Bridger, Montana

At this point the Nez Perce were only a few hours ahead of Colonel Sturgis, camped on the Yellowstone River. The Nez Perce had long hoped they might find refuge with their old friends, the Crow, but it was evident ...

Belfry, Montana

On the evening of September 11, General Howard was camped on the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River just a few miles south of Belfry when he was finally joined by a frustrated Colonel Sturgis. According to a witness, “[Sturgis ...

Crandall Creek Bridge and Sunlight Creek Bridge, Wyoming

General Howard’s troops took the Lodgepole Trail from Crandall Creek and probably crossed Sunlight Creek about 5 miles upstream from here. Colonel Sturgis, however, could not find a trail leading from the Park and was convinced that the immediate country ...

Soda Butte, Wyoming

September 6, 1877 - Soldiers begin moving up Soda Butte Canyon

Soda Butte is a travertine (calcium carbonate) mound that was formed more than a century ago by hot springs. When the U.S. Army passed by this feature in 1877, ...

Baronett's Bridge, Wyomnig

Sept. 5, 1877 - Howard’s forces reach Baronett’s Bridge

Baronett’s Bridge, which sat astride the Yellowstone River at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Lamar Rivers, was built in 1871 as a toll-bridge. Jack Baronett profited more from miners on ...

Side Trip: Blacktail Deer Creek, Wyoming

Emma, Frank, and Ida Cowan were escorted out of the Park by Lieutenant Schofield’s detachment, and traveled home by way of Bozeman, Montana. All nine of the Radersburg tourists had survived their encounter with the Nez Perce. However, they did ...

Spurgin's Beaver Slide, Wyoming

September 3, 1877 - Captain Spurgin gets the wagons through

Several of the army wagons had no choice but to descend one particularly steep bit of ground that became known as Spurgin’s Beaver Slide after Captain William F. Spurgin who ...