Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
On September 29, 1877, the Nez Perce chose to rest at Snake Creek, just north of
the Bears Paw Mountains and 40 miles from the Canadian border. General Howard
had pursued them relentlessly, but believing that they had a good lead on his troops,
the Nez Perce chose to set up camp. Unbeknownst to the Nez Perce, Col. Nelson A.
Miles and his 7th Cavalry were quickly approaching from the southeast. With the
help of Cheyenne and Lakota scouts, they spotted the Nez Perce camp. Although al-
most 300 troops attacked the Nez Perce, the skilled warriors were able to stand their
ground and rapidly fortify the encampment.
The Nez Perce earned great praise not only for their fighting but also for their hu-
mane treatment of others. During this battle, as wounded Army soldiers lay on the
battlefield, the Nez Perce moved among them looking for ammunition and weapons
but did no further harm to the injured men. There is even a legend that an injured sol-
dier kept crying out to his comrades for water. A warrior approached him, removed
the soldier's ammunition belt, and left a container of water.
After five days of fighting, Joseph had seen enough. There may have been an op-
portunity to escape, but he refused to leave the wounded, sick, and elderly behind. On
October 5, 1877, Joseph, Howard, and Miles spoke though translators. Joseph made
a poignant speech: “From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.”
Although it was a conditional surrender, and both Miles and Howard assured Joseph
that he and his people would be returned to their home in the Northwest, that was not
the case: The U.S. government moved the Nez Perce first to a reservation in Kan-
sas and later to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. Not until 1885 were they
moved to Washington State, still not their original homeland. Joseph died there in
1904, the cause of death diagnosed by his doctor as “a broken heart.”
The Bear Paw Battlefield is one of several sites located within the Nez Perce Na-
tional Historical Park (406/357-3130, www.nps.gov/nepe , year-round). A ranger is
on-site beginning at noon each day late June-September.
Festivals and Events
Unlike the vast majority of Montana towns that pack the calendar with events during sum-
mer, Chinook offers worthwhile events in the fall and early winter. The Bear Paw Battle
Commemoration (406/357-3130, www.nps.gov/nepe ) commemorates the 1877 battle with
a traditional pipe ceremony. It is normally scheduled for 10am the first Saturday in October.
Photos and filming of the pipe ceremony are not permitted.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search