How one overconfident war leader walked 750 Nez Perce people into a massacre trap

Looking Glass’s Fatal Mistake at Big Hole

Deep in southwestern Montana lies Big Hole National Battlefield, where preserved tipi poles still mark the spot where 750 Nez Perce people made camp in August 1877.

This peaceful valley became the scene of tragedy when a trusted war leader’s overconfidence led his people into a deadly trap.

Looking Glass was a respected Nez Perce chief who had helped other tribes win battles and seemed to know military strategy well.

But his assurance and confidence would prove wrong, leading to the bloodiest single battle of the entire Nez Perce War.

Here’s how one leader’s false promise of security turned a routine rest stop into a massacre that changed the course of American history.

War Chief Looking Glass Took Charge After Crossing Into Montana

Looking Glass became the top Nez Perce leader when the group crossed the tough Lolo Pass into Montana in July 1877.

Chief Joseph led them through Idaho, but Looking Glass stepped up with his battle know-how once they reached Montana.

The 53-year-old war chief earned respect from both his people and white settlers.
In 1874, he helped the Crow tribe beat Dakota Sioux fighters, showing his skill in battle.

When passing through Bitterroot Valley, Looking Glass told local white settlers they would travel peacefully.

The Nez Perce kept their word, even trading with merchants along their path.

His Confidence Turned Into A Deadly Mistake

Looking Glass kept telling his people they were safe from army chase.

He convinced the Nez Perce that General Howard was far behind them and that Montana folks wanted no trouble with their group.

“The war is behind us in Idaho,” he told tribal leaders as they moved through Montana.

At Big Hole, Looking Glass felt sure no soldiers would find them. This overconfidence led to slow, casual travel.

The group stopped taking basic safety steps. They no longer sent scouts to watch their trail or posted guards around their camps at night.

The Nez Perce Camped At Their Traditional Spot

On August 7, 1877, the Nez Perce arrived at Big Hole Valley and set up camp at a spot they called “Place of the Ground Squirrels. ”

Their people used this spot for many years when resting during buffalo hunts.

The group put up 89 tipis along the banks of the North Fork of the Big Hole River. They placed their horses on the hill west of camp for grazing.

Yellow Wolf later said he had dreams of danger.

Despite these warnings, Looking Glass said they were safe and planned to stay several days to rest and get new tipi poles from the nearby forest.

Colonel Gibbon Tracked The Tribe In Secret

Colonel John Gibbon left Fort Shaw with 161 soldiers and one howitzer cannon, hunting the Nez Perce without them knowing.

As he followed their trail through Montana, he picked up 45 local volunteers in the Bitterroot Valley, bringing his force to 206 men.

On August 8, Lieutenant James Bradley led scouts who found the Nez Perce camp along the North Fork of the Big Hole River. Gibbon came for battle, not talk.

His orders were clear: take no prisoners and give no chance to give up. The colonel placed his men carefully and waited for dawn to attack the unaware camp.

Soldiers Attacked The Sleeping Camp At Dawn

At 3:30 a.m. on August 9, Gibbon’s force of 183 men started their move to the sleeping Nez Perce camp. They walked through the night, crossing rough land to reach their spot.

As they got close to the camp in the dark, soldiers found an old Nez Perce man who had left his tipi early. They killed him fast to keep him quiet.

Gibbon’s men then crossed the shallow river and rushed into the village. They fired right into the tipis where families still slept, not knowing the danger around them.

Women And Children Died In Their Beds

Soldiers fired rifles into the Nez Perce lodges up close. The first attack brought awful results as bullets went through tipi walls, killing sleeping families inside.

Gibbon’s men shot at anyone who moved. One mother watched in horror as someone shot her two-year-old daughter trying to reach her.

Soldiers got orders to aim low into the tipis to hit people sleeping on the ground.

Some troops used torches to burn tipis, forcing families to run into the open where they faced gunfire from all sides.

Warriors Fought Back With Deadly Accuracy

Chiefs White Bird and Looking Glass shouted through the chaos, calling warriors to defend their people.

“Fight! Shoot them down! ” Looking Glass yelled as he set up a counter-attack.

Nez Perce fighters grabbed their guns and hid behind trees, rocks, and the riverbank. Several good shots climbed into tall pines and fired down on the soldiers with perfect aim.

Their shooting quickly changed the battle.

Lieutenant James Bradley, who found the camp the day before, was one of the first soldiers killed by Nez Perce snipers as he led the left side of the attack.

Gibbon’s Men Retreated Under Heavy Fire

Just twenty minutes after entering the village, Colonel Gibbon saw his men face disaster. “We are in an unsafe position,” he shouted as Nez Perce bullets hit their marks.

He told his troops to pull back across the river to some pine trees about 400 yards from the village. The soldiers quickly dug holes and built cover from logs and rocks.

Nez Perce warriors shot at the crew working the howitzer cannon, killing or wounding most of them. Before leaving the gun, soldiers took off key parts to disable it.

The Tribe Escaped While Warriors Covered Their Retreat

The battle turned into a tense standoff with about 60 warriors under Chief Ollokot keeping the soldiers stuck with constant sniper fire.

Through the afternoon, Nez Perce women packed what was left, gathered the scattered horses, and started moving south with the wounded. Gibbon’s men were in trouble.

They had no food except one dead horse, no water, and dozens of badly wounded soldiers needing help. Through the night of August 9-10, warriors kept pressure.

By morning, the warriors slowly pulled back to join them.

The Battle Left Nearly 90 Nez Perce Dead

Both sides suffered greatly in the Big Hole battle. The army lost 29 men killed and 40 wounded, a big part of Gibbon’s force.

For the Nez Perce, the cost was much worse. Army reports counted 89 Nez Perce dead, mostly women and children.

Almost every family in the band lost loved ones during the surprise attack. Among the dead were 12 of the tribe’s best warriors, hurting their fighting strength.

Yellow Wolf later said: “We lost our best men that morning. Men we could not replace.”

Looking Glass Lost His Leadership After The Disaster

The Nez Perce blamed Looking Glass for the tragedy at Big Hole. His promises of safety had left them open to Gibbon’s attack.

“You told us we were safe. You said no soldiers would find us,” survivors told him afterward.

His standing among the people fell apart overnight. Tribal leaders took away Looking Glass’s command position during a meeting after the battle.

Poker Joe, who had warned about the danger of chasing soldiers, took over.

Chief Joseph also took on a bigger role in making decisions as the band kept up their desperate journey toward Canada.

Visiting Big Hole National Battlefield Montana

Big Hole National Battlefield is free to visit, just 10 miles west of Wisdom on MT-43.

You can learn about Looking Glass’s false promise and the tragic Nez Perce battle through a 26-minute video and museum displaying photographs, quotes, and personal items.

Walk the self-guided trails to see the Nez Perce Camp, Siege Area, and Howitzer Capture site. Groups should call (406) 689-3155 for reservations.

The battlefield hosts annual Nez Perce commemorations with pipe ceremonies and drum circles, but remember photography isn’t allowed during these special events.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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