Most of the horses were gone.

The artillery had been hitting the area where families sheltered.

Children were dying.

Joseph could attempt to escape with his people, or he could accept terms that promised to stop the dying immediately.

He chose to stop the dying.

The choice was made with knowledge that the army’s promises might not be honored, and with grief, and with a specific responsibility to the people he could still protect in that moment.

White Bird’s choice was different because his situation was different.