Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of Bear Paw

Battle of Bear Paw was a battle fought on 30 September 1877 at Chief Joseph Battleground of the Bear's Paw, in what is now Montana, United States; it lasted 5 days. It was part of the Nez Perce War. The recorded result: United States decisive victory. Recorded strength: 520 against 700; <200 warriors.

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Bear Paw Battlefield in Montana, USA, where the U.S. Army attacked and besieged the Nez Perce encampment at Bear Paw, eventually prevailing on September 30, 1877.
Bear Paw Battlefield in Montana, USA, where the U.S. Army attacked and besieged the Nez Perce encampment at Bear Paw, eventually prevailing on September 30, 1877.. NPS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought30 September 1877lasted 5 days
WhereChief Joseph Battleground of the Bear's Paw, Montana, United States48.377N, 109.207W
OutcomeUnited States decisive victory
BelligerentsUnited States of AmericaagainstNez Perce
Part ofNez Perce War1877

Where it sits in the Nez Perce War

Battle of the Clearwater, 1877Battle of White Bird Canyon, 1877Battle of Cottonwood, 1877Battle of the Big Hole, 1877Battle of Camas Creek, 1877Battle of Canyon Creek, 1877Battle of Bear Paw, 187718771877Battle of Bear Paw, 1877
7 placed engagements of the Nez Perce War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date30 September 1877
to 5 October 1877
PlaceChief Joseph Battleground of the Bear's Paw, Montana, United States
48.377N, 109.207W
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength520700; <200 warriors
Casualties and losses24 dead; 49 wounded (including 2 Indian scouts)23 men and 2 women killed; 46 wounded; 431 surrendered or captured
Commanders
Battle of Bear PawBattle of Bear PawMarias MassacreMarias MassacreGreat FallsHavre100 km48.377N, 109.207W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1877

Battle of Bear Paw is one of 3,507 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 1,148 in present-day United States (17 in Montana).

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4870436, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Bear Paw, revision 1372500167, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.