Camp Howard was established by General Oliver Otis Howard and his U.S. Cavalry troops during the Nez Perce War of 1877, specifically in early July of that year.
Here is the breakdown of what happened there:
The Strategy of the “High Ground”
After the U.S. Army’s stinging defeat at the Battle of White Bird Canyon in June, General Howard arrived with reinforcements. The Nez Perce, led by Chief Joseph, White Bird, and others, had crossed the Salmon River to the west into the rugged Joseph Plains (the “end of the world” location I mentioned in the blog).
General Howard followed them across the river, but the Nez Perce were masters of the terrain. They essentially “doubled back,” recrossing the Salmon at a different point to get back onto the Camas Prairie toward Cottonwood.
Why They “Dug In”
Finding himself outmaneuvered and essentially “stuck” on the wrong side of the river for a time, Howard established Camp Howard on that high ridge (near where the property is located) to serve as a base of operations.
- The Breastworks: The soldiers did indeed dig in. You can still find remnants of rifle pits and breastworks (shallow earthen fortifications) in that area today.
- The Purpose: They weren’t just making plans to attack; they were in a state of high-alert defense. They were trying to track the movements of the Nez Perce through the deep canyons below while protecting their supply lines.
A Historical “Staging Area”
Because the camp sits on the divide between the Salmon and Snake River canyons, it provided Howard with the best possible vantage point. From that “top of the world” spot, his scouts could watch the trails leading down toward the Snake River and back toward the Salmon.
