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Nez Perce National Historical Park stretches across four states and includes 38 sites. Of these, the Spalding Site and Visitor's Center is one of the leading destinations. In 1838, the Rev. Henry Spalding established a mission near this location. The federal government established a Bureau of Indian Affairs office here in 1861. In 1935, the state of Idaho reserved funds to preserve the site and Congress created the Nez Perce National Historical Park thirty years later. Today the site is the home of a visitor's center and museum that display artifacts dating back hundreds of years. 

Spalding Visitor Center, Nez Perce National Historical Park

The Nez Perce originally occupied about 17 million acres spanning present-day Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Rather than accept a new treaty that most Nez Perce leaders did not sign, Chief Joseph led 750 Nez Perce on a prolonged journey to secure a new homeland. As many as 2,000 US troops pursued the tribe, leading to several battles and a journey that spanned three states and 1,200 miles. This "virtual tour" includes several of the most important sites along that route.

A Concise History Competition
for land between incoming settlers and the Nez Perce led to in the Nez Perce
War of 1877. The Nez Perce were known as a peaceful tribe with strategic
warriors and as breeders of the Appaloosa horse. The Nez Perce originally
occupied about 17 million acres spanning present-day Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho. As the white settlers flocked to the Pacific Northwest pursuing land and
later gold, the Nez Perce faced increasing pressure from the settlers and the
United States government to relocate from their ancestral lands and lifestyles.
In 1855, Old Chief Joseph, the revered father of (Young) Chief Joseph, helped
the United States government create a treaty giving all of the Wallowa Country
to the Nez Perce.After
more gold was discovered there another treaty took ninety percent, six million
acres, of Nez Perce land away eight years later in 1863. Feeling betrayed, Old
Chief Joseph denounced the United States, burned his American flag and Bible,
and refused to sign the second treaty unlike many other Nez Perce bands. Those
who ratified the treaty relocated to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho Territory.
The United States government held all Nez Perce to the treaty, although only
one-third of the Nez Perce chiefs signed it. 



In
1873, President Ulysses S. Grant issued an Executive Order that divided the
land of the Wallowa Country into homestead sites and an Indian reservation.
Caving to pressure from white settlers, President Grant revoked part of the
order protecting some of the valley for the Nez Perce, essentially opening it
all to settlers and closing it partially to the Nez Perce. The revised order
set aside part of the valley for settlers by prohibiting the Nez Perce’s presence
there, but through lack of enforcement allowed settlers to trespass onto the
Nez Perce’s land. &nbsp;As many as thirty Nez
Perce died at the hands of settlers during the 1860’s and 70’s; yet few of
those accused were ever brought to trial and even so, none were found guilty
for their crimes.&nbsp;

The
tension reached a boiling point when two settlers accused the Nez Perce of
stealing horses and shot one of Young Chief Joseph’s close friends, Wind
Blowing; the horses were later found on the settler’s own property. Fearing the
Nez Perce’s retaliation, the settlers of the Wallowa Country demanded
government intervention. Major Henry Clay Wood held a council at Fort Lapwai to
resolve the situation and promised the Nez Perce representatives that the
settlers who killed Wind Blowing would be held accountable to the law. However,
the men walked free despite Major Wood and General Howard’s best efforts. 

In
May 1877, the United States government ordered the Wallowa band of Nez Perce to
leave under an 1863 treaty, which Old Chief Joseph never signed. They were
allowed thirty days to gather their cattle and two thousand horses and move
from Wallowa County to resettle in Lapwai, Idaho. After Federal officials
ignored Young Chief Joseph’s pleas for the Nez Perce people, the tribe met the
deadline. With approximately 750 Nez Perce—500 of which were women, children,
and elderly—Chief Joseph embarked on a prolonged battle that spanned three
states and 1,200 miles with over 2,000 soldiers involved. 

Originally,
the Nez Perce chiefs made the difficult decision to relocate to the Lapwai
Reservation to preserve the Nez Perce to posterity. However, on the eve of
their departure, twenty of the bands’ youth avenged the wrongful deaths of
their brethren by killing about twenty settlers. Left with few choices, the Nez
Perce began to flee and fight. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian
accompanying the U.S. Army under General Howard shot and killed a Nez Perce
representative waving a truce flag. Betrayed and threatened, the Nez Perce
strategically attacked the numerically superior U.S. Army at White Bird Creek
on June 17, 1877, inflicting heavy causalities and suffering only a handful.
The Nez Perce battled their way to Yellowstone National Park to find refuge
with their allies the Crows. Afraid of the U.S. Army’s potential retaliation
for sheltering the Nez Perce, the Crows turned them away. The Nez Perce then
fled wholeheartedly to Canada, as Sitting Bull had before them. At the Battle
of Bear Paw, forty miles from projected freedom in Canada, the Nez Perce’s epic
journey ended after a five-day battle and siege. Chief Joseph delivered his
famous words “I Will Fight No More Forever” and made a treaty with General
Miles permitting the Nez Perce people to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation in
Idaho, as was originally intended.

However,
the United States government failed to recognize the treaty forged between
Chief Joseph and General Miles, instead sending the Nez Perce to reservations in
Kansas and later Oklahoma before eventually allowing them to return to the
Pacific Northwest. The Nez Perce’s journey was not made in vain. Their epic
struggle was well documented in the newspapers and garnered public sympathy for
the Native Americans’ cause. Chief Joseph, called “the Red Napoleon” although
he was not the Nez Perce’s military strategist or war chief, became a political
advocate and spoke in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Native American’s
plight. Four thousand Nez Perce live on reservations in the Pacific Northwest
today, continuing the legacy of the historic Nez Perce.

The Nez Perce were the last major tribe to be driven from their land by the U.S. government. Chief Joseph led the tribe in the decision to move peaceably from their ancestral lands in Wallowa County in present-day Oregon to the Lapwai Reservation in present-day Idaho. On the eve of their scheduled departure twenty of their youth avenged the wrongful deaths of their brethren and killed about twenty settlers. The seven hundred fifty member tribe, two hundred of which were warriors, embarked on a 1,200 mile journey to find refuge while fleeing the pursuing U.S. Army. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian with the U.S. Army shot and killed a Nez Perce representative carrying a truce flag. At the Battle of the Clearwater, about one hundred fifty Nez Perce held back General Howard’s forces while the rest of the tribe slipped past and began their journey on the Lolo Trail. When the Nez Perce reached their allies, the Crows, on their reservation in present-day Yellowstone National Park, the Crows refused them refuge, fearful of consequences from the U.S. government. The Nez Perce then fled toward refuge in Canada until the U.S. Army converged upon them forty miles from the border at the Battle of Bear Paw. There, the Nez Perce surrendered.  

The Battle of White Bird Creek, following several skirmishes, was the first battle of the Nez Perce War of 1877. Forced off their land by the 1863 treaty that was signed by only a fraction of the Nez Perce but applied to all, the Nez Perce of Wallowa Country prepared begrudgingly to move to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho. Despite orders from their chiefs, several Nez Perce youth extracted revenge for the murder of their people by neighboring white settlers by killing twenty of the neighboring whites on the eve of their departure. Fearing repercussions, the Nez Perce fled to White Bird Creek where they sent a Nez Perce carrying a truce flag to negotiate with the pursuing U.S. Army. A civilian accompanying the army shot the Nez Perce representative who carried a truce flag.  Betrayed and threatened by the death of their comrade, the Nez Perce strategically attacked the numerically superior U.S. Army at White Bird Creek on June 17, 1877. There, the U.S. Army suffered heavy casualties, but the Nez Perce suffered only a handful. After turning back the forces under General Howard, the Nez Perce decided against pursuing them in their retreat and instead crossed the Salmon River to avoid further military skirmishes. When General Howard crossed the Salmon River in pursuit, the Nez Perce avoided them again by returning to the Camas Prairie, then moving to the south fork of the Clearwater. Unlike the U.S. Army, the Nez Perce had suffered almost no losses. 

The Nez Perce Trail Entry 1: Battle of White Bird Creek

A Concise History Competition
for land between incoming settlers and the Nez Perce led to in the Nez Perce
War of 1877. The Nez Perce were known as a peaceful tribe with strategic
warriors and as breeders of the Appaloosa horse. The Nez Perce originally
occupied about 17 million acres spanning present-day Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho. As the white settlers flocked to the Pacific Northwest pursuing land and
later gold, the Nez Perce faced increasing pressure from the settlers and the
United States government to relocate from their ancestral lands and lifestyles.
In 1855, Old Chief Joseph, the revered father of (Young) Chief Joseph, helped
the United States government create a treaty giving all of the Wallowa Country
to the Nez Perce.

After
more gold was discovered there another treaty took ninety percent, six million
acres, of Nez Perce land away eight years later in 1863. Feeling betrayed, Old
Chief Joseph denounced the United States, burned his American flag and Bible,
and refused to sign the second treaty unlike many other Nez Perce bands. Those
who ratified the treaty relocated to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho Territory.
The United States government held all Nez Perce to the treaty, although only
one-third of the Nez Perce chiefs signed it. 

In
1873, President Ulysses S. Grant issued an Executive Order that divided the
land of the Wallowa Country into homestead sites and an Indian reservation.
Caving to pressure from white settlers, President Grant revoked part of the
order protecting some of the valley for the Nez Perce, essentially opening it
all to settlers and closing it partially to the Nez Perce. The revised order
set aside part of the valley for settlers by prohibiting the Nez Perce’s presence
there, but through lack of enforcement allowed settlers to trespass onto the
Nez Perce’s land. &nbsp;As many as thirty Nez
Perce died at the hands of settlers during the 1860’s and 70’s; yet few of
those accused were ever brought to trial and even so, none were found guilty
for their crimes.&nbsp;

The
tension reached a boiling point when two settlers accused the Nez Perce of
stealing horses and shot one of Young Chief Joseph’s close friends, Wind
Blowing; the horses were later found on the settler’s own property. Fearing the
Nez Perce’s retaliation, the settlers of the Wallowa Country demanded
government intervention. Major Henry Clay Wood held a council at Fort Lapwai to
resolve the situation and promised the Nez Perce representatives that the
settlers who killed Wind Blowing would be held accountable to the law. However,
the men walked free despite Major Wood and General Howard’s best efforts. 

In
May 1877, the United States government ordered the Wallowa band of Nez Perce to
leave under an 1863 treaty, which Old Chief Joseph never signed. They were
allowed thirty days to gather their cattle and two thousand horses and move
from Wallowa County to resettle in Lapwai, Idaho. After Federal officials
ignored Young Chief Joseph’s pleas for the Nez Perce people, the tribe met the
deadline. With approximately 750 Nez Perce—500 of which were women, children,
and elderly—Chief Joseph embarked on a prolonged battle that spanned three
states and 1,200 miles with over 2,000 soldiers involved. 

Originally,
the Nez Perce chiefs made the difficult decision to relocate to the Lapwai
Reservation to preserve the Nez Perce to posterity. However, on the eve of
their departure, twenty of the bands’ youth avenged the wrongful deaths of
their brethren by killing about twenty settlers. Left with few choices, the Nez
Perce began to flee and fight. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian
accompanying the U.S. Army under General Howard shot and killed a Nez Perce
representative waving a truce flag. Betrayed and threatened, the Nez Perce
strategically attacked the numerically superior U.S. Army at White Bird Creek
on June 17, 1877, inflicting heavy causalities and suffering only a handful.
The Nez Perce battled their way to Yellowstone National Park to find refuge
with their allies the Crows. Afraid of the U.S. Army’s potential retaliation
for sheltering the Nez Perce, the Crows turned them away. The Nez Perce then
fled wholeheartedly to Canada, as Sitting Bull had before them. At the Battle
of Bear Paw, forty miles from projected freedom in Canada, the Nez Perce’s epic
journey ended after a five-day battle and siege. Chief Joseph delivered his
famous words “I Will Fight No More Forever” and made a treaty with General
Miles permitting the Nez Perce people to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation in
Idaho, as was originally intended.

However,
the United States government failed to recognize the treaty forged between
Chief Joseph and General Miles, instead sending the Nez Perce to reservations in
Kansas and later Oklahoma before eventually allowing them to return to the
Pacific Northwest. The Nez Perce’s journey was not made in vain. Their epic
struggle was well documented in the newspapers and garnered public sympathy for
the Native Americans’ cause. Chief Joseph, called “the Red Napoleon” although
he was not the Nez Perce’s military strategist or war chief, became a political
advocate and spoke in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Native American’s
plight. Four thousand Nez Perce live on reservations in the Pacific Northwest
today, continuing the legacy of the historic Nez Perce.

The Nez Perce were the last major tribe to be driven from their land by the U.S. government. Chief Joseph led the tribe in the decision to move peaceably from their ancestral lands in Wallowa County in present-day Oregon to the Lapwai Reservation in present-day Idaho. On the eve of their scheduled departure twenty of their youth avenged the wrongful deaths of their brethren and killed about twenty settlers. The seven hundred fifty member tribe, two hundred of which were warriors, embarked on a 1,200 mile journey to find refuge while fleeing the pursuing U.S. Army. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian with the U.S. Army shot and killed a Nez Perce representative carrying a truce flag. At the Battle of the Clearwater, about one hundred fifty Nez Perce held back General Howard’s forces while the rest of the tribe slipped past and began their journey on the Lolo Trail. When the Nez Perce reached their allies, the Crows, on their reservation in present-day Yellowstone National Park, the Crows refused them refuge, fearful of consequences from the U.S. government. The Nez Perce then fled toward refuge in Canada until the U.S. Army converged upon them forty miles from the border at the Battle of Bear Paw. There, the Nez Perce surrendered.  

On July 12th at the Battle of the Clearwater the Nez Perce met General Howard’s forces. Most of the army’s movements occurred on a broad plateau immediately east and southeast of Stites. The Nez Perce took refuge in the ravines where they built stone rifle pits, barricades, and a smoking lodge that are still visible today, although generally collapsed. One Nez Perce burial occurred here. After realizing that General Howard would continue to pursue them, the Nez Perce reevaluated their plan and instead decided to move east to visit their Crow allies in Yellowstone National Park, Montana. Upon entering Montana, the Nez Perce encountered a small military force from Missoula that failed to hinder their progress to Lolo Creek. Twenty-four brave Nez Perce blocked General Howard’s six hundred solider advance and one hundred additional Native warriors pinned him down in the rifle pits for a day. The entire Nez Perce camp moved slowly past General Howard and entered the Lolo Trail toward Montana as their one hundred and fifty Nez Perce occupied his attention.

The Nez Perce Trail Entry 2: Battle of the Clearwater

A Concise History of the Nez Perce War Competition
for land between incoming settlers and the Nez Perce led to in the Nez Perce
War of 1877. The Nez Perce were known as a peaceful tribe with strategic
warriors and as breeders of the Appaloosa horse. The Nez Perce originally
occupied about 17 million acres spanning present-day Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho. As the white settlers flocked to the Pacific Northwest pursuing land and
later gold, the Nez Perce faced increasing pressure from the settlers and the
United States government to relocate from their ancestral lands and lifestyles.
In 1855, Old Chief Joseph, the revered father of (Young) Chief Joseph, helped
the United States government create a treaty giving all of the Wallowa Country
to the Nez Perce.After
more gold was discovered there another treaty took ninety percent, six million
acres, of Nez Perce land away eight years later in 1863. Feeling betrayed, Old
Chief Joseph denounced the United States, burned his American flag and Bible,
and refused to sign the second treaty unlike many other Nez Perce bands. Those
who ratified the treaty relocated to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho Territory.
The United States government held all Nez Perce to the treaty, although only
one-third of the Nez Perce chiefs signed it. 



In
1873, President Ulysses S. Grant issued an Executive Order that divided the
land of the Wallowa Country into homestead sites and an Indian reservation.
Caving to pressure from white settlers, President Grant revoked part of the
order protecting some of the valley for the Nez Perce, essentially opening it
all to settlers and closing it partially to the Nez Perce. The revised order
set aside part of the valley for settlers by prohibiting the Nez Perce’s presence
there, but through lack of enforcement allowed settlers to trespass onto the
Nez Perce’s land. &nbsp;As many as thirty Nez
Perce died at the hands of settlers during the 1860’s and 70’s; yet few of
those accused were ever brought to trial and even so, none were found guilty
for their crimes.&nbsp;The
tension reached a boiling point when two settlers accused the Nez Perce of
stealing horses and shot one of Young Chief Joseph’s close friends, Wind
Blowing; the horses were later found on the settler’s own property. Fearing the
Nez Perce’s retaliation, the settlers of the Wallowa Country demanded
government intervention. Major Henry Clay Wood held a council at Fort Lapwai to
resolve the situation and promised the Nez Perce representatives that the
settlers who killed Wind Blowing would be held accountable to the law. However,
the men walked free despite Major Wood and General Howard’s best efforts. 

In
May 1877, the United States government ordered the Wallowa band of Nez Perce to
leave under an 1863 treaty, which Old Chief Joseph never signed. They were
allowed thirty days to gather their cattle and two thousand horses and move
from Wallowa County to resettle in Lapwai, Idaho. After Federal officials
ignored Young Chief Joseph’s pleas for the Nez Perce people, the tribe met the
deadline. With approximately 750 Nez Perce—500 of which were women, children,
and elderly—Chief Joseph embarked on a prolonged battle that spanned three
states and 1,200 miles with over 2,000 soldiers involved. 

Originally,
the Nez Perce chiefs made the difficult decision to relocate to the Lapwai
Reservation to preserve the Nez Perce to posterity. However, on the eve of
their departure, twenty of the bands’ youth avenged the wrongful deaths of
their brethren by killing about twenty settlers. Left with few choices, the Nez
Perce began to flee and fight. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian
accompanying the U.S. Army under General Howard shot and killed a Nez Perce
representative waving a truce flag. Betrayed and threatened, the Nez Perce
strategically attacked the numerically superior U.S. Army at White Bird Creek
on June 17, 1877, inflicting heavy causalities and suffering only a handful.
The Nez Perce battled their way to Yellowstone National Park to find refuge
with their allies the Crows. Afraid of the U.S. Army’s potential retaliation
for sheltering the Nez Perce, the Crows turned them away. The Nez Perce then
fled wholeheartedly to Canada, as Sitting Bull had before them. At the Battle
of Bear Paw, forty miles from projected freedom in Canada, the Nez Perce’s epic
journey ended after a five-day battle and siege. Chief Joseph delivered his
famous words “I Will Fight No More Forever” and made a treaty with General
Miles permitting the Nez Perce people to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation in
Idaho, as was originally intended.

However,
the United States government failed to recognize the treaty forged between
Chief Joseph and General Miles, instead sending the Nez Perce to reservations in
Kansas and later Oklahoma before eventually allowing them to return to the
Pacific Northwest. The Nez Perce’s journey was not made in vain. Their epic
struggle was well documented in the newspapers and garnered public sympathy for
the Native Americans’ cause. Chief Joseph, called “the Red Napoleon” although
he was not the Nez Perce’s military strategist or war chief, became a political
advocate and spoke in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Native American’s
plight. Four thousand Nez Perce live on reservations in the Pacific Northwest
today, continuing the legacy of the historic Nez Perce.

Lolo Pass is a trail that crosses the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Mountains between Montana and Idaho. A National Historic Landmark and also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was here in September 1805 that the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled westward on their journey towards the Pacific Ocean. Their successful completion of this part of their journey generated widespread acclaim more than any other portion of the expedition. A newly-remodeled visitor's center was completed in 2003 that includes interpretive exhibits about the Lewis and Clark Expedition as well as the Nez Perce.

﻿﻿The pass received notoriety once again during the Nez Perce War of 1877. Nez Perce chiefs, including Chief Joseph, led their tribe, which included cattle, across the pass from Idaho into Montana territory trying to escape the U.S. Army, which had been attempting to forcefully remove the Nez Perce out of their traditional homeland. The tribe and army fought a battle not long after on August 9-10 and both sides suffered casualties, though it was worse for the Nez Perce who suffered from 70-90 deaths while the army lost 31 soldiers. The tribe continued to head northwards towards Canada before surrendering in September.

The Nez Perce were the last major tribe to be driven from their land by the U.S. government. Chief Joseph led the tribe in the decision to move peaceably from their ancestral lands in Wallowa County in present-day Oregon to the Lapwai Reservation in present-day Idaho. On the eve of their scheduled departure twenty of their youth avenged the wrongful deaths of their brethren and killed about twenty settlers. The seven hundred fifty member tribe, two hundred of which were warriors, embarked on a 1,200 mile journey to find refuge while fleeing the pursuing U.S. Army. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian with the U.S. Army shot and killed a Nez Perce representative carrying a truce flag. At the Battle of the Clearwater, about one hundred fifty Nez Perce held back General Howard’s forces while the rest of the tribe slipped past and began their journey on the Lolo Trail. When the Nez Perce reached their allies, the Crows, on their reservation in present-day Yellowstone National Park, the Crows refused them refuge, fearful of consequences from the U.S. government. The Nez Perce then fled toward refuge in Canada until the U.S. Army converged upon them forty miles from the border at the Battle of Bear Paw. There, the Nez Perce surrendered.  

The Nez Perce traveled the Lolo Trail to reach their Crow allies in Yellowstone National Park. The Nez Perce traversed about one hundred of the Lolo Trail, which partially follows present-day U.S. Highway 12. The Nez Perce historically used the Lolo Trial to hunt buffalo, which allowed them to fair significantly better than the soldiers that pursued them. The U.S. Army crossed the mountains to the Salmon River where they found the river impassable. In response, they traded for packhorses and hired a Native American guide to lead them across the mountains. The soldiers, tired, ill-fed, and repeatedly beaten by the Nez Perce, struggled in the early snow along steep ridges. The Nez Perce and U.S. Army trod upon the pass that the Lewis and Clark party crossed on September 15, 1805. Although the Nez Perce caused many solider fatalities through self-defense, they sought to live in peace with their Crow allies; the Nez Perce hadn’t strayed from the Lewis and Clark expedition’s description—a peaceful tribe with strategic warriors.

Visitors can retrace the route that the Nez Perce took over the Bitterroot Mountains in 1877 on U.S. Highway 12 or on a primitive dirt road known as the Lolo Motorway (Forest Road 500). 

The Nez Perce Trail Entry 3: The Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass Visitor's Center

Competition for land between incoming settlers and the Nez Perce led to in the Nez Perce War of 1877. The Nez Perce were known as a peaceful tribe with strategic warriors and as breeders of the Appaloosa horse. The Nez Perce originally occupied about 17 million acres spanning present-day Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. As the white settlers flocked to the Pacific Northwest pursuing land and later gold, the Nez Perce faced increasing pressure from the settlers and the United States government to relocate from their ancestral lands and lifestyles. In 1855, Old Chief Joseph, the revered father of (Young) Chief Joseph, helped the United States government create a treaty giving all of the Wallowa Country to the Nez Perce. 

After more gold was discovered there another treaty took ninety percent, six million acres, of Nez Perce land away eight years later in 1863. Feeling betrayed, Old Chief Joseph denounced the United States, burned his American flag and Bible, and refused to sign the second treaty, unlike many other Nez Perce bands. Those who ratified the treaty relocated to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho Territory. The United States government held all Nez Perce to the treaty, although only one-third of the Nez Perce chiefs signed it.&nbsp;In 1873, President Ulysses S. Grant issued an Executive Order that divided the land of the Wallowa Country into homestead sites and an Indian reservation. Caving to pressure from white settlers, President Grant revoked part of the order protecting some of the valley for the Nez Perce, essentially opening it all to settlers and closing it partially to the Nez Perce. The revised order set aside part of the valley for settlers by prohibiting the Nez Perce’s presence there, but through lack of enforcement allowed settlers to trespass onto the Nez Perce’s land. &nbsp;As many as thirty Nez Perce died at the hands of settlers during the 1860’s and 70’s; yet few of those accused were ever brought to trial and even so, none were found guilty for their crimes.&nbsp;

The tension reached a boiling point when two settlers accused the Nez Perce of stealing horses and shot one of Young Chief Joseph’s close friends, Wind Blowing; the horses were later found on the settler’s own property. Fearing the Nez Perce’s retaliation, the settlers of the Wallowa Country demanded government intervention. Major Henry Clay Wood held a council at Fort Lapwai to resolve the situation and promised the Nez Perce representatives that the settlers who killed Wind Blowing would be held accountable to the law. However, the men walked free despite Major Wood and General Howard’s best efforts.

In May 1877, the United States government ordered the Wallowa band of Nez Perce to leave under an 1863 treaty, which Old Chief Joseph never signed. They were allowed thirty days to gather their cattle and two thousand horses and move from Wallowa County to resettle in Lapwai, Idaho. After Federal officials ignored Young Chief Joseph’s pleas for the Nez Perce people, the tribe met the deadline. With approximately 750 Nez Perce—500 of which were women, children, and elderly—Chief Joseph embarked on a prolonged battle that spanned three states and 1,200 miles with over 2,000 soldiers involved.

Originally, the Nez Perce chiefs made the difficult decision to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation to preserve the Nez Perce to posterity. However, on the eve of their departure, twenty of the bands’ youth avenged the wrongful deaths of their brethren by killing about twenty settlers. Left with few choices, the Nez Perce began to flee and fight. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian accompanying the U.S. Army under General Howard shot and killed a Nez Perce representative waving a truce flag. Betrayed and threatened, the Nez Perce strategically attacked the numerically superior U.S. Army at White Bird Creek on June 17, 1877, inflicting heavy causalities and suffering only a handful. The Nez Perce battled their way to Yellowstone National Park to find refuge with their allies the Crows. Afraid of the U.S. Army’s potential retaliation for sheltering the Nez Perce, the Crows turned them away. The Nez Perce then fled wholeheartedly to Canada, as Sitting Bull had before them. At the Battle of Bear Paw, forty miles from projected freedom in Canada, the Nez Perce’s epic journey ended after a five-day battle and siege. Chief Joseph delivered his famous words “I Will Fight No More Forever” and made a treaty with General Miles permitting the Nez Perce people to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho, as was originally intended.

However, the United States government failed to recognize the treaty forged between Chief Joseph and General Miles, instead sending the Nez Perce to reservations in Kansas and later Oklahoma before eventually allowing them to return to the Pacific Northwest. The Nez Perce’s journey was not made in vain. Their epic struggle was well documented in the newspapers and garnered public sympathy for the Native Americans’ cause. Chief Joseph, called “the Red Napoleon” although he was not the Nez Perce’s military strategist or war chief, became a political advocate and spoke in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Native American’s plight. Four thousand Nez Perce live on reservations in the Pacific Northwest today, continuing the legacy of the historic Nez Perce.

Near or at this general location on August 23, 1877, Nez Perce warriors fleeing federal troops entered into Yellowstone National Park in search of refuge with their allies, the Crow. Fearing the consequences of protecting the Nez Perce from the US Army, the Crow refused sanctuary and the army pursued and nearly captured the Nez Perce in Yellowstone at several moments during a two-week pursuit that saw a number of atrocities committed by and against the Nez Perce. Congress established the National Park in 1872 and the Nez Perce encountered two groups of adventurists and considered kidnapping them and using them as leverage. The Nez Perce were nearly trapped in Yellowstone's canyons but were able to leave the area by traveling along Crandall Creek to reach the northwest boundary of the park. From there, they attempted to reach Canada. 

The Nez Perce were the last major tribe to be driven from their land by the U.S. government. Chief Joseph led the tribe in the decision to move peaceably from their ancestral lands in Wallowa County in present-day Oregon to the Lapwai Reservation in present-day Idaho. 

On the eve of their scheduled departure, twenty of their youth avenged the wrongful deaths of their brethren and killed about twenty settlers. The seven hundred fifty member tribe, two hundred of which were warriors, embarked on a 1,200-mile journey to find refuge while fleeing the pursuing U.S. Army. At the Battle of White Bird Creek, a civilian with the U.S. Army shot and killed a Nez Perce representative carrying a truce flag. At the Battle of the Clearwater, about 150 Nez Perce held back General Howard’s forces while the rest of the tribe slipped past and began their journey on the Lolo Trail. 

When the Nez Perce reached their allies, the Crows, on their reservation in present-day Yellowstone National Park, the Crows refused them refuge, fearful of consequences from the U.S. government. The Nez Perce then fled toward refuge in Canada until the U.S. Army converged upon them forty miles from the border at the Battle of Bear Paw. There, the Nez Perce surrendered.

The Nez Perce fled from the pursuing U.S. Army to what is now Yellowstone National Park to seek refuge with their allies, the Crows. However, when the seven hundred fifty Nez Perce arrived, the Crows were afraid of the U.S. Army’s retaliation if they sheltered the object of their pursuit and refused to give them sanctuary. The Nez Perce then set their sights on urgently fleeing to Canada like Sitting Bull had before them. If captured by the U.S. Army, the Nez Perce faced relocation on the Lapwai Reservation, and the Nez Perce youth, who killed twenty settlers of Wallowa Country, faced severe punishment. 

The Nez Perce Trail Entry 4: The Nez Perce enter Yellowstone

After the 7th Cavalry caught up to the Nez Perce, a&nbsp;skirmish commenced between the two sides with minimal casualties. Both sides maneuvered around the canyons and plateaus trying to gain an advantage. Despite the many maneuvers,&nbsp;neither side could gain a real advantage. The Nez Perce took advantage of the cavalry's failure to surround them and escaped their pursuers once again. They continued to flee towards Canada but were enventually stopped short of their objective. The Battle of Canyon Creek resulted in three&nbsp;3 deaths and 11 wounded for the 7th Cavalry while the Nez Perce only lost one warrior. This short battle was only one engagement in a series of clashes between the Nez Perce and 7th Cavalry who were pursued the tribe all the way to Canada.&nbsp;

A historical marker was dedicated at this location to commemorates the Battle of Canyon Creek on September 13, 1877. In this battle, the Nez Perce Indian tribe was intercepted by the United States 7th Calvary. In the months leading up to the battle, Nez Perce who did not sign treaties challenged the authority of those agreements, leading to a confrontation and the tribe's decision to flee from US troops. The Nez Perce sought aide from the Crow Tribe and the Lakota tribe, but both denied their request for fear of reprisal. In response, the Nez Perce turned north and tried to flee to the safety of Canada while the 7th Cavalry pursued them. The Battle of Canyon Creek ensued near this location when the 7th Cavalry caught up to the tribe. 

Battle of Canyon Creek Historical Marker 

The Battle of Bear Paw, the final battle of the Nez Perce War, occurred at this location on October 5, 1877. After years of resistance and a grueling campaign in which the Nez Perce evaded a pursuing federal army as they attempted to reach Canada, Chief Joseph gave a famous speech after the battle, declaring "from where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." The National Park Service offers brochures and a website while the Blaine County Museum in Chinook offers an audio/visual presentation called "40 Miles to Freedom" that shows the battle and siege at Bear Paw. Visitors can also hike a battlefield trail and visit the nearby Blaine County Museum in Chinook for more information. This museum has many exhibits on local history, wildlife, and paleontology and with a bookstore. A Concise History of the Nez Perce War Competition
for land between incoming settlers and the Nez Perce led to in the Nez Perce
War of 1877. The Nez Perce were known as a peaceful tribe with strategic
warriors and as breeders of the Appaloosa horse. The Nez Perce originally
occupied about 17 million acres spanning present-day Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho. As the white settlers flocked to the Pacific Northwest pursuing land and
later gold, the Nez Perce faced increasing pressure from the settlers and the
United States government to relocate from their ancestral lands and lifestyles.
In 1855, Old Chief Joseph, the revered father of (Young) Chief Joseph, helped
the United States government create a treaty giving all of the Wallowa Country
to the Nez Perce.After
more gold was discovered there another treaty took ninety percent, six million
acres, of Nez Perce land away eight years later in 1863. Feeling betrayed, Old
Chief Joseph denounced the United States, burned his American flag and Bible,
and refused to sign the second treaty unlike many other Nez Perce bands. Those
who ratified the treaty relocated to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho Territory.
The United States government held all Nez Perce to the treaty, although only
one-third of the Nez Perce chiefs signed it. 



In
1873, President Ulysses S. Grant issued an Executive Order that divided the
land of the Wallowa Country into homestead sites and an Indian reservation.
Caving to pressure from white settlers, President Grant revoked part of the
order protecting some of the valley for the Nez Perce, essentially opening it
all to settlers and closing it partially to the Nez Perce. The revised order
set aside part of the valley for settlers by prohibiting the Nez Perce’s presence
there, but through lack of enforcement allowed settlers to trespass onto the
Nez Perce’s land. &nbsp;As many as thirty Nez
Perce died at the hands of settlers during the 1860’s and 70’s; yet few of
those accused were ever brought to trial and even so, none were found guilty
for their crimes.&nbsp;Competition
for land between incoming settlers and the native Nez Perce manifested in the
Nez Perce War of 1877. The Nez Perce originally occupied about 17 million acres
spanning Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The Nez Perce are known as breeders of
the Appaloosa, a horse breed, and a peaceful tribe with strategic warriors. As
the white settlers flocked to the Pacific Northwest pursuing land and later
gold, the Nez Perce faced increasing pressure from the settlers and the United
States government to relocate from their ancestral lands and lifestyles. In
1855, Old Chief Joseph helped the United States government create a treaty
giving all of the Wallowa Country to the Nez Perce.

Eight
years later in 1863, another treaty took ninety percent, six million acres, of
Nez Perce land away after more gold was discovered there. Feeling betrayed, Old
Chief Joseph denounced the United States, burned his American flag and Bible,
and refused to sign the second treaty unlike many other Nez Perce bands who
signed and relocated to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho Territory. The United
States government held all Nez Perce to the treaty, although only 1/3 of the
Nez Perce chiefs signed it. In 1873, President Ulysses S. Grant issued an
Executive Order that divided the land of the Wallowa Country into homestead
sites and an Indian reservation. Caving to pressure from white settlers,
President Grant revoked the order protecting part of the valley for the Nez
Perce, essentially opening it all to settlers and closing it partially to the
Nez Perce. As many as thirty Nez Perce died at the hands of settlers during the
1860’s and 70’s; yet few of those accused were ever brought to trial and even
so, none were found guilty for their crimes. 

The
tension reached a boiling point when two settlers accused the Nez Perce of
stealing horses and shot one of Young Chief Joseph’s close friends, Wind
Blowing; the horses were later found on the settler’s own property. Fearing the
Nez Perce’s retaliation, the settlers of the Wallowa Country demanded
government intervention. Major Henry Clay Wood held a council at Fort Lapwai to
resolve the situation and promised the Nez Perce representatives that the
settlers who killed Wind Blowing would be held accountable to the law. However,
the men walked free despite Major Wood and General Howard’s best efforts. 

In
May 1877, the United States government ordered the Wallowa band of Nez Perce to
leave under an 1863 treaty, which Old Chief Joseph never signed. They were
allowed thirty days to gather their cattle and two thousand horses and move
from Wallowa County to resettle in Lapwai, Idaho. After Federal officials
ignored Young Chief Joseph’s pleas for the Nez Perce people, the tribe met the
deadline. With approximately 750 Nez Perce—500 of which were women, children,
and elderly—Chief Joseph embarked on a prolonged battle that spanned three
states and 1,200 miles with over 2,000 soldiers involved. 

Originally,
the Nez Perce chiefs made the difficult decision to relocate to the Lapwai
Reservation to preserve the Nez Perce to posterity. However, on the eve of
their departure, twenty of the bands’ youth avenged the wrongful deaths of
their brethren by killing about twenty settlers. Left with few choices, the Nez
Perce began to flee and fight. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian
accompanying the U.S. Army under General Howard shot and killed a Nez Perce
representative waving a truce flag. Betrayed and threatened, the Nez Perce
strategically attacked the numerically superior U.S. Army at White Bird Creek
on June 17, 1877, inflicting heavy causalities and suffering only a handful.
The Nez Perce battled their way to Yellowstone National Park to find refuge
with their allies the Crows. Afraid of the U.S. Army’s potential retaliation
for sheltering the Nez Perce, the Crows turned them away. The Nez Perce then
fled wholeheartedly to Canada, as Sitting Bull had before them. At the Battle
of Bear Paw, forty miles from projected freedom in Canada, the Nez Perce’s epic
journey ended after a five-day battle and siege. Chief Joseph delivered his
famous words “I Will Fight No More Forever” and made a treaty with General
Miles permitting the Nez Perce people to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation in
Idaho, as was originally intended.

However,
the United States government failed to recognize the treaty forged between
Chief Joseph and General Miles, instead sending the Nez Perce to reservations in
Kansas and later Oklahoma before eventually allowing them to return to the
Pacific Northwest. The Nez Perce’s journey was not made in vain. Their epic
struggle was well documented in the newspapers and garnered public sympathy for
the Native Americans’ cause. Chief Joseph, called “the Red Napoleon” although
he was not the Nez Perce’s military strategist or war chief, became a political
advocate and spoke in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Native American’s
plight. Four thousand Nez Perce live on reservations in the Pacific Northwest
today, continuing the legacy of the historic Nez Perce.

The Nez Perce were the last major tribe to be driven from their land by the U.S. government. Chief Joseph led the tribe in the decision to move peaceably from their ancestral lands in Wallowa County in present-day Oregon to the Lapwai Reservation in present-day Idaho. On the eve of their scheduled departure twenty of their youth avenged the wrongful deaths of their brethren and killed about twenty settlers. The seven hundred fifty member tribe, two hundred of which were warriors, embarked on a 1,200 mile journey to find refuge while fleeing the pursuing U.S. Army. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian with the U.S. Army shot and killed a Nez Perce representative carrying a truce flag. At the Battle of the Clearwater, about one hundred fifty Nez Perce held back General Howard’s forces while the rest of the tribe slipped past and began their journey on the Lolo Trail. When the Nez Perce reached their allies, the Crows, on their reservation in present-day Yellowstone National Park, the Crows refused them refuge, fearful of consequences from the U.S. government. The Nez Perce then fled toward refuge in Canada until the U.S. Army converged upon them forty miles from the border at the Battle of Bear Paw. There, the Nez Perce surrendered.  

At the Battle of Bear Paw, the Nez Perce’s journey ended, forty miles from refuge in Canada for those Nez Perce who didn’t escape between solider camps. The Nez Perce were largely able to hold back the attack by General Nelson A. Miles, but were unable to extricate their entire band to travel the forty miles that separated them from their freedom in Canada. After a five-day battle and siege, the Nez Perce—for the first time in four months—ceased to fight on October 5, 1877. It was here that Chief Joseph delivered the speech that would immortalize him in American culture, “I Will Fight No More Forever.” Chief Joseph negotiated a treaty with General Miles permitting the Nez Perce people to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho. Visitors can walk upon the battlefield year-round during daylight hours. The Blaine County Museum offers an audio/visual presentation narrating the last days of the Nez Perce’s journey to freedom.

The Nez Perce Trail Entry 5: Battle of Bear Paw

The Blaine County Museum offers an audio/visual presentation narrating the last days of the Nez Perce’s journey to freedom. The Nez Perce were the last major tribe to be driven from their land by the U.S. government. Chief Joseph led the tribe in the decision to move peaceably from their ancestral lands in Wallowa County in present-day Oregon to the Lapwai Reservation in present-day Idaho. On the eve of their scheduled departure twenty of their youth avenged the wrongful deaths of their brethren and killed about twenty settlers. The seven hundred fifty member tribe, two hundred of which were warriors, embarked on a 1,200 mile journey to find refuge while fleeing the pursuing U.S. Army. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian with the U.S. Army shot and killed a Nez Perce representative carrying a truce flag. At the Battle of the Clearwater, about one hundred fifty Nez Perce held back General Howard’s forces while the rest of the tribe slipped past and began their journey on the Lolo Trail. When the Nez Perce reached their allies, the Crows, on their reservation in present-day Yellowstone National Park, the Crows refused them refuge, fearful of consequences from the U.S. government. The Nez Perce then fled toward refuge in Canada until the U.S. Army converged upon them forty miles from the border at the Battle of Bear Paw. There, the Nez Perce surrendered. &nbsp;<div> </div><div>At the Battle of Bear Paw, the Nez Perce’s journey ended, forty miles from refuge in Canada for those Nez Perce who didn’t escape between solider camps. The Nez Perce were largely able to hold back the attack by General Nelson A. Miles, but were unable to extricate their entire band to travel the forty miles that separated them from their freedom in Canada. After a five-day battle and siege, the Nez Perce—for the first time in four months—ceased to fight on October 5, 1877. It was here that Chief Joseph delivered the speech that would immortalize him in American culture, “I Will Fight No More Forever.” Chief Joseph negotiated a treaty with General Miles permitting the Nez Perce people to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho.&nbsp;</div>A Concise History of the Nez Perce War of 1877 Competition for land between incoming settlers and the Nez Perce led to in the Nez Perce War of 1877. The Nez Perce were known as a peaceful tribe with strategic warriors and as breeders of the Appaloosa horse. The Nez Perce originally occupied about 17 million acres spanning present-day Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. As the white settlers flocked to the Pacific Northwest pursuing land and later gold, the Nez Perce faced increasing pressure from the settlers and the United States government to relocate from their ancestral lands and lifestyles. In 1855, Old Chief Joseph, the revered father of (Young) Chief Joseph, helped the United States government create a treaty giving all of the Wallowa Country to the Nez Perce.After more gold was discovered there another treaty took ninety percent, six million acres, of Nez Perce land away eight years later in 1863. Feeling betrayed, Old Chief Joseph denounced the United States, burned his American flag and Bible, and refused to sign the second treaty unlike many other Nez Perce bands. Those who ratified the treaty relocated to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho Territory. The United States government held all Nez Perce to the treaty, although only one-third of the Nez Perce chiefs signed it.In 1873, President Ulysses S. Grant issued an Executive Order that divided the land of the Wallowa Country into homestead sites and an Indian reservation. Caving to pressure from white settlers, President Grant revoked part of the order protecting some of the valley for the Nez Perce, essentially opening it all to settlers and closing it partially to the Nez Perce. The revised order set aside part of the valley for settlers by prohibiting the Nez Perce’s presence there, but through lack of enforcement allowed settlers to trespass onto the Nez Perce’s land. &nbsp;As many as thirty Nez Perce died at the hands of settlers during the 1860’s and 70’s; yet few of those accused were ever brought to trial and even so, none were found guilty for their crimes.&nbsp;Competition for land between incoming settlers and the native Nez Perce manifested in the Nez Perce War of 1877. The Nez Perce originally occupied about 17 million acres spanning Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The Nez Perce are known as breeders of the Appaloosa, a horse breed, and a peaceful tribe with strategic warriors. As the white settlers flocked to the Pacific Northwest pursuing land and later gold, the Nez Perce faced increasing pressure from the settlers and the United States government to relocate from their ancestral lands and lifestyles. In 1855, Old Chief Joseph helped the United States government create a treaty giving all of the Wallowa Country to the Nez Perce.Eight years later in 1863, another treaty took ninety percent, six million acres, of Nez Perce land away after more gold was discovered there. Feeling betrayed, Old Chief Joseph denounced the United States, burned his American flag and Bible, and refused to sign the second treaty unlike many other Nez Perce bands who signed and relocated to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho Territory. The United States government held all Nez Perce to the treaty, although only 1/3 of the Nez Perce chiefs signed it. In 1873, President Ulysses S. Grant issued an Executive Order that divided the land of the Wallowa Country into homestead sites and an Indian reservation. Caving to pressure from white settlers, President Grant revoked the order protecting part of the valley for the Nez Perce, essentially opening it all to settlers and closing it partially to the Nez Perce. As many as thirty Nez Perce died at the hands of settlers during the 1860’s and 70’s; yet few of those accused were ever brought to trial and even so, none were found guilty for their crimes.The tension reached a boiling point when two settlers accused the Nez Perce of stealing horses and shot one of Young Chief Joseph’s close friends, Wind Blowing; the horses were later found on the settler’s own property. Fearing the Nez Perce’s retaliation, the settlers of the Wallowa Country demanded government intervention. Major Henry Clay Wood held a council at Fort Lapwai to resolve the situation and promised the Nez Perce representatives that the settlers who killed Wind Blowing would be held accountable to the law. However, the men walked free despite Major Wood and General Howard’s best efforts.In May 1877, the United States government ordered the Wallowa band of Nez Perce to leave under an 1863 treaty, which Old Chief Joseph never signed. They were allowed thirty days to gather their cattle and two thousand horses and move from Wallowa County to resettle in Lapwai, Idaho. After Federal officials ignored Young Chief Joseph’s pleas for the Nez Perce people, the tribe met the deadline. With approximately 750 Nez Perce—500 of which were women, children, and elderly—Chief Joseph embarked on a prolonged battle that spanned three states and 1,200 miles with over 2,000 soldiers involved.Originally, the Nez Perce chiefs made the difficult decision to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation to preserve the Nez Perce to posterity. However, on the eve of their departure, twenty of the bands’ youth avenged the wrongful deaths of their brethren by killing about twenty settlers. Left with few choices, the Nez Perce began to flee and fight. At the Battle of White Bird Creek a civilian accompanying the U.S. Army under General Howard shot and killed a Nez Perce representative waving a truce flag. Betrayed and threatened, the Nez Perce strategically attacked the numerically superior U.S. Army at White Bird Creek on June 17, 1877, inflicting heavy causalities and suffering only a handful. The Nez Perce battled their way to Yellowstone National Park to find refuge with their allies the Crows. Afraid of the U.S. Army’s potential retaliation for sheltering the Nez Perce, the Crows turned them away. The Nez Perce then fled wholeheartedly to Canada, as Sitting Bull had before them. At the Battle of Bear Paw, forty miles from projected freedom in Canada, the Nez Perce’s epic journey ended after a five-day battle and siege. Chief Joseph delivered his famous words “I Will Fight No More Forever” and made a treaty with General Miles permitting the Nez Perce people to relocate to the Lapwai Reservation in Idaho, as was originally intended.However, the United States government failed to recognize the treaty forged between Chief Joseph and General Miles, instead sending the Nez Perce to reservations in Kansas and later Oklahoma before eventually allowing them to return to the Pacific Northwest. The Nez Perce’s journey was not made in vain. Their epic struggle was well documented in the newspapers and garnered public sympathy for the Native Americans’ cause. Chief Joseph, called “the Red Napoleon” although he was not the Nez Perce’s military strategist or war chief, became a political advocate and spoke in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Native American’s plight. Four thousand Nez Perce live on reservations in the Pacific Northwest today, continuing the legacy of the historic Nez Perce.

The Blaine County Museum offers a variety of exhibits related to local history and paleontology. The museum has the honor of serving the National Park Service as the interim interpretive museum and visitor's center for the nearby Bear Paw Battlefield. This battlefield was the location of the final battle of the Nez Perce War of 1877. 

Nez Perce War of 1877

Spalding Visitor Center, Nez Perce National Historical Park

Introduction

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Additional Information