Big Hole National Battlefield Big Hole National Battlefield preserves a Nez Perce War battlefield located in Montana , United States . The Nez Percé fought a delaying action against the 7th Infantry Regiment ( United States ) here on August 9 and 10 , 1877 , during their failed attempt to escape to Canada . This action , the Battle of the Big Hole , was the largest battle fought between the Nez Percé and U . S . Government forces in the five - month conflict known as the Nez Perce War . In 1992 the park was made a part of Nez Perce National Historical Park , which consists of 38 separate locations in five different states , following the flight of the Nez Percé tribe from the U . S . Cavalry . Big Hole National Battlefield is located on ( including privately held ) , west of Wisdom , Montana on Montana state highway 43 . A year - round visitor center is located in the park . The Nez Perce homeland territory was in the states now known as Oregon , Washington and Idaho . In 1873 , Chief Joseph negotiated with the federal government to ensure his people could stay on their land in the Wallowa Valley as stipulated in 1855 and 1863 land treaties with the U . S . government . But , in a reversal of policy in 1877 , General Oliver O . Howard threatened to attack if the Indians did not relocate to an Idaho reservation that was only a small fraction of their original territory . Chief Joseph reluctantly agreed . As they began their journey to Idaho , Chief Joseph learned that three young Nez Percé men , enraged at the loss of their homeland , had massacred a band of white settlers . Fearing U . S . Army retaliation , Chief Joseph decided that the best way to avoid the official U . S . Government policy of forcing Native Americans onto reservations was to escape to Canada , where he believed that his people would be treated differently and they could unite with Sitting Bull , leader of a band of Lakota there . Six weeks after leaving their homeland , U . S . Cavalry forces performed a predawn attack on the 800 men , women and children encamped at Big Hole . The Nez Perce mounted a fierce resistance and managed to overwhelm the attacking force , cornering them on a hillside . Meanwhile , the women and children fled the battlefield after burying their dead . During the day and a half battle , the Nez Perce lost an estimated 60 to 90 men , women and children , although it is believed that actual losses may have been much higher with a good portion being women and children . U . S . forces lost 28 and an additional 40 serious casualties . The confrontation was the most violent battle between the Nez Perce and the U . S . Government forces . After the battle the Nez Perce fled east through Yellowstone National Park , then headed north . In October 1877 , only from the Canadian border in Montana ' s Bear Paw Mountains , the starving and exhausted Nez Percé surrendered to the U . S . Forces commanded by General Oliver O . Howard . Approximately 150 Nez Perce had managed to escape to Canada prior to the surrender . Upon the final surrender by Chief Joseph he was quoted as saying , " Hear me , my chiefs ! I am tired . My heart is sick and sad . From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever " . Administrative history . The site was established as a Military Preserve in 1883 , and designated a National Monument on June 23 , 1910 . It was redesignated a National Battlefield on May 17 , 1963 . The trail system was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1977 . As with all historic areas administered by the National Park Service , the battlefield was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15 , 1966 .