Battle of Canyon Creek

Battle of Canyon Creek
Part of the Nez Perce War

Chief Joseph and his band in the spring of 1877.
Date Summer, 1877
Location Canyon Creek, Montana
[1]
Result Nez Perce victory
Belligerents
 United States
Crow Indians		 Nez Percé
Commanders and leaders
Samuel D. Sturgis
Lewis Merrill
Frederick Benteen		 Chief Joseph
Chief Looking Glass
Strength
350 Unknown
Casualties and losses
3 killed
11 wounded		 1 killed
3 wounded

The Battle of Canyon Creek was an 1877 military conflict between the Nez Perce Indians and the United States 7th Cavalry. The battle was part of the larger Indian Wars of the latter 19th century and the immediate Nez Perce War. It took place on September 13, 1877 west of present day Billings, Montana in the canyons and benches around Canyon Creek.[2]

The battle started after the Nez Perce, led by Chief Looking Glass and Chief Joseph, abducted tourists at Yellowstone National Park while looking for refuge following their military victory at Big Hole. Two of the tourists were killed and others were badly injured. The United States Army quickly telegraphed General Samuel D. Sturgis after the killings, prompting Sturgis to advance to a position east of Yellowstone with 22 companies of the 7th Cavalry, including veterans of the Battle of Little Bighorn. Meanwhile, Looking Glass sent out envoys to search for allies among the Crow Indians. The envoys returned with news that the Crows had sided with the United States and would not give refuge. Reacting to the news, Looking Glass sent the envoys to Canada to seek safety with the Sioux under Sitting Bull.

Sturgis and his men searched for the Nez Perce, who were reported to have left the park and making their way toward Canyon Creek. Upon finding the camp, the cavalry charged toward the banks of the creek as the Nez Perce reacted by sending warriors to defend their camp at the creek. They used the banks described by Sturgis as "from 10 to 20 feet high" as a ridge to fire on the oncoming soldiers. Major Lewis Merrill was sent by Sturgis with two companies to begin the fight. His men fired upon the Nez Perce who fired back and held Merrill from crossing the ridge line. Sturgis then sent Captain Frederick Benteen to patrol the left side of the creek ahead of the retreating Nez Perce and cut off the Indian horse herd. The Nez Perce caught sight of Benteen who then was forced to stop and fight. Merrill was sent to help Benteen but the Captain was far ahead chasing the Indians. In the end, 400 of the Nez Perce's slowest animals were rounded up by Crow Indians helping the cavalry.

Back at the ridge line, Benteen was given the task of clearing away the Nez Perce snipers. Receiving approaching rifle fire, he looked for help from Merrill. Merrill's command charged into the canyon, but were eventually forced to retreat to the canyon mouth. Once there it was noted that all the Nez Perce were gone. Sturgis set up a hospital at this point. The Nez Perce escaped and were chased by the Crow who could not catch them after 40 miles because of the strain on their horses. Returning to camp the soldiers slaughtered the tired horses and had a feast. They decided to give up the hunt of the Nez Perce who moved away north toward Canada. However the Nez Perce War continued with the Battle of Bear Paw.

References

  1. ^ "Calamity Jane Horse Cache". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:769499. 
  2. ^ Greene, Jerome A. (2000). Nez Perce Summer 1877-The U.S. Army and the Nee-Me-Poo Crisis. Helena, MT: Montana Historical Society Press. ISBN 0917298883.