Bear's Paw Battleground

At Bear's Paw, Chief Joseph and the remnants of his Nez Perce tribe surrendered to General Nelson A. Miles on October 5, 1877, after fighting from September 30 to October 5 in the last decisive armed conflict between white men and red men in the Northwest. There Chiefs Looking Glass, Ollicut, Too-hul-sote, and many other warriors were killed. Chief Joseph, described as a military genius, courageous, and humane, presented his rifle to General Miles and, with his right hand upraised, declared, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." He kept his word. Among the officers and enlisted men killed in action were Captain Owen Hale; 2nd Lieut. Jonathan W. Biddle; 1st Sergt. George McDermott, Michael Martin, and Otto Wild; Sergt. James H. Alberts, Otto Durselow, Max Mielke, and Henry W. Paichel; Privates John E. Cleveland, David I. Dawsey, Charles F. Hurdick, Frank Knaupp, Lewis Kelly, Samuel McIntyre, William J. Randall, Francis Roth, and William Whitlow of the 7th U.S. Cavalry; Private John Irving of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry; and Corporal John Haddo and Privates Thomas Geoghegan, Joseph Kohler, and Richard M. Peshall of the 5th U.S. Infantry.

Montana · United States