Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-08-16

Looking Glass, and Whitebird's
bands. Just after daylight small
party of savages, unaware of the
close proximity of the troops, started
after their herd, grazing some dis
lance off. The volunteers opened
fire on these Indians, thus beginning
the sht. The village was immed-
iately charged, and first it appeared
that tho Indians were panic.stricken
and would make no resistance to the
expltant soldiers, who hurled voley
after volley into their tepees with
deadly effect, but, on recovering from
their momentary panic, the redskins
turned on thor pnrsuers, and yelling
like demons, swarmed from their
tents, oeedle-guns in hand, and pour
cd volley of lead into the whites,
killing fifteen men at the volley, in
Gliding Lieut.. Bradley, and Capt.
logan, who at the head OF their COM
panres, penetrated TO the very heart
of the village. This binding sheet
of fire staggered the brave body of
whites, and when the red devils, out
numbering them two to one, charged
| with the knife and tom lhawk, there
was no alternative but to retreat.
The gallant little band was undis-
mayed by the fret repulse, however.
aud again rushed with cheers to the
attack, only to be again met with
calling volley, sweeping them back
broken and bleeding with terrible
loss.
CHARGE AFTER CHARGE
was made, but the iniuriatod and
desperate savagos fought Ike pau
theirs, and tho noble little band of
whites was at last compelled TO seek
refuge in the timber. Even this
movement was fraught with peril, for
full hundred indians were pouring
volleys into the whites from this
very wood. The Indians were driven
out, however, and the remnant of the
brave command who had followed
thoir generalithat fat al morning, forti-
fled themselves in the shelter OF the
woods. But the fight was not yet
over, the Indians now becoming the
ASSISTANTS and throwing themselves
TO death in futile endeavors to drive
the whites into the open prairie. At
night the firing ceased and the ex-
hausted whites had breathing spell
but by no means comfortable one,
for there were scores of wounded
DYING FOR LACK OF CARE,
and their lrrepressible groans made
more gloomy the naturally desperate
condition. Early in the fight the In
dians had broken communications
with the supply train, and tho COM
mand in the woods was destitute of
food for themselves or medical at
tendance for the wounded. At this
juncture, one Edwards, u brave citi-
zen, volunteered to 90 for help, and
at IL O'Clock started on his perilous
errand under cover of night. The
Nez Percos had captured all the
horses, and he was compelled to foot
it for 60 miles to French Gulch,
where he obtained o fleet footed
horse, and reached Deer Lodge this
morning with brief dispatches from
Gibbon asking for physicians, medi.
cine, clothing, ambulances, etc. Glib.
bon did not, of course, know his ex-
act loss when he wrote, but says it
is hosvy. The messenger says the
soldiers and volunteers killed and
wounded number, at least one hun
dred, and that Gibbon himself esti-
mated the loss at eighty-fve. Tho
Indians lost from eighty to one hun
dred killed, and perhaps half that
number wounded These figures
are no doubt exaggerated, but it is
certain the whites lost heavy and
the Indians will never forget
THE BATTLE OF THE BIG HOLE
The messenger from Glbbon thinks
there can be no doubt that the sup
ply train, horses, mountain howitzers,
etc, fell into the bands of the Nez
Perces. If SO, of course, tho escort
was murdered.
Among the wounded are Gibbon
himself, Capt. Williamson and Lieuts.
English, Coolidge and Woodruff.
Mono Of the above arc seriously hurt
except English. Whom Edwards was
sent, another courier was dispatched
to Lolo Canon, where Howard was
camped on the day Of the battle, the
9th, aud
HowARD's COMMAND
has probably relieved Gibbon before
now. Everything that Gibbon asked
.
front. Physicians, nurses and sup
plies are already far on the road.
Within fifseen minutes after the news
WIS received here, the Helena mer-
chants subscribed $4,000 and sent it
to Deer Lodge by telegraph. In less
than an hour after the courier reach
cd Deer Lodge, one hundred and
fifty armed men were in the saddle
to escort the scores of wagons which
were pressed into service. Intense
excitement prevails throughout Mon
tana, and il is the general belief that
unless the mostdesperate aud hurried
mca3ures are taken, massacres sur
passing in horror any that ever oc-
Cured in America are almost certain.
The savages were retiring from
Gibbons front when the courier left,
aud, mad with blood, unless restrain
ed, they will sweep southern Mon
tana. Every available gun is in the
hands of settlers in the exposed Sec
tions, and the general government
must lend o hand.
.uu~.~-~.-x-.~x-~~~~xzu~-x-~~x
THE suggestion Of tho name of
General Risk for Chairman of the
| Republican State Central Commit
tee, is an excellont one. 1t will
meet with hearty response from