Cow Island

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Other Names: 

Date of Battle: September 23, 1877

Location of Battle: Missouri River in Central MT

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Participants: Chief Joseph's Nez Perce Indians and Sergeant Moelchert with 11 soldiers of the 7th Infantry.

The soldiers and Indians exchanged fire most of the night.  In the morning, the Indians took what army supplies they wanted and burned the rest.  By the middle of the morning they had moved up Cow Creek toward the Canadian border.  Two civilians and one enlisted man were killed.  No Indians were reported hit.

For more information see:

Encyclopedia of Indian Wars

Indian Wars of the West

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