacific Northwest, you'll find this book interesting in that it centers in Idaho with involvement in WA,OR and Montana. Prior to reading this book I had thought that Chief Joseph was the aggressor (and I'm from Idaho)but found that he was quite the opposite in that he never was looking for a fight. An interesting read that will leave the reader with a much different perspective of the Indian issue. Little known fact: Chief Joseph in his later years, attended a University of WA football game, 1901 as I recall.