Move your mouse pointer over the numbers
on the map to learn more about the battlefield.
The six day battle and resulting seige at the Bear Paw Battlefield marked the end of the Nez Perce War of 1877. After a summer of clashing with U.S. Army troops, the Nez Perce were overtaken and pinned down on the battlefield by cannon and rifle fire. When Chief Joseph agreed to cease fighting and end the seige, over 400 men, women and children were taken as prisoners by Colonel Nelson A. Miles. Instead of being allowed to return to their homeland, as was originally negotiated, all were sent to Oklahoma Indian territory. Not until 1885 would Joseph be able to gain permission for them to return to the Northwest.
Other small groups of Nez Perce, including one led by Chief White Bird, escaped to Canada and found refuge for the winter with Sitting Bull and the Hunkpapa Sioux. Many would eventually make the difficult journey home to the Northwest and begin to rebuild their lives.
