Chief looking glass biography

In 1877 the United States army under the leadership of America’s Christian general, O.O. Howard, went to war against the Nez Perce. The five autonomous non-treaty Nez Perce bands selected Looking Glass, the leader of the Asotin band, as War Chief.

Looking Glass, who had been born about 1823, took his father’s name and so he is often designated as Looking Glass the Younger to distinguish him from his father, Looking Glass the Elder.

The name came from a small trade mirror which Looking Glass the Elder wore as a pendant. In 1863, Looking Glass the Elder died, and the pendant, the name Looking Glass, and leadership of the Asotin band passed to his son who then became Looking Glass the Younger.

With regard to the death of Looking Glass the Elder, the Washington Statesman in Walla Walla reported:

“This chief is the one that has created most of the disturbances that have existed in that tribe during the past few years, and by his death it is probable that these differences will be