COTTONWOOD SKIRMISHES The Cottonwood Skirmishes Site is interpreted at a 1-acre highway rest stop that is about 2 miles south of Cottonwood, Idaho, on the east side of U.S. Highway 95. This site consists of state interpretive signs and a cast concrete marker, a chamber of commerce orientation sign, and a few picnic tables. The skirmish sites associated with the Nez Perce War of 1877 are on private lands, mostly in agricultural use, near the community of Cottonwood. A Gatling gun, firing from the top of a low hill a mile northwest of here, beat off a Nez Perce attack, July 4, 1877. The next day, Nez Perce Indians just east of here surrounded 17 Mount Idaho volunteers: two were killed and three wounded before cavalrymen from Cottonwood came out to rescue them. Meanwhile, Chief Joseph's people, screened by this well-planned diversionary skirmish, crossed the prairie to join their allies on the Clearwater. From there the Indians retired across the mountains to Montana, where the Nez Perce War ended three months later. We held our old camp, going nowhere. But next sun the families moved to a spring, Piswah Ilppilp Pah [Place of Red Rock]. While this was doing, a small bunch of young warriors went separately. No old men among us. Coming to the wagon road, we looked in the direction of the ferry [Craig's Ferry]. We saw them -- about twenty armed horsemen. Not uniformed soldiers, but more like citizens. Not riding in close company, but strung out along the road. When they saw us, they bunched and came a little faster. Came straight towards us! Seemed to me they cared not for us. Drawing closer, they appeard mail carriers [couriers]. We now knew there was to be a fight. Yellow Wolf, July 5, 1877

	State: Idaho Unit: Upper Clearwater/ White Bird