1877. Nez Perce War In July 1877 the Nez Perce Indians under Chief Joseph began to march east from Idaho across Montana, pursued by Major General Oliver O. Howard's troops from the Department of the Columbia. Miles was in position to interdict this force, and moved toward them in mid-September with battalions of the 5th Infantry and 7th Cavalry. They attacked the Nez Perces in a valley of the Bear Paw Mountains 30 September, capturing their horses and forcing their surrender on 4 October 1877 in the Battle of Bear Paw. Bannock War The Bannock Indians tried to repeat the Nez Perces' march a year later. A detachment of the 5th attacked their camp on Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone on 4 September 1878 and broke up their incursion. The 5th continued in active pursuit of independent Lakota bands until the surrender of Sitting Bull on 20 July 1881. Garrison Duty After several quiet years, the regiment was transferred to Texas in 1888 and later to points farther east. By 1894, the regiment was dispersed from Texas to Kansas to Florida. With the closing of the frontier, its role had changed from Indian fighting to peacetime garrison duty. Service Award Recipients 46 members of the regiment received the Medal of Honor for service during this period: First Lieutenant George W. Baird, regimental adjutant, 30 September 1877, Bear Paw Mountain, Montana First Lieutenant Frank Baldwin, commanding a scout company, McClellans Creek, Tex., 8 November 1874. This was his second award (one of 19 two-time recipients); first award was during the Civil War (Captain, Company D, 19th Michigan Infantry, Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 12 July 1864) Musician John Baker, Company D, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc. Private Richard Burke, Company G, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc. Captain Edmond Butler, 8 January 1877, Wolf Mountain, Montana Sergeant Dennis Byrne, Company G, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc. Private Joseph A. Cable, Company I, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc. Private James S. Calvert, Company C, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc. First Lieutenant Mason Carter, 30 September 1877, Bear Paw Mountain, Montana Captain James S. Casey, 8 January 1877, Wolf Mountain, Montana Sergeant Aquilla Coonrod, Company C, October 1876 – January 1877, Cedar Creek, Montana, etc. Sergeant William De Armond, Company I, 9 – 11 September