By decade
The engagements fought in Montana, by decade.
Where these engagements were fought
55 of the 101 could be placed to a location and appear on the map; the remaining 46 are recorded without a precise point. Select a marker to see the engagement.
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Red markers are surveyed battlefields with a mapped boundary; navy markers are point-located engagements. Select a marker to open its page.
Notable engagements
| Engagement | Year | Outcome | Forces or losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayfield Fight | 1867 | U.S. victory | 3 killed; 4 wounded vs Unknown: estimates from 8 to 23… |
| Battle of Honsinger Bluff | 1873 | Inconclusive | 3 wounded vs 3 killed, 1 wounded |
| Battle of Cedar Creek | 1876 | United States tactical victory | 6 bodies recovered; unknown wounded vs 2 killed; 2 wounded |
| Battle of Powder River | 1876 | Northern Cheyenne/Oglala Lakota victory | 3 killed, several people later died of exposure; 3 wounded… |
| Battle of the Rosebud | 1876 | Lakota and Cheyenne victory | 13-36 killed ; 63-100 wounded vs U.S.: 14-28 killed; 43-46… |
| Bear Paw Mountains | 1877 | United States decisive victory | 418 Indians captured |
| Battle of Canyon Creek | 1877 | Nez Perce victory | 4 killed; 11 wounded vs 3 killed ; 3 wounded; <! |
| Battle of Little Muddy Creek | 1877 | American victory | 4 killed; 10 wounded vs 15 killed; 20 wounded; 40 captured |
| Wolf Mountains | 1877 | American victory | 3 killed; 8 wounded |
| Battle of the Big Hole | 1877 | Inconclusive | 31 killed; 38 wounded vs 70-90 killed of whom perhaps… |
| Battle of the Little Bighorn | 1876 | Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho victory | 1,100-2,500 warriors vs c. 700 cavalrymen and scouts |
| Upper Yellowstone River | 1868 | 1 civilian killed |
Plus 81 further documented engagements in the Montana record.
By war
Great Sioux War of 1876
The 1876-1877 war on the northern Plains, from the Rosebud and the Little Bighorn to Slim Buttes, Dull Knife and the surrender of the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne.
6 ENGAGEMENTS →
Nez Perce War
The 1877 flight of the Nez Perce, from White Bird Canyon and the Clearwater through the Big Hole and Canyon Creek to the surrender at Bear Paw.
3 ENGAGEMENTS →
Engagements and locations are compiled from published sources: U.S. Adjutant-General's Office, Chronological List of Actions with Indians (1891) (public domain (U.S. federal record)); Sheridan, Record of Engagements with Hostile Indians (1882) (public domain); Wikidata (structured data, CC0).