Big Hole National Battlefield
| Big Hole National Battlefield | |
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
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| Location | Beaverhead County, Montana, USA |
| Nearest city | Dillon, MT |
| Coordinates | 45°38′15″N 113°38′37″W / 45.63750°N 113.64361°WCoordinates: 45°38′15″N 113°38′37″W / 45.63750°N 113.64361°W |
| Area | 1,010 acres (4.1 km2) |
| Established | 1883 |
| Visitors | 36,290 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Big Hole National Battlefield |
Big Hole National Battlefield preserves a Nez Perce War battlefield located in Montana, United States. The Nez Percé fought a delaying action against the 7th Infantry Regiment (United States) here on August 9 and 10, 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. In 1992 the park was made a part of Nez Perce National Historical Park, 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 1,010.61 acres (409 ha) (including 355 acres/144 ha privately held), 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.
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