1877 — Aug 9-10, Battle of the Big Hole, US Army attacks Nez Perce, Beaverhead Co., MT–91-121

–101-121 Wikipedia. “Battle of the Big Hole.” 9-26-2022 edit. Accessed 1-18-2023.
— 31 Soldiers
–70-90 Nez Perce men, women and children
— 91-121 National Park Service. Big Hole National Battlefield Montana. “History & Culture.”
— 31 Soldiers
–60-90 Nez Perce men, women and children

Narrative Information

National Park Service: “The Big Hole National Battlefield is the location of the battle that took place on August 9th and 10th during Nez Perce Flight of 1877. By early August, over 800 nimí·pu· (Nez Perce) and over 2,000 horses were passing peacefully through the Bitterroot Valley after crossing Lolo Pass into Montana. Their leaders believed the military would not pursue them even though many had premonitions warning otherwise. When the nimí·pu· arrived at ?ıckumcılé.lıkpe (known today as Big Hole National Battlefield) on August 7th, they did not know the military was close behind them. On the morning of August 9, 1877, U.S. troops surprised the sleeping nimí·pu· with a dawn attack on the encampment.

“1. Nez Perce Camp

“hímı.n maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf) described that night: ‘The warriors paraded about camp, singing, all making a good time. It was the first since war started. Everyone with good feeling. Going to buffalo country! . . . War was quit. All Montana citizens our friends.’ Meanwhile Colonel John Gibbon reported ‘All laid down to rest until eleven o’clock. At that hour the command . . . of 17 officers, 132 men and 34 citizens, started down the trail on foot, each man being provided with 90 rounds of ammunition. The howitzer [cannon] could not accompany the column. . . . Orders were given . . . that at early daylight it should start after us with a pack mule loaded with 2,000 rounds of extra [rifle] ammunition.’

“hímı.n ? ılpílp (Red Wolf) described the chaos: ‘The women, all scared when the soldiers charged the camp, ran into the water, the brush. Any place where they could hide themselves and children. Many were killed as they ran.’ pıná.?wınonmay (Helping Another) explained what she did: ‘I hid under some willow brush, lying like this [flat on side]. A little girl lay close, my arm over her. Bullets cut twigs down on us like rain. The little girl was killed. Killed under my arm.’ The soldiers were then given the order to burn the tipis.

“3. Warriors Drive U.S. Military Back

“ ‘These soldiers came on rapidly. They mixed up part of our village. I now saw [tipis] on fire. I grew hot with anger,’ recalled hímı.n maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf). ‘Those soldiers did not last long. . . . Scared, they ran back across the river. We followed the soldiers across the stream. . . . the soldiers hurried up the bluff.’ Amos Buck, a civilian volunteer, told: ‘Here we began to throw up entrenchments. The Indians quickly surrounded us and were firing from every side, while we were digging and firing.’

“4. Warriors Capture Army Howitzer

“Colonel Gibbon recalled: ‘Just as we took up our position in the timber two shots from our howitzer on the trail above us we heard, and we afterwards learned that the gun and pack mule with ammunition were . . . intercepted by Indians.’ wewúkıye?ılpílp (Red Elk) also described the capture: ‘We saw the warriors closing in on the cannon. Three men, one from above and two below . . . None of the three stopped from dodging, running forward. The big gun did not roar again.’

“5. Warriors Besiege Soldiers

“Some warriors kept the soldiers and volunteers besieged while others raced back to camp. ‘I started back with others to our camp,’ explained hímı.n maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf). ‘I wanted to see what had been done. It was not good to see women and children lying dead and wounded. . . . The air was heavy with sorrow. I would not want to hear, I would not want to see again.’

“6. Surviving Nez Perce Families Flee

“The nimí·pu· buried their dead and prepared to move. Most warriors went with the camp to protect it. The battle continued and some warriors stayed behind, including hímı.n maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf), who told: ‘The night grew old and the firing faded away. Soldiers would not shoot. . . . We did not charge. If we killed one soldier, a thousand would take his place. If we lost one warrior, there was none to take his place.’ Near dawn they saw a man ride up to the soldiers. ‘We did not try to kill him. . . . The soldiers made loud cheering. We understood! Ammunition had arrived or more soldiers were coming. . . . We gave those trenched soldiers two volleys as a ‘Good-by!’ Then we mounted and rode swiftly away.’

“Aftermath The battle at Big Hole was a turning point in the Flight of 1877, for the nimí·pu· no longer considered ‘all Montana citizens our friends.’ Between 60 and 90 nimí·pu· men, women, and children were killed during the battle, with an unknown number wounded, some killed or injured by Bitterroot civilians who the nimí·pu· recognized. Of the military and civilian volunteers, 31 were killed, 38 wounded.

“After the battle, the nimí·pu· fled south, crossing back into Idaho over Bannock Pass before heading east towards Yellowstone National Park. They attempted to avoid towns and ranches, but when they did encounter settlers, the nimí·pu· no longer trusted them. The military caught up to the nimí·pu· for the first time after this battle on August 20 at Camas Meadow, west of Yellowstone National Park.”

Sources

National Park Service. Big Hole National Battlefield Montana. “History & Culture.” 3-8-2021 update. Accessed 1-18-2023 at: https://www.nps.gov/biho/learn/historyculture/index.htm

Wikipedia. “Battle of the Big Hole.” 9-26-2022 edit. Accessed 1-18-2023 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Big_Hole