Battle of Cottonwood | |||||||
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Part of the Nez Perce War | |||||||
![]() Chief Joseph and his Nez Perce warriors defeated the U.S. Army at the Battle of Cottonwood | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States Army Civilian volunteers |
Nez Perce Native American Tribe | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Captain David Perry Captain Stephen Whipple |
Chief Joseph Ollokot White Bird | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
85 soldiers About 30 civilian volunteers | About 150 warriors | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
11 soldiers killed 6 civilian volunteers killed |
1 killed 1 wounded | ||||||
Location in the United States Location in Idaho Territory |
The Battle of Cottonwood was a series of engagements July 3–5, 1877, in the Nez Perce War between the Native American Nez Perce people, and U.S. Army soldiers and civilian volunteers. Near Cottonwood, Idaho Territory, the Nez Perce, led by Chief Joseph, brushed aside the soldiers and continued their 1,170 miles (1,880 km) fighting retreat to cross the Rocky Mountains in an attempt to reach safety in Canada.[1]