Judith Gap
After the battle at Canyon Creek, the Nez Perce stayed well in front of the military. Utterly worn out and with no hope of catching the elusive Nez Perce, General Howard deliberately slowed his pursuit. In a last attempt to stop the Nez Perce, General Howard sent an urgent message to Colonel Nelson Miles asking for his help.
I earnestly request you to make every effort in your power to prevent the escape of this hostile band, and at least to hold them in check until I can overtake them.
– General Oliver Otis Howard
Miles set off immediately, dispatching this reply and requesting “an abundance of rations
and grain.”
I fear your information reaches me too late for me to intercept them, but I will do the best I can.
– Colonel Miles
Colonel Miles, heading northwest from the Tongue River Cantonment (present day Miles City, Montana) and General Howard, following the Nez Perce, were both positioning their troops to intercept the Nez Perce before they could reach Canada.
After Howard’s and Sturgis’ commands had come together at the Musselshell river, the chase was kept up through the
alkali plains and Judith Basin at comparatively slow marches. The reason being that General Howard had sent couriers ahead to Colonel Miles to look out for the Indians making towards the Upper Missouri. Miles sent back word that if eight days could be given him he would succeed in getting beyond the hostiles, and would strike them. To bring about so favorable a result our marches were “slowed,” so that the Indians not finding us within a dangerous proximity would slacken their pace too.
– Thomas Sutherland (war correspondent)
The Nez Perce were weary. Many of the old and sick had dropped out and were never heard from again. Those who were left were pressing on but they were in need of supplies because food was scarce.
I was too small to fight in the war, but I heard the bullets. I remember the hunger, the cold and freezing nakedness of
us children.
– Black Eagle
