Dug Bar History
On May 31, 1877, Chief Joseph's band crossed the Snake River at Dug Bar, moving the families, livestock, and possessions into the first major hazard of their flight to safety.
A Bitter Order
In spring 1877, General Oliver Otis Howard arrived with a demand: Chief Joseph's band and all non-treaty Nez Perce must abandon their homeland in the Wallowa Valley and relocate to the reservation near Lapwai, Idaho. Joseph and his brother Ollokot met with Howard at Fort Lapwai hoping to negotiate, but Howard would not listen. The deadline was final: thirty days to pack and move.
The band gathered their horses, cattle, families, and few possessions. As May turned to June, they were forced to comply.
Crossing the Snake River
Dug Bar was a traditional crossing place for the nimíipuu (Nez Perce). In late summer, when water levels dropped, it was a relatively safe ford. But Joseph's people were forced to cross at the end of May, when the Snake River roared with spring runoff — swollen, cold, and treacherous.
Women, children, the elderly, and all the band's possessions crossed on horsehide rafts pulled by swimming horses. Thousands of head of cattle and horses were also forced into the river. Many were lost. The crossing cost livestock, supplies, and time — precious resources they would desperately need in the long journey ahead.