Lolo Trail Barricade - “Fort Fizzle” - Nez Perce National Historic Trail - Auto Tours (sitios de interés)

Lolo Trail Barricade - “Fort Fizzle”

Montana Mile 28 U.S. Highway 1

To block the Nez Perce from entering the Bitterroot Valley, Captain Rawn, 30 enlisted men and four of?cers from nearby Fort Missoula entrenched themselves behind log breastworks in a small opening along the Lolo Creek drainage adjacent to the Lolo Trail. About 150 settlers joined the soldiers. The 750 Nez Perce, with more than 1,000 horses, were camped about ?ve miles to the west. At a meeting between Nez Perce chiefs and army of?cers, the Nez Perce made four things very clear: (1) They had no intention of molesting settlers or property. (2) They wanted to travel in peace. (3) They would not surrender their horses, arms and ammunition. (4) They were not ready to return to the hostile environment in Idaho.

Captain Rawn had clear orders. He said the Nez Perce could not pass. However, the barricade failed when the Nez Perce, with their horses and possessions, climbed a steep ravine behind the ridge to the north and bypassed the soldiers. The previously unnamed barricade became the ridiculed “Fort Fizzle.”