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.

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

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

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

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

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.