Battle of Canyon Creek
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Canyon Creek was an 1877 military conflict between the Nez Perce Indians and the United States
7th Cavalry. The battle was part of the larger Indian Wars
of the latter 19th century and the immediate Nez Perce War
. It took place on September 13, 1877 west of present day Billings, Montana
in the canyons and benches around Canyon Creek.
The battle started after the Nez Perce, led by Chief Looking Glass
and Chief Joseph
, abducted tourists at Yellowstone National Park while looking for refuge following their military victory at Big Hole
. Two of the tourists were killed and others were badly injured. The United States Army
quickly telegraphed General
Samuel D. Sturgis
after the killings, prompting Sturgis to advance to a position east of Yellowstone with 22 companies of the 7th Cavalry, including veterans of the Battle of Little Bighorn. Meanwhile, Looking Glass sent out envoys to search for allies among the Crow Indians. The envoys returned with news that the Crows had sided with the United States and would not give refuge. Reacting to the news, Looking Glass sent the envoys to Canada
to seek safety with the Sioux under Sitting Bull
.
Sturgis and his men searched for the Nez Perce, who were reported to have left the park and making their way toward Canyon Creek. Upon finding the camp, the cavalry charged toward the banks of the creek as the Nez Perce reacted by sending warriors to defend their camp at the creek. They used the banks described by Sturgis as "from 10 to 20 feet high" as a ridge to fire on the oncoming soldiers. Major
Lewis Merrill
was sent by Sturgis with two companies to begin the fight. His men fired upon the Nez Perce who fired back and held Merrill from crossing the ridge line. Sturgis then sent Captain Frederick Benteen
to patrol the left side of the creek ahead of the retreating Nez Perce and cut off the Indian horse herd. The Nez Perce caught sight of Benteen who then was forced to stop and fight. Merrill was sent to help Benteen but the Captain was far ahead chasing the Indians. In the end, 400 of the Nez Perce's slowest animals were rounded up by Crow Indians helping the cavalry.
Back at the ridge line, Benteen was given the task of clearing away the Nez Perce snipers. Receiving approaching rifle
fire, he looked for help from Merrill. Merrill's command charged into the canyon, but were eventually forced to retreat to the canyon mouth. Once there it was noted that all the Nez Perce were gone. Sturgis set up a hospital
at this point. The Nez Perce escaped and were chased by the Crow who could not catch them after 40 miles because of the strain on their horses. Returning to camp the soldiers slaughtered the tired horses and had a feast. They decided to give up the hunt of the Nez Perce who moved away north toward Canada. However the Nez Perce War continued with the Battle of Bear Paw
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
7th Cavalry. The battle was part of the larger Indian Wars
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
of the latter 19th century and the immediate Nez Perce War
Nez Perce War
The Nez Perce War was an armed conflict between the Nez Perce and the United States government fought in 1877 as part of the American Indian Wars. After a series of battles in which both the U.S. Army and native people sustained significant casualties, the Nez Perce surrendered and were relocated...
. It took place on September 13, 1877 west of present day Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
in the canyons and benches around Canyon Creek.
The battle started after the Nez Perce, led by Chief Looking Glass
Chief Looking Glass
Looking Glass was a principal Nez Perce architect of many of the military strategies employed by the Nez Perce during the Nez Perce War of 1877...
and Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph
Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, popularly known as Chief Joseph, or Young Joseph was the leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain band of Nez Perce during General Oliver O. Howard's attempt to forcibly remove his band and the other "non-treaty" Nez Perce to a reservation in Idaho...
, abducted tourists at Yellowstone National Park while looking for refuge following their military victory at Big Hole
Battle of the Big Hole
The Battle of the Big Hole was a costly battle in the Montana Territory between the Nez Percé and United States army during the Nez Perce War of 1877.-Background:...
. Two of the tourists were killed and others were badly injured. The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
quickly telegraphed General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Samuel D. Sturgis
Samuel D. Sturgis
Samuel Davis Sturgis was an American military officer who served in the Mexican-American War, as a Union general in the American Civil War, and later in the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
after the killings, prompting Sturgis to advance to a position east of Yellowstone with 22 companies of the 7th Cavalry, including veterans of the Battle of Little Bighorn. Meanwhile, Looking Glass sent out envoys to search for allies among the Crow Indians. The envoys returned with news that the Crows had sided with the United States and would not give refuge. Reacting to the news, Looking Glass sent the envoys to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to seek safety with the Sioux under Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
.
Sturgis and his men searched for the Nez Perce, who were reported to have left the park and making their way toward Canyon Creek. Upon finding the camp, the cavalry charged toward the banks of the creek as the Nez Perce reacted by sending warriors to defend their camp at the creek. They used the banks described by Sturgis as "from 10 to 20 feet high" as a ridge to fire on the oncoming soldiers. Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Lewis Merrill
Lewis Merrill
Lewis Merrill was a career officer in the United States Army noted for his work in resisting the early Ku Klux Klan organization in several Southern states. During the American Civil War, he combated guerrillas in Missouri.-Biography:...
was sent by Sturgis with two companies to begin the fight. His men fired upon the Nez Perce who fired back and held Merrill from crossing the ridge line. Sturgis then sent Captain Frederick Benteen
Frederick Benteen
Frederick William Benteen was a military officer during the American Civil War and then during the Black Hills War against the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne. He is notable for being in command of a battalion of the 7th U. S...
to patrol the left side of the creek ahead of the retreating Nez Perce and cut off the Indian horse herd. The Nez Perce caught sight of Benteen who then was forced to stop and fight. Merrill was sent to help Benteen but the Captain was far ahead chasing the Indians. In the end, 400 of the Nez Perce's slowest animals were rounded up by Crow Indians helping the cavalry.
Back at the ridge line, Benteen was given the task of clearing away the Nez Perce snipers. Receiving approaching rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
fire, he looked for help from Merrill. Merrill's command charged into the canyon, but were eventually forced to retreat to the canyon mouth. Once there it was noted that all the Nez Perce were gone. Sturgis set up a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
at this point. The Nez Perce escaped and were chased by the Crow who could not catch them after 40 miles because of the strain on their horses. Returning to camp the soldiers slaughtered the tired horses and had a feast. They decided to give up the hunt of the Nez Perce who moved away north toward Canada. However the Nez Perce War continued with the Battle of Bear Paw
Battle of Bear Paw
The Battle of Bear Paw was the final engagement of the Nez Perce War. Some of the Nez Perce were able to escape to Canada, but Chief Joseph was forced to surrender the majority of his tribe to Oliver O. Howard...
.