Big Hole National Battlefield

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Big Hole National Battlefield
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)

Location:	Montana, USA
Nearest city:	Dillon, MT
Coordinates:	45°38′15″N, 113°38′37″W
Area:	655 acres (2.65 km²)
Established:	1883
Visitation:	54,934 (in 2005)
Governing body:	National Park Service

Big Hole National Battlefield is a memorial located in Montana, United States. The Nez Percé, under Chief Joseph fought a delaying action against the U.S. Cavalry here on August 8 and 9, 1877 during their failed attempt to escape to Canada. This action, the Battle of the Big Hole, was the largest battle fought between the Nez Percé and U.S. Government forces in the five month conflict known as the Nez Perce War. The park was made a part of Nez Perce National Historical Park in 1992 which consists of 38 separate locations in five different states, following the flight of the Nez Percé tribe from the U.S. Cavalry.

Big Hole National Battlefield is located on 655 acres (2.65 km²), 10 miles (16 km) west of Wisdom, Montana on Montana state highway 43. A year round visitor center is located in the park.

The Nez Perce homeland territory was in the states now known as Oregon, Washington and Idaho. In 1873, Chief Joseph negotiated with the federal government to ensure his people could stay on their land in the Wallowa Valley as stipulated in 1855 and 1863 land treaties with the U.S. government. But, in a reversal of policy in 1877, General Oliver O. Howard threatened to attack if the Indians did not relocate to an Idaho reservation that was only a small fraction of their original territory. Chief Joseph reluctantly agreed. As they began their journey to Idaho, Chief Joseph learned that three young Nez Percé men, enraged at the loss of their homeland, had massacred a band of white settlers. Fearing U.S. Army retaliation, Chief Joseph decided that the best way to avoid the official U.S. Government policy of forcing Native Americans onto reservations was to escape to Canada, where he believed that his people would be treated differently and they could unite with Sitting Bull, leader of a band of Lakota there.

Six weeks after leaving their homeland, U.S. Cavalry forces performed a predawn attack on the 800 men, women and children encamped at Big Hole. The Nez Perce mounted a fierce resistance and managed to overwhelm the attacking force, cornering them on a hillside. Meanwhile, the women and children fled the battlefield after burying their dead. During the day and a half battle, the Nez Perce lost an estimated 60 to 90 men, women and children, although it is believed that actual loses may have been much higher. U.S. forces lost 28 and an additional 40 serious casualties. The confrontation was the most violent battle between the Nez Perce and the U.S. Government forces. After the battle they fled east through Yellowstone National Park, then the Nez Perce headed north. In October 1877, the starving and exhausted Nez Percé surrendered to the U.S. Forces commanded by General Oliver O. Howard, in Montana's Bear Paw Mountains, only 40 miles from the Canadian border. Approximately 150 Nez Perce managed to escape to Canada prior to the surrender. Upon the final surrender by Chief Joseph he was quoted as saying ,"Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever".

[edit] Administrative history

The site was established as a Military Preserve in 1883, and designated a National Monument on June 23, 1910. It was redesignated a National Battlefield on May 17, 1963. As with all historic areas administered by the National Park Service, the battelfield was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.