 Howard managed only with difficulty to cross the Salmon with his men to confront the Nez Perce, but rather than fight Howard's superior force, the Indians quickly recrossed the river, leaving Howard stranded on the opposite bank and gaining a head start in their flight to elude the U.S. army.The White Bird Battlefield is a area which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.Part or all of it is included in the Nez Perce National Historical Park.