Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-14

Desperate FtsAsass ana . Dcei.ivc ysess.
~ Gainsa.
Salt Lake, Utah, Asasil-The following
VA reeeived this moe4ine:. =
Big Hole, Montaia August .9-To Gov.
Potts We had a hard 1eEht With the M
EesuaS killing a number SAd. tusiua ( mum.
her Of doicers aud men,. We neeJfa doctor
and everything. Send us such relief q Won
can.
lsignedl JOHN GmDoS,
Big Hole Aag. 9-Te Gov. Potts; We
ale here aear The month of Rig Hole pan,
WITH 9 large number Of wounded andin want
u everEthing-tood, clothing, medicines
And medical attendance. Send us assistance
at once.
(Sigasd) JNo. Grnnou
Deer Lodge, Aug. ii, 8 a. NV. III,
Edwards has just arrived from Biz Hole
bringing accounts Of a terrible battle be-
tween Gibbons command and The Nex Per.
ces onthe Big Hole river August 9. Gibbons
command, consisting Of lS2 men, II officers.
lSS regulars and 81 citizens, volunteers
crossed over from Ross Hole on Wednesday.
Starting ct II o'clock ON the same NIGHT
they. moved down all the troops With the ex.
cepoon OF . few LEFT to quart transportation
. lev miles above, close to the Indian camp,
which was made on the Big Hole, three miles
below where the Bitter Root and B,nnock
trail crosses. At daylight this morning he
night opened by the volunteers firing on and
killing an Indian going after horses. A
charge was then made on the camp and hard
lighting occurred for the next two houns
during which time large numbers Of men
and Indians were killed. The soldiers then
charged on the lodges, but were repulped in
the attempt The Indians then sttempted
70 cut them from the high wooded point. but
the soldiers charged, and, driving the Indian
advance from il, held it and at once fortified.
The lighting continued al day, aud was still
progressing ftfully when the courier left at
II o'clock.
The fighting was desperate on both sides.
the full force of the Indians being in the
fight Capt. Logan and Lieut.. Bradley were
killed, and Gen. Gibbon, Capt. Willis ms
and Lieuts. Collidge, English and Woodruff
Mounded-Gen. Gibbon only sliehtly.
Bradley was the first man killed.
The messenger says that after thex failed
70 capture the lodges the Indians moved their
camp OH in the direction of Bannock, All
their horses being captured the messenger
had to come to French gulch, nearly sixty
miles, on foot. Another messenger was sent
to 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
band OF Indians soon after appeared with a
large number of horses and it il believed
al! the horses of the command, guns, sun.
plies, reserve ammunitio IN, etc were cap-
tured.
Gen. Gibbon thought when the courier
left there that he still had 100 effective men
and believed the Indians had nearly an
Withdrawn from his front.
The messenger says he thinks 100 Indians
were killed, and nearly half Of the command,
including citizens, were killed or wounded.
Gen. Gibbon has sent for medicines. sur
geons, supplies, etc.
DR.. Mitchell will leave to-day with an
escort.
Gen. Gibbon particularly asks for ambu.
lance wagons to come under escort, and
every available wagon will go forward from
here and Butte.
It was one of the hardest fights on record
and Gibbons command made . most gallant
and desperate fight against overwhelming
Deer Lodge, Aug. IL, lOa. m.-Governor:
we want men to escort wagons. We are
rushing up wagons, stores, ice, etc. Eighty
OF one hundred are killedHo or wounded