Broadview, Montana
The story of the Nez Perce Flight of 1877 continues atBroadview, Montana in Auto Tour 8.
“Some of us stayed back to watch the enemies. I looked one way and saw strange Indians... I rode closer. Eeh! Crows!
A new tribe ghting Chief Joseph. Many snows the Crows had been our friends. But now, like the Bi erroot Salish [Flatheads], turned enemies. My heart was just like fire."
– Hímiin maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf)
The Final Weeks
After the battle at Canyon Creek, the fleeing Nez Perce continued their push to Canada. Sadly, the Nez Perce fight ended only 40 miles south of the Canadian border.Along Snake Creek, just north of the Bear Paw Mountains, the Nez Perce engaged the combined forces of Colonel Miles and General Howard. During a six-day battle, many prominent Nez Perce leaders died, including Chiefs Looking Glass, Lean Elk and Ollokot. Chief White Bird led a group of nearly 300 Nez Perce to safety in Canada, where they joined Sitting Bull.
“It was in the night when I escaped with Chief White Bird and his band all afoot. Thought was over and nothing to stay for. ... We left that night before Joseph had given his gun to General Miles. We walked out, leaving many of our friends. Some were toobad wounded to travel and had to stay. Only about forty unwounded men stayed with Joseph and there were many women and children. Many more of them than men, both wounded and unhurt. ... It was lonesome, the leaving. Husband dead, friends buried or held prisoners. I felt that I was leaving all that I had but I did not cry.”
–Watátonmay
On October 5, 1877, Chief Joseph, believing the remaining Nez Perce would be sent to the reservation in Lapwai, Idaho, agreed to surrender. The war was over. Following their surrender, the Nez Perce faced eight years of exile in Kansas and Oklahoma enduring sickness, starvation and death before they were allowed to return to the Paci c Northwest.
