Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-08-29
GIBBON'S BIG HOLE FIGHT.
ONE OF THE LIvLIEsT ASSAULTS ON AN
INDIAN CAMP ON RECORD


INDIAN CAMP ON RECORD.
The Chicago Times publishes a dis
patch, dated San Francisco, August l3,
which says -
Gibbons command came up within
six miles OF the Indian camp on the 7th.
On the 9Th Lieutenant Bradley and his
party managed to get near enough to
the camp to observe the Indians, and
in the middle of tho night this force
passed within a mile or so of the Indi-
an camp, where General Gibbon and
the main body found them. A short
while after one of the Lieutenants
crawled down and reconnoitred the
Indian position. The central camp
was located across n bend on the north
fork OF the Big Hole river. The lodges
numbered eighty-nine. The stream
was thickly iringcd with willows and
the lodges were pitched on the south
side. Gibbon came up on the north
side. His force was formed on high
bar, one hundred yards from the In
dian camp, where they remained untii
daybreak. Just as daylight had fairly
appeared single Indian on horseback
started to bring in the berd of ponies,
numberingse gseven or eight hundred. He
did not suspect the presence oi the
whites, but rode SO close to bradley 8
command that the Lieutenantsaw they
would be discovered, ana 1t was no
tlme TO take chances so they opened
iire on the ihulan' ki'hng MN ana MS
horse. After firing they instantly
started ior the indian camp. arriving
at the willows that lined the stream,
an Indian rose up and hred at Lieut.
Bradley, killing HIM on the spot. Inc
indian was instantly rlddled wltn Dui-
lets. Before arriving at the willows,
Gibbon had cautioned bradley about
entering the brush, and his men had
called out to him, Hold, Lieutenant,
don't 60 in there + but the fearless
soldier led on. The soldiers charged
across the stream and INTO the indian
camp before the Indians had time 10
escape IRON their lodges Inc atiack
was complete success, but these shots
aroused the Indians. VINO were sleep
ing on their arms and watchlul' sun,
the suddenness OF the attack surprised
them. The Indians rushed out IN tne
widest confusion, the men with guns
boys with knives, and squaws with
pistols, all lighting desperately Inc
Indians were well armed ana had plenty
OF ammunition.
Amongthe lodges desperate hand 70
hand fighting was carried on Tor an
hour and hall. BY this time the In.
dams had recovered from thelrsurpris,e'
They outnumbered the soldiers largely
and now began to night with dessperai'
ton. They fell. back INTO the brush
and to high points commanding inc
camp, and kept NJ. a gaiung hre on inc
command, who then ondeavored 10
burn the camp. Inc canvas iouge,s,
were burned, but inc SKIN iouges Gouiu
not be fired, and the grass ana inc
brush was 100 green 10 tako nre' Con
tlnued occupation oil the camp was use
less Under direction Oh u,ppon .ne
men moved toward a WOODED point
about nan miio on, near 'no canon @
from when inc troops nau come Gown u
Inc INDIANS, seeing .no movement, gu
ueh'Vrou W ,n'o,esPs sns sy" n.'a".n
put the cooi heaueu uehc'a oruorou ~
tnem 70 ngn. 'nc'r way, LII ,saa,'I, no,se
was kiiieu, anu nc was s"os .nrousn
the cal oil inc lcg put al 'he 'nci
go, IN, ana, covering themselves ~
wen as possioie, pusnwnachlhg ngn'
commenced me inu'ahs toIk tneil ,,
usual tactcs' anu 'ho sn"rpSnoo''"e
was ,lvely anu ncrcei
uiopoh expected ms now'.lpi !, !. " Jo,u
nim mere, put tne nght nau p1guu eur. m
ller tnan eHPcc'eu, unu ano ,, nJm.s1e' 0;,,
moved 700 iar uown .nS n'oun,''l', !. 1 s'uo .
Inc lnulans ulssoyereu ,i,,, ~ anu na Paity MY
OF ihem cnargeu 'ne i''''y m, sq"aI ,,' wv
hao charge oi .ne gun, ~ so.u'o,' '''.'','
gave 'nem tne oensnto % ol NY now. now,'Ner
contents, nreu ana loaueu "sa,n, nnu "
al.cr .no seoonu n niu u Wv ..;o,,s ~ e"n anI
tlraW The ptlQ IRON the trunnlOnA unO