The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1877-08-25
HELENA, Montana, Aug. H. The

crau BIO HOLE, NJ. T., Aug. 8 1877
To Coz. Potts Had a hard iigh
with Nez Perces, killing number au,
losing a number OF officers and men
We are here near the mouth of Big
Hole Pass with a large number OF
wounded in want Of everything-food
clothing, medicines and medical attend
ance. Send us assistance at once.
JOHN GIBBON, Col. u. s. A.
To Coz. Potts: We had hard fight
and took. the village but were finally
driven back with heavy loss. Capt.
Logan and Lieut.. Bradley are killed
Gen. Gibbon and Lieuts. Coolidge, Eng
lish and Woodruff wounded English
seriously, the others, slightly. The
troops are entrenched and the Indians
were leaving when the messenger left.
DEER LODGE, Aug. 10 A. NJ
w. IL: Edwards has just arrived from
Big Hol, bringing accounts of a terri
BILE battle between Gibbon's command
and the Nez Perces on Big Hole river,
Aug. 9th. Gibbons command consist
ed of lS2 men, II officers, 1873 regulars
and 30 citizen volunteers crossed over
from Ross Hole to near the Big Hole
on Wednesday. Starting at IL o'clock
onthe same night they moved down all
the troops with the exception of a few
left to guard the transportation few
miles above close to the Indian camp,
which was made on Big Hole about
three mil IS below where the Bitter
Root and Bannack trail crosses. At day
light this morning the fight was opened
by the volunteers firing on and killing
an Indian going after horses The
charge was then made on the camp and
hard Sighting occurred for the mex, two
hours, during which number of men
and Indians were killed. The soldiers
then charged on the lodges, but we're
repulsed in the attempt. The Indians
then attempted to cut them off from
high wooded point, but the soldiers
charged them, and driving the Indian
advance from it held it and at once for
tilted. Fighting continued here all day
and was still progressing ftfully when
the courier left. At Ii o'clock the
fighting was desperate on both sides.
the full force Of the Indians being in
the fight. Capt. Logan aud Lieut..
Bradley were killed.. Gen. Gibbon,
Capt. Williams and Lieuts. Coolidge,
English and Woodruff were wounded,
Gen. Gibbon only slightly. Bradley
was the first man killed. The messen.
ger says that after they failed to cap
ture the lodges, the Indians moved off
in the direction of Bannack. All thex
horses being captured the mcssengeA
had to come to French Gulcb, nearly 80
miles, % foot. Another messenger was
sent to GIN. Howard, who should have
reached there to-day. The howitzer
had been left six miles behind, and was
ordered TO be moved up at daylight.
During the fight they heard it dis.
charged twice and then it was silent.
A baud Of Indians soon after appeared
with large band Of horses, aud it is
believed all the horses of the command,
the gun, their supplies, reserve ammS>
milton, etc., were captured. Gen. Glib.
bon thought when the courier left there
he had still one hundred efficient men
and believed the Indians had
nearly all Withdrawn, from his front.
The messenger says he thinks one
hundred Indians we're killed, and near
y half the command, including citizens
we're killed or wounded. Gen. Gibbon
has sent for medicine, surgeons. supplies
etc. DR.. Mitchell will leave to-day with
IN escort. Gen. Gibbon particularly
asks for ambulance wagons to come IN.
der escort, and every available wagon
viii 80 forward from here and Butte. |