As U.S. Army troops approached at a gallop in pursuit of the Nez Perce, the Nez Perce, after fleeing for 26 miles, chose this place to make a stand because the canyon mouth offered natural defenses. Positioned high on the slopes and atop both buttes, Indian snipers kept the soldiers pinned down while women, children, and elders escaped up the draw. Familiar with this traditional route to the Buffalo plains, the Nez Perce once again used knowledge of the terrain and accurate marksmanship during their three-month-long flight to hamper the army’s pursuit, yet they remained on the run.