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

Ryegate to Judith Gap

(Adventurous Travel via Careless Creek: roads not recommended for motor homes or vehicles towing trailers; usually passable from July to October)

This route closely follows Careless Creek and is the presumed route that the Nez Perce took.

At Ryegate, the Adventurous Traveler can turn north on First Street, which becomes Rothiemay Road / Montana State Route 238, to a railroad croosing and further along the road crosses Careless Creek. Here the pavement ends. Continue north on Rothiemay Road for 8.2 miles. Turn west on Hedgesville Road, which will jog to the south, and travel approximately 12.5 miles to Hedgesville. At the intersection continue straight (west) on Hedgesville Road which in 1.5 miles turns north. In 5.3 miles the road turns west and becomes Upper Nihill Road. Continue west for 6.0 miles. Turn north on Pronghorn Road. Follow this road for 6.0 miles then turn west on Judith Gap Road. Continue west 2.0 miles, past where Judith Gap Road turns south (Oxford Rd). At this point the traveler continues straight on Judith Gap Road, which then jogs northwest and parallels the railroad tracks. In 6.2 miles this road joins Montana State Route 297. Turn west and follow Montana State Route 297 1.2 miles to the town of Judith Gap, MT, where you once again join the Mainstream
Traveler on US Highway 191.

Judith Gap to Lewistown

Mainstream Traveler
From Judith Gap, follow US Highway 191 north for 21.3 miles to Eddie’s Corner and the junction with US Highway 87. Turn right (east) on US Highway 87 for 17.1 miles to downtown Lewistown. At the junction of First Avenue North and Main Street, follow Main Street, which is US Highway 87 and Montana State Highway 200, east 0.5 mile from downtown.
On the north side of the highway, the Chamber of Commerce offers an information center as well as a museum. 1.6 miles east of the museum, a historic sign along the roadside tells about the Nez Perce route through this area.