Battle of the Clearwater

This battle occurred up in northern Idaho near present day Grangeville, Idaho, between Anishinabe soldiers and the United States. After the white invaders brought all of Montana under their control after the Marias River Massacre, Anishinabe ogimak knew from prophecy that they had to flee from the whites. They organized an exodus and commenced it in the spring of 1877. At first a few groups of Anishinabek left the plains of Montana and joined with many of the Anishinabek living in the mountain valleys of southwestern Montana. Most probably followed the ancient Anishinabe road (it is known as the Mullan Road) to the Missoula, Montana region then crossed the Lolo Pass into Idaho, then Washington. Others, however, kept their exodus heading towards the Dillon, Montana region and crossed over in to Idaho. From there, they either followed the Snake River or the Salmon River. Although the Salmon River was extremely dangerous to march up, many an Anishinabe chose to flee up that river to reach northern Idaho, then Washington. On July 11, 1877, nearly a month after the June 17, 1877 Battle of White Bird Canyon, a force of American soldiers numbering around 350, learned about the approach of a large group of fleeing Anishinabek in the Grangeville, Idaho region.

They possibly treked over the Mullan Road then reached what is now the Clinton, Montana region. From there they only needed to follow a trail over the mountains to near where present day Lolo, Montana is. From there they followed another trail which led to the location where Grangeville, Idaho is. This time the white invaders were expecting them. The battle commenced soon after the white invaders realized the Anishinabe westward exodus was not going to stop. Anishinabe soldiers routed the white soldiers in this battle. They inflicted 44 casualties on the American soldiers including 17 killed. More than 10% of the total number of white soldiers were either killed or wounded in this battle. It weakended the Americans small military force and allowed the Anishinabek to continue the westward exodus in to Washington. Anishinabe casualties were either 4 killed and 6 wounded, or 23 killed and 46 wounded. There are more than one estimate for Anishinabe casualties. Only the arrival of white reinforcements prevented the Anishinabe soldiers from inflicting more casulaties on their white enemies.