Article from 1903:
Bear’s Paw Battle Burials
GIVEN NEW BURIAL. Soldiers Who Perished in Indian War Reinterred. Havre. Aug. 21.
“- The remains of the twenty soldiers who fell in the battle of Bear Paw 25 years ago were transported today from their temporary resting place on the old battle ground to the post cemetery at Assiniboine. A week ago a detachment of soldiers were detailed to go up Snake creek and exhume the bodies of the dead heroes. They completed their work Thursday and departed for Assiniboine. “The bones of the men were found just as they had been laid a quarter of a century ago after the battle of the Bear Paw. Occasionally fragments of clothing brass buttons and here and there a belt buckle was found, but other than this there was nothing that would lead to the identity of any of the bodies. The bones were all collected with care and placed in heavy cloth sacks. They will be buried at the' post with proper exercises. “Historically the battle of the Bear Paw marked an Important epoch in the history of the early Indian warfare. It was at that battle that Chief Joseph surrendered to General Howard and General Miles, who were then directing the campaign, after a march of more than a thousand miles from Idaho, where the chase after the Nez Perces started.
“The officers, Captain Hale and Lieutenant Beadle*, were killed in the engagement, as well as the twenty enlisted men whose bodies were exhumed this week. Colonel Maus who was chief of General Miles, staff at the time of the general's retirement was also in the battle.
“General Miles visited Assiniboine a year and a half ago and instituted an inquiry as to the whereabouts of the bodies of the soldiers who fell in the battle of the Bear Paw. It was generally supposed that they had been transferred to one of the national burying grounds and it was subsequently discovered that the bodies lay in a ranch at Snake creek Just as they had been interred the day after the memorable battle.”
*Lt Johnathan W. Biddle
Fergus County Argus. (Lewistown, MT.) Aug 26, 1903. .
Note: Fort Assiniboine closed in 1911. At some point in the 1920's the remains were moved to the Custer National Cemetery. They were buried in a common grave with other soldiers from Fort Keogh. The monument was moved from Fort Keogh to mark the spot. is likely that the remains were transferred to Fort Keogh after Fort Assiniboine closed in 1911, then re-interred at the present site when Keogh closed in 1924.
Medal of Honor winner, Corporal John Haddo, was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Beasr's Paw.
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