Battle of the Clearwater | |||||||
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Part of the Nez Perce War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States Army and civilian volunteers |
Nez Perce Native American tribe | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Oliver Otis Howard |
Chief Joseph Looking Glass Toohoolhoolzote | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
440 soldiers, about 160 civilian volunteers and Indian scouts | 200 warriors | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
15 dead, 25 wounded soldiers 2 dead, 1 wounded civilians[1] | 4 dead, 6 wounded | ||||||
Location in the United States Location in Idaho |
The Battle of the Clearwater (July 11–12, 1877) was a battle in the Idaho Territory between the Nez Perce under Chief Joseph and the United States Army. Under General O. O. Howard, the army surprised a Nez Perce village; the Nez Perce counter-attacked and inflicted significant casualties on the soldiers, but were forced to abandon the village.
After the battle, part of the Nez Perce War. the Nez Perce retreated east and crossed the Bitterroot Mountains via Lolo Pass into Montana Territory, with General Howard in pursuit.