Nez Perce Camp at Big Hole, Montana, by the National Park Service.
The Battle of the Big Hole was fought in Beaverhead County, Montana, on August 9-10, 1877, between the U.S. Army and the Nez Perce tribe. This was just one of a series of engagements between U.S. troops during the Nez Perce War. After the Battle of Clearwater, Idaho, the Indians crossed into Montana under Chief Joseph and other leaders.
Nez Perce War, Frank Leslie’s Newspaper, 1877.
When the Nez Perce first met explorers in 1805, they were one of the biggest tribes in the nation, with 13 million acres of aboriginal land. During the next 70 years, they would lose most of their homeland to European Americans. In 1877, the U.S. government gave the non-treaty Nez Perce 30 days to move onto a reservation or be put there by force. Instead, the tribe gathered all their belongings, including livestock, and fled.
By early August, over 800 Indians, mainly consisting of family groups, about 200 warriors, and over 2000 horses, passed peacefully through the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. Their leaders believed the military would not pursue them. They encamped in the Big Hole Basin in southwest Montana.
Unknown to the Nez Perce, Colonel John Gibbon, 161 soldiers and one howitzer were following them. Gibbon also collected 45 civilian volunteers in the Bitterroot Valley. On August 8, while the tribe was gathering supplies in the area, military scouts were observing their camp.
Big Hole Battlefield, Montana, by the National Park Service.
With orders to take no prisoners and make no negotiations, Colonel John Gibbon and his men attacked at dawn the next day. Gibbon and his men inflicted severe casualties before a vigorous counterattack drove him back and allowed the Nez Perce to escape. In the conflict, 29 soldiers were killed and 40 wounded; 89 Indians were killed.
The battle is generally considered a tactical victory for the Nez Perce, who held the soldiers at siege long enough to bury their dead, gather their camp, and escape with most of their horses. However, their great losses were devastating and contributed to their ultimate defeat two months later.
Today, the Big Hole Battlefield is recognized and honored as a historic site and a memorial for those who lost their lives in the battle. The National Park Service operates the 655-acre site. It is located ten miles west of Wisdom, Montana, on Montana Highway 43.
Contact Information:
Big Hole National Battlefield
P.O. Box 237
Wisdom, Montana 59761
(406) 689-3155
Compiled & edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated March 2024.
Also See:
Indian Wars, Battles & Massacres Across America
Nez Perce – A Hard Fight For Their Homeland
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