The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-13
From the INDIAN Country,
A BATTLE WITH GENERAL. GIBBONS COMMA

A BATTLE WITH GENERAL GIBBONS COMMAND.
HELENA. MONTANA. August 1.-The fol-
lowing was received this morning: H..
. Biz Hole, Montana. August 9.-General
Potts had a hard fight with the Nezperces,
killing number AID losing number OF
officers and men. We need doctor and
everything. Send us such relief as you can.
[Signedl .-:.e. JoHS GIBDoN, a..
. 50. - ..rf.r Colonel Commanding.
Biz Hole, August $40 General Potts {:
We are here, near the mouth'of Big Hole
pass, with-a large plumber Of wounded in
want OF evcrything-food, clothing, medi-
cine, and medical attendance. Send Us as
siStance at once. - '.' 49,
rSjgped1 .s.,.,.l- JOHN GIBBoS, b.
Colonel United States Army. Commanding.
And the dispatch to General Potts says:
We had hard fight and took the village,
but were finally driven back, with heavy:
loss. Captain Logan and Lieutenant Brad
lev are killed. General Gibbon and Lieu
tenants Coolidge and English are woun ded--
Lieutenant English seriously, and the others
slightly. The troops are cntrenched, and
the Indians. leaving. When the messenger
was leaving, General Gibbon SAID: II want
an escort sufficient to protect the wagons
which are coming in to relieve us. Lead
the wagons lightly as possible. The Indians
have cut me off from my.supplles." 90;
Deer Lodge, Montana, August l1--9 H..
NV. III. Edwards has just arrived from
Big Hole bringing accounts OF terrible
battle between General Gibbons's command
and the NezperceS, on the Big Hole
river, August 9Th. Gibbons'S command,
consisting Of 1872 men. seventeen officers,
113 regulars, and thirty-tWo citizens, vol
unteers, crossed over from Ross Hole OH
Wednesday. Starting at II O'Clock the
same night they moved down all the troops
with the exception Of few left to guard
the transportation, few miles above,
close to the Indian camp, which was
on the, Big Hole about three miles below
where the. Bitter, Root and Bannock tran
crosses. -At,daybrc;lk the fight opened by
the volunteers firing OH an Indian gong
after the horses. The charge was then
made on the camp, and some hard lighting
took place in the next two hours, during
which time large numbers Of men and In
dans@ were Is killed. The soldiers then
charged the lodges, but were ropulsed. The
Indians then attempted to cut the soldiers
of from high wooden point, but the latter
charged and beat them back. The indians
advanced from the point which they held,
and at once fortified. The lighting contln-
ued all day. and was still progressing hit
fully when the courier left. AT IL O'Clock
the fighting was desperate on both sides.
The messenger says that after they failed
to capture the lodge the Indians moved
their camp off in the direction OF Bannock.
All OF the troops horses were captured, and
the messenger had to come to French Gulcb,
nearly sixty miles, on foot. Another mes
senger was sent to Howard, who should
have reached there to-day. The howitzer
had been left six miles behind, and was or
dered to be moved up Mt daylight During
the fight they heard it discharged
twice and then it was silent. A
band OF Indians soon after appeared.
with a number OF horses, and it is believed
that all the horses of the command, the gun
supplies, and reserve ammunition were cap
tured. When the courier left, General Glib
bon thought he still had n hundred effective
men, and believed that nearly all OF the
Indians had withdrawn from his front.
The messenger says he thinks 600 In
dams were killed, and that nearly half
of the command, including the citi-
zens. were killed or wounded. General
Gibbon has sent for medicines, surgeon
supplies, etc. DIR. Mitchell will leave to-
day with an escort. General Gibhon asks
for NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to ome.under escort.
Every available wagon will 60 forward
from here. This is one Of the hardest In
dian fights on record, and General Glib
bon's command made a most gallant and
desperate fight against overwhelming odds.
SIC Deer Lodge; August lilo n. M.--To
General Potts: We have all the, men we
want here to escort wagons. I'VE are rush
ing out wagons, stores, ice, etc. Eighty. or
100 are killed or wounded. rsr ..,,,r.-.y g." 49,