The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-09-20
THE BATTLE OF BIG HOLE.
General John Gibbons Official
Report.
Graphic Description Of Holly Contested
StrugoIe-Montanians Aiding the
Nez Perces-Galiantry Of
the Soldiers.

Chicago, Sept. 19.-Gen. Sheridan is
In receipt of the official report of the
battle Of Big Hole, Montana, August
9th, and the operations in that district
preceding the battle. Col. Gibbon re-
fleets severely on the inhabitants of
Montana, who sustained the murderous
Nez Perces by trading off provisions
for stock stolen by them from the
whites, thus prolonging their fight and
adding to the danger Of pursuit. The
best estimate Of their strength gave
them 26o warriors, well armed and
equipped. By forced marches Gibbon
came up with 1872 men and citizens.
The attack was made late in the night,
the Indians being completely surprised,
but as they Immediately sought the
bushes for shelter, and poured their
volleys into the troops, and as the lat
ter came into open ground, they did
considerable execution. However, in
twenty minutes the whole camp was in
possession Of the troops, the Indians
being driven out, still shooting with
deadly effect at long range. By
change of base shelter was obtained,
and retaliatory firing was commenced
with equal destruction of Indian life.
The Indians meantime had captured
the howitzer, which was coming on
under escort and on mule-back, the
two privates who were with it fleeing
incontinently and leaving the officers
to an unequal fight. During the day
various strategies were employed,
but it was IL p. m. before the
Indians withdrew. On the 11th the
dead were buried. Gen. Howard came
up the same day, but too late to render
assistance. The report speaks in terms
of highest praise of the conduct of
officers and men, and mentions only
few of the killed and wounded as
chiefly noteworthy for bravery. A
complete list is appended, showing 90
killed and 40 wounded. The burial
party report s3 dead Indians in the
field, and 6 more found dead in ravine
some distance from the battle field.
The killed are as follows: Second
Cavalry: Go. A-Capt. VIM. Logan,
Private John Smith; Co. B-First 1t.
Jas. H. Bradley; Co. D-Corporals W.
Fl. Payne, Jacob Eysenhut and Musi-
clan Francis Gallagher; Co. E-Private
Mathew Butterfly; Co. F-Privates w.
d. Pomeroy and Jas. MCGUIRE; Co.
G-First Sergt. Robt. L. Edgeworth,
Sergt. VIM. H. Martin, Corporals DOM
nick O'Conner, Robt. E. Sale, Privates
John O'Brien and Gottlieb Maise; Co.
H-Private McKincle; Co. Sergeant
Michael Hogan, Corporal Daniel Nc
Caffrey, Private Herman Broetz; Co.
K-First. Fred Stortz, Musician Thos.
Stinebaker, Artificer John Kleis; Co.
L-Sergt. Edward Page.
Among the wounded are Col. John
Gibbon, 7th Infantry, left thigh
seriously; First Lieut.. c. A. Codige,
Private James c. Lahmer, Charles Al
berts, Lorenzo D. Brown, Sergt. Patrick
O'Daly, Corporal John Murphy, Musi-
clan Timothy Cronin, Private James
Keys, Sergts. VIM. Wright, James q.
Bell, Capt Constant Williams, sergt.
VIM W. Watson (died), Corporal Chris
tian Sullivan, Private Geo. Manser.
The citizen volunteers killed were
Myron Lockwood, Otto Lyford, Jacob
Baker and VIM. Ryan. H. $. Bost-
wick, the post guide, was killed.