Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of the Big Hole

Battle of the Big Hole was a battle fought on 9 August 1877 at Beaverhead County, in what is now Montana, United States. It was part of the Nez Perce War. The recorded result: Inconclusive. Recorded strength: 206 against 200 warriors.

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Big Hole Battlefield was the scene of a battle between the Nez Perce and the US Army
Big Hole Battlefield was the scene of a battle between the Nez Perce and the US Army. Philkon Phil Konstantin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought9 August 1877
WhereBeaverhead County, Montana, United States45.648N, 113.651W
OutcomeInconclusive
BelligerentsUnited StatesagainstNez Perce
Casualties and losses31 killed; 38 woundedand70–90 killed of whom perhaps thirty were warriors.
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 the Big Hole, 1877
7 placed engagements of the Nez Perce War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date9 August 1877
PlaceBeaverhead County, Montana, United States
45.648N, 113.651W
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength206200 warriors
Casualties and losses31 killed; 38 wounded70–90 killed of whom perhaps thirty were warriors.
Commanders
  • John Gibbon
Battle of the Big HoleBattle of the Big HoleBattle of the ClearwaterBattle of the ClearwaterHelenaButteSalmonDillon100 km45.648N, 113.651W
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 the Big Hole 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 Q4438386, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of the Big Hole, revision 1376070865, 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.