b"THE OLD STORYTELLERLetters from AlexPART 1 By Hank Sheffer, The Old StorytellerSeptember 30, 1877 have been anticipated. In numerous incursions, To My Dearest Eleanor, our modern weapons As I have received no correspondence from youand superior to date I must assume it is due to my constantlytraining proved to changing locations to which the mail service is rift tobe no contest for keep up. However, I find the urgency of my situationtheir prowess with bows and makes it imperative I write to you, even though Iarrows, shotguns and relic rifles. am without the benefit of your precious thoughts inRepeatedly our forces have been hand. It is only you who understands my innermostthwarted. This quiet, gentle giant of a man called feelings. While there most certainly must be othersJoseph has exposed our command as inept, if not in this company who share the same thoughts andgrossly incompetent, at every turn. We have endured aspirations as I, it is difficult to convey them aloudtremendous humiliation, not to mention needless without reprisal. I fear at times I should go insaneloss of life. Sharpshooters, such as I have never were it not for your loving letters. encountered, can be expected at any moment, and while they are not always present, it is enough towhich look as though they shall add to this Hopefully, you will have received and recall my letteranticipate they could be. That very thought balancesponderous madness at any timeit is growing colder of last May when I spoke of how eagerly anticipated theheavily on the anticipatory minds and souls of theas I write. The sparse fires which we are allowed ultimatum offered by General Howard to Young Josephmen. However, my greatest fear lies not with thepropagate damnably little heat to relieve my aching that same month, was giving his people and othermusket ball or unheard sorrel shaft but, rather in thebones and even less light by which to write. It may be non-treaty Nez Perc thirty days to round up theirknowledge that l am petitioned to sacrifice my all,necessary for me, should I survive this horrendous livestock, make the dangerous crossing of the swollenimpotent to alternative action, for a cause in which Iidiocy, to obtain a pair of Benjamin Franklins to Snake River, and move to the Clearwater reservation,hold no fathomable conviction. aid me in sharing what little I have left with you. preferably without further altercations such as myUnfortunately, time grows shortthere may not be colleagues had encountered in the past. UnfortunatelyI am convinced that justice and honor are the faranother time.for all concerned, realizations of my anticipations havegreater causes for which to fight than white, ignorant, fallen way short. Our forces amassed to grandioseself-indulgent, righteousness. There is no honorThe sun did not respond to reveille this morning. proportions early June with the desire that a show ofin slaying small children and babies under cavalryIt is, once again, conspicuously absent; perhaps such magnitude might preclude any further action beboot heels. There can be no justification for suchwishing not to participate in or bear witness to mans taken by the Indian faction. This stratagem was dashedbehavior. Would I not be angry? Would I not bearincomprehensible injustice to himself; I fear this is but asunder by the ostentatious, glory hunting Captainan explosive hatred? What monstrous retaliationone more omen. Today should be the final call to battle.Perry who in an unprecedented fit of stupidity, allowedwill our action unleash and what duty must we pay his men to open fire upon red-skinned emissariesfor these travesties? The textbooks will chronicle ourAs fate would have it our regiment has lost far too carrying a banner of truce. conquering forces as having been on nothing moremany buglers to suit my whimsy as, is the case, than a fools errand. I fear the worst is upon us. Ithe percentage of odds on my own behalf continue Since that time, July, August and the largest part ofcan only pray that perseverance of loyalty accountsgrowing slimmer with the passage of every skirmish. September have become no more than thieverousin high degree on the last roster call that innocenceBuglers are popular targets, as you must be made waif. It has become difficult to precisely associateof action under orders can be weighed with someaware, due to their ability to convey information specific events with any given day. Each day takes oncredibility at judgment; otherwise, there will be noto the far reaches of troop activity. My lot has been the look of the preceding one and tomorrow alwaysredemption for our deeds. drawn for this day - pray for me.carries with it the apprehension of no departure from the ongoing pandorial hell, which opened after thosePerhaps this foolish quest should be compared toAnd so, with one last gesture, I include these words few musket balls were delivered back in June. a dreamer's venture. Our column has encounteredof inquisition for anyone who may care enough to enemy skirmishes time and time again only to repairponder them. When the final tally is taken, under I would never wish to be transcribed as having saidin retreat licking its wounds Otherwise, my warywhose names will the words honor, dignity and as much but I find myself continually questioningfellow troopers and myself have relinquished allloyalty be inscribed? My God, what is the purpose of the authority disclaiming these heathens. They, butrights of better judgment by traversing Idaho andall this?for a renegading few, wish only to share peacefulWyoming and now the desolate reaches of Montana co-existence with their invading white brothers.Territory. We are but fantasy chaserspursuersI shall close for now and hope that you will remember Chief Joseph fears bloodshed and death as I do.of phantoms, ghosts, and fleeting mirages of futilethis humble servant with fondness and ascribe to my His endeavors have proved to be nothing morevictory. Only God can vindicate this trek. I foreseestone only that I felt loyalty, as a soldier, to do my treacherous than to escape the wrath wrought uponthere will be no good come of it? dutyhowever misplaced it may have been.him and his people by the greedy, land-grabbing whites. Theirs is a society so pure and simplisticallyAt present, we are near the renegade encampmentI remain your loving son,in tune with nature that it is misunderstood, if noton Snake Creek under the Bear Paw Mountains. As I misconstrued, as a threat to the expansionistic,know you have no knowledge of such places, suffice it prosecution of this land. to say simply that it is an unleavened, God-forsaken place where no man should be asked to liveor die!Upon several occasions, during these past monthsCorporal E. Alexander Henrysthese people, pursued and persecuted, have provedAs so often I do, I am writing before the dawn ofBugler of the Guardto be worthy opponents as should undoubtedlythe new day. There are dark storms to the northwestA Troop; United States Army8 March 2020"