THE YOUTHS COMPANION OCT 15, 1891 - Gen. O.O. Howard Article

Description: The Youth's Companion (1827–1929), began as an American children's magazine that existed for over one hundred years and was published in Boston, Massachusetts by Perry Mason & Co. Erle Stanley Gardner (1889–1970) was, as a child, very fond of the magazine. When he embarked on his own writing career, Gardner borrowed the name "Perry Mason" for his famous fictional attorney-detective. In the 1890s the magazine’s content was re-centered on entertainment, and it began to target adults as well as children with pieces contributed by writers such as Jane Addams, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Booker T. Washington, General O.O. Howard and Jack London. Another innovation was a medical column for older readers. In consequence, its circulation increased one-hundredfold, with sales peaking in 1893. It was advertised in 1897 as "an Illustrated Family Paper", having, as one person said of it, done "away with childish things". It did, however, retain a children's section, which included short poems and puzzles. This issue’s contribution by Howard, titled, “A Phenomenal Scout” is taken from his book, “Life Among the Indians.” Maine born, General Oliver Otis Howard (1830 - 1909), a diligent student, graduated from Bowdoin College at 19 in 1850, and went on to West Point where he ranked fourth in a class of 46. He has been described as “one of the most decent men of the 19th Century” and called the “Christian General.” He demonstrated courage, faith and compassion in everything he did. Howard University in Washington, D.C. was named after him. From the 1850's to the 1880’s, apart from service in the Civil War where he won the Medal of Honor, he was involved with native American affairs. Early in his career, he was took part in the Seminole War in Florida. Then he fought valiantly in the Civil War, losing an arm. After the Civil War he led the Freedmen’s Bureau, a Reconstruction program that helped former slaves. The Bureau had hundreds of agents in the South distributing food and medicine and finding jobs and schooling for the new citizens. In 1872 he interrupted his duties as head of the Freedmen's Bureau to serve as Peace Commissioner in the Southwest. He visited all of the tribes of Southern Arizona and New Mexico, hearing and adjusting grievances. Most importantly, he made peace with Cochise and the Chiricahua Apaches. In 1874, he was placed in command of the Department of the Columbia and went west to Washington Territory's Fort Vancouver, where he fought in the Indian Wars, particularly against the Nez Perce in Idaho and Montana territories in 1877, with the resultant surrender of Chief Joseph. In this short article for the Youth’s Companion, he recounts his experiences with the Nez Perces in the Camas Meadows along the southwestern border of Montana: “Here was, at one time, one of the meeting-grounds of Bannocks, Shoshones, Flat-heads, Nez-Perces and other Indians, where they assembled to dig roots, trade, run races, gamble or settle past grievances by long continued ‘pow-wows.’ Here, in the Nez-Perces War, our forces encamped on the nineteenth of August 1877. The enterprising Chief Joseph halted some fifteen miles away, easterly towards the mountain gateway of Yellowstone Park. Then, instead of allowing his tired warriors to sleep, he left his women and children there in a safe nook, and, with his fierce red men, rode rapidly back to disturb our sleeping camp. So here took place the night engagement commonly called, ‘The Battle of Camas Meadows,’ after which our columns resumed the famous long march in pursuit of the still fleeing Indians.”

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