, 1877-08-18
GREAT BATTLE IN MosTANi.
egrAr sLAUoHrER on BoTH SIDES.

GREAT SLAUGHTER on 10th SIDES,
DEER LODGE, Aug 1I-9A Nv Il
Edwards has just arrived from Big Hole
bringing accounts Of terrible battle be-
tween Gibbons command and the Aez
Perces on the Big Hole river, August 9th-
Gibbons command consisting of lS2 men,
II officers, I33 regulars and 32 citizen
volunteers, crossed over from Ross Hole
to near the Big Hole ON Wednesday
Starting at ii o'clock on the same night
they moved down all the troops, with the
exception of few left TO guard the trans
portation few miles above close TO the
Indian camp. which was made On Big
Hole about three miles below where the
Bitter Root and Bannack trail crosses.
At daylight 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 fighting occurred for the next two
hours, during which time number Of
men and Indians were killed. The sol
diers then charged ON the lodges, but
were repulsed in the attempt. The In
dams then attempted 10 cut them of from
high wooded point, but the soldiers
charged them, and driving the Indian ad-
vance from it held ii and at once fortified.
Fighting continued here all day, and was
still progressing fitfully when the courier
LETT. At IL o'clock the fighting was DIS
perate on both sides, the full force of the
Indians being in the fight. Capt. Logan
and Lieut. Bradley were killed General
Gibbon, Capt William and Lieuts. Cool
idge, English and Woodruff were wound
ed, Gen Gibbon only slightly. Bradley
was the first man killed.
The message says that after they failed
to capture the lodges, the Indians moved
their camp off IN the direction of Bannack.
All their horses being captured the mes
senger had to come to French gulch,
nearly 90 miles, on foot Another mes
senger was sent to Gen. Howard, who
should have reached there to-day.
The howitzer had been left SIX miles be-
hind, and was ordered to be moved up at
daylight. During the fight they heard
it discharged twice and then it was silent.
A land of Ind ans soon after appeared
with a large band of horses, and 1t is be-
heved all the horses of the command, the
gun, their supplies, reserve ammunition,
etc, were captured. Gen. Gibbon thought
when the courier left that he had still one
hundred effective men, and believed the
Indians had nearly all Withdrawn from
his front. Tn: messenger says he thinks
one hundred Indians were killed, and
nearly half the command, including citi-
zens were killed or wounded Gen. Glib
bon has sent for medicines, surgeons, sup
plies, etc. DR.. Mitchell VIII leave to-day
with an escort. G,n. Gibbon particular
ly asks for ambulance wagons TO come
under escort, and every available wagon
will go forward from here and Butte. 1t
vas one Of the hardest Indian fights on
record, and Gibbons command made a
most gallant and desperate fight against
overwhelming numbers.
DEER LODGE, Aug. 11-f0 A. M.-GOt
all the men wa want here to escort wagons.
We are rushing up wagons, stores, ice,
etc Eighty out Of 1S2 are killed or
wounded,
FURTHER PARTICULARS or GIBBONS FIGHT.
HELENA, MoyT., Aug. IA courier
from Gen. Gibbon arrived az Deer Lodge,
Montana, at 3 80 P. 81. to-day with da es
to the llth. Gibbons supply train and
camp was not captured as first reported.
There was no f5hting after the frst day 5
hattie on the 9th. Gihbca's lasses are
Killed-Capt. LOGAN, Lieuis. Bradley and
Bostwick, II men and ) c:tizerS, Iha
wounded-Ge..G Gibbon, Capc. Williams,
Lieuts. Coolidge, Woodruff and English,
the later seriously, besides 90 men and
citizens. The Indians suffered sever y,
as 20 dead Indians were counted On about
one-half of the battle field. Howard had
arrived and would pursue the iEdians rs
soon as his command arrived. GeLeral
Gibbon would move 10 Deer Lodge and
take his wounded to Fort Shaw as soon rs
medical aid and transportation arrived
The Indians had disapp AIRED, in which di-
rection has not Yet been learned.