, 1877-08-13
BIG HOLE PASS.
Gloomy Exposition Of the
Prowess Of the North
American Indian.
The Homeric Art Of War Accord
ing to Custer Again Severe
ly Rebuked.
Gen. Gibbon, with 1872 Men,
Attacks a Superior
Force.
His Handful Of Soldiers Over
whe1med and Him
self Wounded.
The Fearful Loss Of Twenty-Five
Killed and Forty-Fiye
Wounded.
Pitiful Appeals Of the Stricken
Comnander..-Howardss
Hurrying.

Hurrying.
Special Df.pa.eA 10 7nt Tribune.
HELENA, MoNr.. VIA SALT LAKE, Aug. II.
"A scout from Big-Holo Pass las Just como
in with dispatches from Con. Gibbon, III
command Ut detachment Of tho Uuitot1
States forccs and reports terrible battle at
tho mouth Of Dig.11o1e Pass on Thurs.
day. Gen. Gibbons command numbered 1873
regulars, thirty.two volunteers, and seven-
teen officers. They have been for soma timo
pressing tho Nex perces, mud following them
In tho hope Of M engagement, but camo
upon them unexpectedly, and at time whon
the troops wero not prepared for general
battle. A few OF the command Ind
been left behind to guard trnns-
portation, mud howitzor was some
distance in tho rear, In charge Of Lieuten-
ant md several men. At daylight the fight
opened, and IN O short time all the soldiers
and all tho Indians wero hotly engaged in q
desperate battle. Tho Indians wero cyi-
IDENTIFY surprised, for thcir lodges were
planted, and 1t became 1nattcr Of duty
to protect them. Tho troops ,nassed
and moved in ano order upon tho
cncampmsnt, whore they were met by tho
sayagea, wAa poured q morciless fire into
their rankz: Wherever the soldiers slrcctot,
their attack the Indians were ready for
thom, and they wero driven back with terri
bio slaughter, leaving tho ground strewn
with dead soldiers. Tho indians lost many
OF their ponies, aud 1t IS claimed that several
of their Chiefs wore killed.
In oue Of the most desperate charges Of
tho day Capt, Logan was killed. Lieut..
Bradley fell carly in tho fight. Gen. Glib
bon, Capt. Williuins. md Liouts. Coolidge,
English, and Woodruff wore wounded.
SECOND DISPATCH.
Special Dspatea to TIE Tribune.
HELENA, Mosr., VIA SALT LAKE, Aug.
11.-Another courier ia just In, demanding
medicines and aid for tho wounded I1c
describes tue battle rs tho hottest ho over
heard OF. Throughout The engagement tho
Indians wero vindictiye mud determined
upon the annihilation Of tho troops. They
oulnumbored tho troops ten 10 one, and,
though doc,Hive advantages were gained by
GiIbon, In tho earlier stages Of the fight, it
was plain at Inst that retroat WIS necessary
to aave the troops from complete demolition.
Tho volunteers oponad tbs bali by firing
upon al 1ndian who WIN going for water
aho regulars 'no'o'! up anu 'os1nng'h open
i'ae, oashco upon Tue .na'an amp supported
p5 tho voi"hteeia ac''oe "a 1esef'eS. 1hey
renchcd tho village, when they staggered
back under q pitilcas fro from thu redskins,
Ana ts,leatea SUIT a's'"nce' fioey were
w. ''.' .o!o"sa, ana .n's, WIN III "pla1e"t
.onlu..on .,au1' aaous .t'o 1na'ahs. oneoafasoa
o .',,. ~ o.o" ,''. NV o"a'se' "Als'4 .noy ou'
49, sus s44'v 40 .us4t1I''noat "no af'slns
=. 'e .o'. ..' 'Ao1A
49,, ~" 'aa..m.' Lo 49, su's ~.a a.oo'a pssaa 70 'o"'
.N. .,....,. 49, s' ''ss'o '.''o' iote'a tae
III, ,,,,a 's1sa~s W. 49,. se "aa LUCK nearly
.a@' .,' '' ,'s.' ""' Hne''ce oen'no
' . .,.a,. .ss.s, aaa .1t , nuo'nuf eaos.
.,a, ,,. RI r 49, a,,,r ~. ~ taa a, $" Ivy .".''a
.11'S '"'' N">@ ~ e, ~, " oooso"t' pat
'oe.ncu w e@eo s.ao: "'o"ea a1"oh8 the
focRs anu taxing coo! aan1 at tne men az they
passed. Pushing forward. they reached tie
outakirts OF the village, but encountered such
q terrible shower of bullets that they wuy.r.
cd and than broka and ,ra,,e thar w.v bach
az al best th.y could. harassed iii the way by
49,. af-.,, a,u,,,, ~ -o.I,,
"s41N w 14 '... ae a|A. Wv 49,. ~,
u VIVA III '@'s a'8' ou"'9" 'aas oo"' u'o-
bon WIS wounded. slnd'n8 that another
attack would wreck even tlIo remnant OF his
forco, la intrenched himself, paying atten-
ton TO the wants Of his wounded.
rho cnurier .st,n,ates tho nunber NJ ti1t.
81 =. .,..,,... IT,. .nd ~. ,~onndsd ~ t.a,,,
y" s ~ '"s" a's @4'+ ~. .Ae "oeo .. ''41'
v. /