Battle of Camas Meadows

IDAHO FALLS — Knowing what occurred 141 years ago gave the dry, broken land a reverent feel. As we walked around the soldier’s grave, the historian pointed to the protrusions of lava rock that soldiers and warriors hid behind as they exchanged volley after volley of gunshots that began the Battle of Camas Meadows.

Upper Valley Historical Society member Jim Wood said he explored these lands many times before his heart attack. As he recounted the conflict that took place here, his passion for this land’s history emanated from his every word.

He talked about how Chief Joseph repeatedly eluded the United States troops and led his people to safety. He showed me the small piles of rocks the cavalry riflemen made as their only form of cover over 100 years ago.

He told how the soldiers lay flat on their bellies in the scorching heat of August, doing their best to follow orders and return the escaped people back to the reservation.

As we continued our exploration of the battleground, the story continued to unfold and the land’s rich history became clearer.

The late 1800s were a time great strife between the U.S. and America’s native peoples. Relations between the U.S. government and Nez Perce were no exception.

The National Park Service website was a valuable resource for delving deeper into the history that led up to the Battle of Camas Meadows. It detailed how multiple treaties resulted in the Nez Perce being forced to live on a swath of land consisting of only 10 percent of their original territory.

“They were forced onto a reservation and Chief Joseph and his sub-chiefs finally made the decision that they were not going to go on reservation,” Wood recounted as we stood next to the soldier’s grave. “So they left (Wallowa Valley, Oregon). They left with the idea of making it to Canada.”