Battle of Bear Paw

Battle of Bear Paw
Part of the Nez Perce War
Bear Paw Battlefield
Date September 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)[1]	23 men and 2 women killed 46 wounded 431 surrendered or captured[1]

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.

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.