Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

We had good white friends who advised us against taking the war path. My friend and brother, Mr. Chapman, told us just how the war would end.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

We gathered all the stock we could find, and made an attempt to move. We left many of our horses and cattle in Wallowa. We lost several hundred in crossing the river.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

My father was the first to see through the schemes of the white man.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

My people were divided about surrendering.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

We ask to be recognized as men.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

General Howard informed me, in a haughty spirit, that he would give my people 30 days to go back home, collect all their stock, and move onto the reservation.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

Good words will not give me back my children.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

When an Indian fights, he only shoots to kill.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

It required a strong heart to stand up against such talk, but I urged my people to be quiet and not to begin a war.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

A chief called Lawyer, because he was a great talker, took the lead in the council, and sold nearly all the Nez Perce country.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understand.

Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph

Governor Isaac Stevens of the Washington Territory said there were a great many white people in our country, and many more would come; that he wanted the land marked out so that the Indians and the white man could be separated.