Pursued by the U.S. Army since June 1877, approximately 800 Nez Perce (nimi•pu•) men, women, and children crossed the Bitterroot Mountains and camped in the Big Hole Valley, believing there was no immediate pursuit and that this familiar site was a perfect place to rest. At dawn on August 9, 1877, the 7th Infantry led by Colonel John Gibbon attacked. Nez Perce warriors rallied and fought back, and the overwhelmed soldiers withdrew to a grove of trees. Warriors surrounded the soldiers as Nez Perce survivors hurried out of the Big Hole Valley. In less than 24 hours, the tranquil setting became a scene of chaos and terror, and it is now considered sacred ground and the final resting place for many who lost their lives.