Thunder in the Mountains

Oliver Otis Howard, a Union Army general and leader of the Freedmen's Bureau, initially dedicated himself to advancing the rights of freed slaves during Reconstruction, viewing it as part of a divine plan. As political tensions shifted in the 1870s, he transitioned to commanding forces in the Pacific Northwest, where he aimed to assimilate Native Americans into Christian farming communities. His efforts to reshape Native American lives brought him into direct opposition with Chief Joseph, a Nez Perce leader committed to defending his people's land and asserting their rights within the nation.