Battle of Bear Paw

The Battle of Bear Paw (also sometimes called Battle of the Bears Paw or Battle of the Bears Paw Mountains) was the final engagement of the Nez Perce War of 1877. Following a 1,200-mile (1,900 km) running fight from north central Idaho Territory over the previous four months, the U.S. Army managed to corner most of the Nez Perce led by Chief Joseph in early October 1877 in northern Montana Territory, just 42 miles (68 km) south of the border with Canada, where the Nez Perce intended to seek refuge from persecution by the U.S. government.

Battle of Bear Paw
Part of the Nez Perce War

Bear Paw Battlefield
DateSeptember 30 – October 5, 1877
Location
Blaine County, Montana Territory, U.S.
Result United States decisive victory
Belligerents
United States of America Nez Perce
Commanders and leaders
Nelson A. Miles
Oliver Otis Howard		 Chief Joseph  
Looking Glass †
Ollokot †
White Bird
Toohoolhoolzote †
Strength
520 700
<200 warriors
Casualties and losses
24 dead
49 wounded (including 2 Indian scouts)		 23 men and 2 women killed
46 wounded
431 surrendered or captured
Location in the United States
Location in Montana Territory
Chief Joseph Battleground
of the Bear's Paw
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Nearest cityChinook, Montana
Coordinates48°22′39″N 109°12′26″W
Built1877
NRHP reference No.70000355
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 6, 1970
Designated NHLJune 7, 1988

Although some of the Nez Perce were able to escape to Canada, Chief Joseph was forced to surrender the majority of his followers to Brigadier General Oliver Howard and Colonel Nelson A. Miles on October 5. Today, the battlefield is part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park and the Nez Perce National Historic Trail.

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