The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-26
Butte Department..
In REPLY TO IRWIN
Adjutant Woodruff Defends the Action
of General Gibbon.
HE SAYS HE WASN'T LICKED"
And Also That the Dead Warrior
Was Not Ungrateful to the
People of Montana
Many Quotations.
HE SAYS HE WASN'T LICKED
To the Editor of the Standard:

ION General Gibbon. An Account of
the Big Hole Battle, by G.. w. Irwin, "
which contains some truths and several
errors and which is chiefly remarkable
for the reason that this kick was pa
tiently held back for 1914 years and de-
livered three days after General Glib
hons death.
The article is not as incorrect in
statement as in sentiment, but | will
Try and correct both. Mr.. Irwin is
mistaken when he states that the at
tack was precipitated by a shot made
against positive orders" i was adj
jugant, and / know that the advance
was ordered and commenced before a
shot was fired. 1t would have been an
unqualified success If Gibbon had had
men enough to cover the whole front Of
the Indian camp, as this would have
prevented the Indians from getting
around his TANKS and into the brush.
When they did this he had to seek
cover.
The article states there were about
Us warriors but they were encum-
bered by their familjss and band of
5000 horses" that There were about
l60 regulars" and 'the settlers, so of
whom Joined the troops" I'm the ex-
pressive language of the street." Mr..
Irwin says, that General Gibbon was
most beautifully licked by a smaller
force"
As to numbers, General Gibbons at
lacking force was II officers, 1872 en-
listed men and "a cftiZens-1S3 in all.
General Howard. who fought these In
dians with more than 400 men, places
the number who fought him at fully
800 warriors. and he says that two
thirds of these went with Joseph. This
chief was Joined in the Bitter Root
valley by Is lodges under Poker Joe.
This was an addition of at least 80
warriors. Some 25 Bannocks were
present and participated in the fight,
and the number captured by General
Miles, killed in the several fights and
those who escaped under White Bird,
would indicate that Towards estimate
was more nearly correct. But taking
Mr.. Twins secondhand estimate. with
the reenforcements received prior to
the fight, and we have 1873 whites
against 236 bucks, and l know that the
squaws and older children took a hand
in the fight.
Now in reference to this beautiful
licking that Mr. Irwin gloats over:
Gibbon took the village and burned
several OF the lodges and was then
compelled TO get to cover, which he
did a thousand yards away; at IL p.
an. he reported that the Indians were
leaving: the next day he brought up
his train. and the second day after the
fight, or Aug. IL, General Howard ar
rived, and he says
! was intensely anxious for Gibbons
command till l came in sight of 1t. His
wagons were then near his fortified camp
his men were bathing and washing their
clothes at the creek and the horses graz
ing quietly In the bottom. There was no
sign of an enemy in the vicinity. On
.-l.N IL.
wooded point just above the willow bot
tom. we found Colonel Gibbons command
covered by small barbados. within
which were many wounded men. includ-
ing Colonel Gibbon himself. but all cheer
full and confident, as troops are wont TO
be who have remained i'm position and
slept on the field OF battle.
Eugene Lent of Missoula, who was in
the fight. said:
This was unquestionably one of the
most brilliant Indian fights that ever took
place. The officers of the noble old Sew
enth were all the braVest of the brave
and they infused their heroic spirit into
the men and volunteers under them.
There was no failing and alnching in
their duty anywhere. General Gibbon was
among the men in posts of
danger, leading them on TO deeds of valor.
The number of wounded among the Off
GERS of the regiment Is evidence that they
did not put themselves in places of safety.
Volunteers fought side by side with en-
listed men. They announce their readi-
ness to go anywhere and at any time
when General Gibbon calls them.
The Helena Herald said:
The most valiant and desperate fight
yet occurring in this Nez Perces war was
made by General Gibbons command and
a handful of assisting volunteers on the
edge OF the Big Hole prairie. The COM
mand fought with the desperation of vet
Grams, and their leader-the hero of South
added another leaf to the
aurels OF half a hundred desperate fights
Ordered to stop n vastly superior number
Of Indians with an inferior force, he new
Pr hesitated to obey. but struck them as
Hereby and skilfully as possible. March
Ing his troops by night. he came on them
In the early daylight and attacked so un-
eNpectedly as even TO surprise their herd
FRS. Evidently obtaining all the advan-
Jage Of so tudicious an attack. his men
forced the fighting and crowded back the
Indians out OF their very camp Here
however, their superior numbers began TO
tell. Rallying. they checked the offensive
Of the troops and obliged
them to defend all the advantages they
had gained
W. ii. Edwards, the citizen who took
the first dispatch 20 Deer Lodge. really
a wonderful feat, passing through the
lines. walking over 40 miles and rid
ng 40 more, all inside of "a hours.
said:
IL is one OF the hardest Indian fights on I
-ecord. and Gibbons command made a
n7st gallant and desperate fight against
numbers. The fighting at
he stream was desperate and dead bod
es OF Indians and whites fell and fioated
Town together.
Mr.. Edwards says men or officers
never fought better I'm the world and
mat Gibbon Is as brave as a lion.
Eight days after Ehe fight the Mis-
sOulian. conyersant with the facts. said
The Seventh infantry have made rec #
,rd OF which we. as Montanans. must
sver be proud. The volunteers Of this .
'ounty nearly all OF whom were from
Bitter Root valley. have given the world
IN assurance that they are brave men in .
his region. The battle was one Of the .
most decisive that has been fought IN .
-ears and the Indian mothers OF this re-