, 1877-08-12
And, After a Desperate and
Bloody Series Of Charges,
He Is Driven Back, Leaving Half His
Force on the Field.
a Handful Of Troops Against .orer One
Thousand Indians,
DEATH AND DEFEAT,

=
THE FIGHT AT B1o-HoLE PASS
Special Dt:patea to The Tribune.
HE1ExA, MoxT., VIA SALT LAKE, Ang. II.
"A scout from Big-Hole Pass has just come
in with dispatches from Gen. Gibbon, in
command of detachment Of the United
States forces, and reports terrible battle at
the mouth Of Big-Hole Pass on rhurs~
day. Gen. Gibbons command numbered 133
regulars, thirty-two volunteers, and seven-
teen officers. They have been for some time
pressing the Nez Perces, and following them
in the hope Of m engagement, but came
upon them Unexpectedly, aud at time when
the troops were not prepared for general
battle 4 few Of the command had
been lett behind to guard INNS
portatiou, and howi6er was some
distance in the rear, IN charge OF Lieuten-
ant and several men At daylight the fight
opened, and in short time all the soldiers
and all the Indians were hotly engaged in a
desperate battle. The Indians were evi-
IDENTIFY surprised, for their lodges were
planted, and it became a matter OF duty
to protect them. The troops massed
aud moved in fine order upon the
encampment, where they were met by the
savages. who poured merciless fire into
their ranks. Wherever the soldiers directed
their attack the Indians were ready for
them, and they were driven back with terri
ble slaughter, leaving the ground sEewn
with dead soldiers. The Indians lost many
Of their ponies, and it is claimed that several
of their Chiefs were killed
In one of the most desperate charges Of
the day Capt. Logan was killed, Lieut.
Bradley fell early in the fight. Gen. Glib
bon, Capt Williams. and Lieuts- Coolidge,
English, and Woodruff were wounded.
SECOND prsPA1oH-
Special Di*patcA to The Tribune.
HELENA, MoNr., VIA SALT LAKE, Aug.
11.-Another courier is Just in, demanding
medicines and aid for the wounded He
describes the battle as the hottest be ever
hearl Of Throughout the engagement the
Indians were vindictive and determined
upon the annihi1ation of the troops. They
outnumbered the troops ten to one, and,
though decisive advantages were gained BY
Gibbon, in the earlier stages Of the fight, it
was plain at last that retreat was necessary
to save the troops from complete demolition
The volunteers opened the ball by firing
upon an Indian who was going for wnter.
The regulars moved up, and, for1ningin open
line, dashed upon the Indian camp, supported
by the volunteers acting as reserves. They
reached the village, when they staggered
back under pitiless fire from the redskins,
aud retreated short distance. They were
not followed, aud this, with m apparent
confusion among the Indians, encouraged
them to renew the charge, which they did,
rushing into the ancampment and driving
the savages before them
It was here that numbers began to tell,
aud deadly fire from these sides forced the
troops through the village and back nearly
half a mile, where they found shelter behind
the rocks, and reformed for another effort.
As they pressed forward again, they found
that they had not only foe to confront, but
foenen on each side; hidden among the
rocks and taking cool aim at the men IS they
passed. Pushing forward they reached the
outskirts of the village, but encountered such
| a terrible shower OF bullets that they wayer.
ed and then broke and made their way bach
| as best they could, harassed all the way BY
a flank fire from among the rocks.
It was in this Inst charge that Gen Glib
bon was wounded. Finding that another
| attack would wreck even the remnant Of hi
force, he intrenched himself, paying atten
| ton to the wants Of his wounded.
| The courier estimates the number OF kill
ed at twenty-five and the wounded at from
thirty-d7e to forty. The loss among the In
dams was much heavier, aud that they sui
fered severely is proven by their refusal *
| follow the retreating troops.
Had the howitzer come up, there Is bu1
| little doubt that the result would have beer
| different. Il was heard to IRE twice, ane
since then it has not been heard from, ane
it is supposed to have been captured BY the
| Indians.
After the fight the Indians packed "