Contemporary inscripton 1915


Charles Erskine Scott Wood (or C.E.S. Wood) (February 20, 1852 – January 22, 1944) was an author, civil libertarian, soldier, and attorney. He is best known as the author of the 1927 satirical bestseller, Heavenly Discourse.


graduated from West Point in 1874. He served as an infantry officer and fought in the Nez Perce War in 1877. He was present at the surrender of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce. It was Wood who translated, and perhaps embellished, Chief Joseph's famous speech: "My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." The two men became close friends.


see also Soldier to Advocate
C.E.S. Wood's 1877 Diary of Alaska and the Nez Perce Conflict by george venn