The Battle of the Big Hole was fought in Montana Territory, August 9–10, 1877, between the United States Army and the Nez Perce tribe of Native Americans during the Nez Perce War. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. The Nez Perce withdrew in good order from the battlefield and continued their long fighting retreat that would result in their attempt to reach Canada and asylum.

Located in Beaverhead County, the battle site is between the continental divide at Chief Joseph Pass and the town of Wisdom.

Background

thumb|upright=1.4|The route of the Nez Perce (red) and the U.S. Army (purple) to the Battle of the Big Hole. General Howard's route is shown as a solid line, Gibbon's as a dotted line.

After the Battle of the Clearwater in Idaho Territory on July 11–12, the Nez Perce leaders led their people on an extensive trek to escape the soldiers of Brigadier General Oliver Otis Howard. The Nez Perce crossed into Montana Territory via rugged Lolo Pass, and after a brief confrontation at Fort Fizzle on July&nbsp;28, they entered the Bitterroot Valley and proceeded southward. Looking Glass seems to have taken over leadership from Chief Joseph; he<!-- Looking Glass --> pledged to the white settlers in the Bitterroot Valley that the Nez Perce would pass through their valley without violence and they did so, even trading and purchasing supplies from white merchants.

Looking Glass persuaded the Nez Perce that Howard was far behind and that the citizens of Montana did not want war with them. Thus, their progress was leisurely and they took few precautions for defense, not sending out scouts or setting pickets to guard their encampments. They left the Bitterroot Valley, crossed a mountain range, and camped in the Big Hole Basin, pausing to replenish their tipi poles from the surrounding forest. On August&nbsp;8, a detachment led by Lieutenant James Bradley discovered the Nez Perce camp along the North Fork of the Big Hole River. That night Gibbon marched overland to the Nez Perce camp, reaching it at dawn, leaving his howitzer and a pack train to follow behind with a guard of twenty men. He had come to fight: his orders were no prisoners and no negotiations.

Battle

upright=1.0|thumb|Map of Battle of the Big Hole

Between Gibbon's position and the Nez Perce encampment, which consisted of 89 tipis in a V-shaped pattern, was the waist-deep and willow-lined North Fork of the Big Hole River. Approaching the Nez Perce encampment on foot at dawn, Gibbon's men encountered an old Nez Perce man and killed him. The soldiers crossed the river and rushed into the village and began firing into the tipis where most of the Nez Perce were still sleeping. The Indians were taken by surprise and fled in all directions. Gibbon's men fired indiscriminately at men, women, and children – although some of the women were said to have been armed and shooting back at the soldiers. Lieutenant James H. Bradley, leading Gibbon's left wing, was killed early in the battle. Leaderless, his men did not continue their advance and left the northern part of the village unoccupied, giving a refuge and a rallying point to the Nez Perce.

Twenty minutes after his entry into the village, Gibbon, realizing that he was in an "untenable position", ordered a retreat across the river to a timbered area 300 or 400 yards distant and out of view of the village. The soldiers dug rifle pits and constructed rock and log barriers. At this point Gibbon's howitzer appeared on the battlefield and fired two or three ineffectual rounds. The Nez Perce killed or wounded most of the howitzer crew, who abandoned the gun, but not before dismantling it. The Nez Perce had collected arms and ammunition left behind by the soldiers in their retreat. At one point the Nez Perce set fires and attempted to burn the soldiers out of their position, but the wind shifted and the fire burned itself out. That afternoon the Nez Perce continued sniping at the soldiers while their women packed up, gathered the horse herd, and moved out south, going about 18 miles to Lake Creek where they made camp – this time with defensive works. Chief Joseph and his brother Ollokot's wives were wounded. Howard's forces, newly arrived on the battlefield, took up the pursuit and followed Joseph toward Yellowstone National Park. The Nez Perce again clashed with the army ten days later on August&nbsp;20 at the Battle of Camas Meadows.

The battlefield is preserved in the Big Hole National Battlefield unit of the Nez Perce National Historical Park, located along State Highway 43.

Order of Battle

District of Western Montana: Colonel John Gibbon<br>

7th U.S. Infantry

  • Left Battalion
  • Company A: Captain William Logan, in reserve
  • Company K: Captain James M. J. Sanno
  • Company D: Captain Richard Comba, senior battalion officer
  • Scouts and Volunteers: Lieutenant James H. Bradley
  • Bitterroot Civilian Volunteers: "Captain" John B. Catlin, attached to Bradley's command
  • Right Battalion
  • Company F: Captain Constant Williams
  • Company G: Captain George Browning
  • Company I: Captain Charles C. Rawn, senior battalion officer

2nd U.S. Cavalry

  • Company L, detachment: (attached to Bradley's command)

Artillery

  • 12lb Mountain Howitzer: Sgt Daley, Sgt Fredericks

References

Sources

  • Big Hole National Battlefield
  • Nez Perce National Historic Trail
  • Nez Perce Trail Foundation
  • The Nez Perce Battles Friends of Bear Paw, Big Hole & Canyon Creek Battlefields