The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-26

west of the Occur d'Alenes nearly 20
years ago.
Going into action with 179 men
against a force OF over 400 warriors, who
were seconded by squaws using pistols
and the arms of their fallen people. and
who were provided with the most ap-
proved weapons. he decimated and de-
moralized. making subsequent conquest
easy, n foe that had become insolent from
success and believed itself invincible
against any force that could be brought
against II. The attack by this Spartan
band was one requiring the highest at
tribute of courage-an unfaltering cour-
age that sustained them throughout the
bloody drama. 1t was a sublime effort,
and must ever stand forth as shining
mark of human achievement.
And In its news columns stated:
Samuel c. Durham, a compositor from
this office. was in the battle, fighting in
Captain Rawns company. Mr.. Durham
says the victory would have been COM
plete IL the attacking force had been
great enough to have allowed II to ex-
tend above and below the Indian village
to prevent the Indians from getting into
the brush by the TANKS; that the Indians,
before they reached the cover of the brush
SHOT wild, were wild with excitement and
were nothing in the face OF the GOODNESS
and intrepedity of the attacking force.
The casualties among the commits
stoned officers is an assurance that they
performed their duties faithfully and we'll.
1t is no wonder that the men, with such
heroic examples before them. made one
of the most gallant Indian fights of mod
ern times and made record for the rem
nant of the noble old Seventh infantry
that has been with US so long, that must
ever cause a thrill of pride to every Mon
tanan.
The writer of this article in an es-
say said
The Il officers were hit II times. Three
were killed or died of wounds, and four
severely wounded The entire command
lost.a killed or mortally wounded and SO
wounded (all but five severely, a larger
percentum of loss than that of the Light
Brigade at Balaklava, but Gibbon had not
Numbered. 1t was not magnificent, but Il
was war.
The Indians left 50 dead unburied on the
field and Joseph is said TO have admitted
loss of POS killed or MORALLY wounded,
70 more than Gibbon took into the fight
When the command reached the foot of
the Rocky mountains at Ross Hole, the
head of the Bitter Root, and found the
Indians had crossed the mountains, many
of the citizens became discouraged: they
were out of provisions and their affairs
at home demanded their attention.
But the general assured them that he
dams terrible blow once he should over
take them.
He told these volunteers that they
should have all the fighting they wanted
Uhey got ID: that they might have all
the horses that could be captured save
enough to mount his command, and that
his men would divide their last rations
with their citizen comrades, and the lat
ter decided to follow their gallant leader.
and they did 1t with honor to themselves
and credit to American manhood.
In regard to the charge OF ingratitude
towards the good people of Deer Lodge.
Butte and Helena, / don't believe there
was a man i'm that command who will
not to his dying day love to recall their
Kindness. i remember well how / en-
yoyed Con Kohr's spring wagon, DR..
Mltchelfs kind care, Hon. Charles War
fens liquid souvenir and a glorious
bath at the hot springs, and General
Gibbon would have been ungrateful in
deed If he had not appreciated the no.
BILE response made to his call for help,
ana ingratitude was not one of his
characteristics. 1 know that he was
always ready and anxious that every
just claim should be paid; know that
he, inconnection with the Hon. Martin
Maginnis did all in his power to secure
pensions for Lockwood and the other
gallant but unfortunate volunteers, and
ltSS liltu louI HlOnlnS ago he Tecalleu
TO me the noble conduct of the people of
Montana and heartily endorsed paper
of mine, in which ! said:
On Monday, four days after the battle,
we started for home via Deer Lodge, the
wounded in army wagons.
The army wagon is not n luxurious We
hicle, but as an exercising machine for
invalids II has few equals and no supe-
riors." and as there were no roads and
the route lay across a bunch grass coun-
try, you can imagine that the wounded
didn't enjoy the excursion. Their bodies
were full OF aches and their hearts OF de-
light when we met a party of citizens
from Butte. Deer Lodge and Helena, ac-
companied by doctors and supplies and
almost every conceivable kind of spring
wagon.
Our journey was now almost a trium-
phal procession. the people vying with
each other in their efforts TO cheer and
comfort the wounded.
Mr.. Irwin evidently quotes from a
defective memory. He presumes TO re-
port from General Gibbons report thus:
Upon my arrival at Deer Lodge was
Hospitality received by the citizens"
What General Gibbon did say (see page
Il. vol. /. report of the secretary of war.
1877 was: II left the battlefield
with the wounded and the balance OF
the command for Deer Lodge. over 90
miles distant. | reached that place on
the 18th, and the command. the next
day. thanks TO the spontaneous assist
ance promptly forwarded TO us by the
citizens of Helena. Deer Lodge and
Butte" ! presume he innocently sup
posed this spontaneous and prompt as
sistance came from DISTINGUISHED mo-
tives of the noblest order. and do not
believe that Mr.. W. \. Clark. George /
W. Irwin. Doctors Mitchell. Whitford |
Il.
ed dollar in payment for their Valua- /
bic services.
/ have tried TO prove that General !
Gibbon was not licked" that he was