Two Medicine Fight Site

Two Medicine Fight Site is a site on the National Register of Historic Places located roughly 25 miles southeast of Browning, Montana. Also known as "Site of Lewis' Fight with the Blackfeet (July 27, 1806)" the location was the only violent encounter[2] of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was added to the Register on October 6, 1970.

Two Medicine Fight Site
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	about 25 miles southeast of Browning, Montana
Coordinates	48°28′0″N 112°28′0″W
NRHP reference No.	70000361
Added to NRHP	October 6, 1970[1]

Two Medicine Fight Site is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

On July 26, 1806, Lewis, Drouillard and the Field brothers departed Camp Disappointment and traveled down the Marias River. That evening, they encountered eight Piegan Blackfeet and the two parties agreed to camp together at Two Medicine Creek. Eager to facilitate an exchange of information, Lewis wrote, “I found them extremely fond of smoking and plyed them with the pipe untill late at night.” Early the next morning, Lewis and his men awoke as the Blackfeet were attempting to steal their firearms. The Blackfeet were unsuccessful, and one was killed by Rueben Fields. Retreating, the Blackfeet next “indeavored to drive off all the horses.” Lewis shot and (most likely) killed a second Blackfoot, while the remainder escaped with a few of the expedition’s horses. Fearing pursuit and reprisal from a larger band of Blackfeet in the area, Lewis and his men pushed their horses “as hard as they would bear” toward the mouth of the Marias. They arrived the following day, July 28, and reunited with the rest of Lewis’ expeditionary contingent.

The Two Medicine Fight Site represents the first encounter between the Blackfeet Nation and the United States, the first military conflict between the United States and a Plains Tribe, and the only violent encounter between the expedition and American Indians of the entire journey. The site is located on private property within the eastern boundary of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Permission is required for access.[3]