The Battle
Howard opened the battle by firing howitzers and gatling guns at the Nez Perce camp in the valley below from the ridge he occupied. “These only served to announce the presence of the troops to the unsuspecting Indians and ‘to send horsemen…scampering over the hills in every direction… herding their stock together, which was afterward driven by old Indians, squaws and children into the hills in the rear.”
The old warrior Toohoolhoolzote and 24 Nez Perce, including Yellow Wolf, rode to the top of the ridge to contest the advance of Howard. They built a stone fort and began firing at the soldiers, stalling Howard’s cavalry. Soon, they were nearly surrounded and they retreated back to the village. Toohoolhoolzote’s delaying action gave other Nez Perce time to set up defensive positions around three sides of a prairie on a tableland about 1.5 miles wide and two miles long above the east side of the Clearwater River. About 100 Nez Perce opposed Howard as he advanced and took up positions on the prairie. “Although we outnumbered the Indians,” said a correspondent, “we fought to a great disadvantage. The redskins were in a fortified canyon…while our men were obliged to approach them along an open and treeless prairie.” After extensive fighting all afternoon, the day ended in a stalemate with Indians and soldiers in their fortified lines. The soldiers spent the night hungry and thirsty. The Nez Perce in the battle line were supplied by women from the village in their rear.
On the morning of July 12 Howard’s entire force was facing the Nez Perce on the prairie. He drove the Nez Perce away from a spring and was able to provide water and food to his men. Howard prepared an attack on the Nez Perce left flank by Captain Marcus Miller and his battalion. Unexpectedly, a pack train of 120 mules bearing supplies for Howard appeared on the battlefield. Miller moved forward to protect the pack train and, taking advantage of his advanced position, he suddenly ordered a charge on the Nez Perce. The Nez Perce retreated and soon were in full flight as Howard’s men advanced all along his lines and into the village near the river. The Nez Perce men crossed the Clearwater River with their women and children and as many of their possessions as they could gather. Howard declined to continue the pursuit of the Indians beyond the river. The battle was over.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of The Clearwater
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