Chief Joseph had gone to Washington in…

Chief Joseph had gone to Washington in January 1879 to plead that his people be allowed to return to Idaho or, at least, be given land in Indian Territory, what will become Oklahoma.

He had met with the President and Congress and had been greeted with acclaim, but opposition in Idaho had prevented the U.S. government from granting his petition.

Instead, Joseph and the Nez Perce are sent to Oklahoma and eventually locate on a small reservation near Tonkawa, Oklahoma.

Conditions in “the hot country” are hardly better than they had been at Leavenworth.