The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-09
ON GENERAL GIBBON
An Account Of tie Big Hole Battle by
G. ". Irwin.
IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY
The General Displayed Marked
Ingratitude for the Assistance
he Eeceived From Butte
and Deer Lodge.
T IS A DIFFERENT STORY

Butte. Mont, Feb. S.-The death of
General John Glbbon last Thursday
night has a particular interest
for the people of Butte and Deer
Lodge. az 1t was from those cities
that relief and reinforcements were
sent to him when the Indians had him
in a tight hole at the battle of the
Big Hole pass. W. a Clark was at the
head of the party that left Butte in
response to General Gibbons call for
assistance, and among his chief lieu
tenants were James a. Talbot, Patsy
Clark and Billy Wilson. George w.
Irwin was one Of the leaders of the re-
LEE party that went from Deer Lodge.
and Or. 4. II. Mitchell and DR.. o. b.
Whitford were among the physicians
who went with the party TO attend the
wounded soldiers. General Glbbon
has been popularity spoken Of and writ
ten about as the hero of the Big Hole
and treatises on scientific Indian night
ING have been written in which his
achievement at the historic Big Hole
pass was referred to in the most
glowing terms.
George w. Twins story of that bat
tie is. however. very different from the
popular belief and it goes a long ways
towards dethroning another popular
idol. In the expressive language OF
the street Mr.. Irwin says that General
Gibbon was most beautifully licked"
by smaller force at the Big Hole and
that he subsequently showed sur
prisinE degree Of ingratitude for the
assistance that was sent him and the
promut steps that were taken for the
relief of his badly harasscd command.
The following story of the battle of the
Big Hole and the exciting events inn
mediato,y surrounding it, which was
given by Mr.. Irwin to standard re-
porter this evening, will be interesting
alike both to the old-timers and more
recent arrivals in Butte.
before the battle" said Mr.. Irwin,
"C1Hief Joseph Looking Glass and
White Bird, with a band of Nez Perces.
Umatii,as, Spokanes and renegades
from nearly every Indian tribe in
Washington. Idaho and Montana, had
been forced by the troops out of their
own country and they had
came over the old 10 10
trail into the Bitter Root valley
The government authorities and the
people in Montana who had been keep
ing track of the war in !dano knew
when the Indians started over the 10
10 trail and about when 10 expect
. them on the Montana side. The best
estimate Of our people as 20 their
strength was that there were about 175
warriors. but that they were eneum-
bered by their families and band OF
{. 900 horses in their retreat. They were
! met on the To 10 fork trail by two
: companies of regulars under CAPTAIN
Raum who threw up some temporary
4 brIaStvorks and thought 10 arrest
their progress ait Hot Springs, just this
4 side of the Idaho line. A conference
( was had with Joseph and the other
! chcifs by Captain Higgins, Angus Nc
/ Donald and a number Of other old citi-
! zens and acquaintances OF the In
/ dians.
/ AS far as the citizens and troops
/ understood Joseph only desired peace
. ful passage through Montana, that he
/ might get out of the way or the Op-
| prcssions of soldiers and settlers in
| idaho. his destination being the buffalo
| country on the Canadian side. He said
/ that he had no cause for quarrel with
| the whites. and called the gentle men
| present TO witness that the NeZ Perces
| had always been the friends OF the
| people of Montana. Subsequent actions
! proved this to be true After the con-
! ference | knew that the whites in the
/ Bitter Root valley became less hostile
towards the Indians. After delay of
| a day or two. Joseph, feeling that he
| had gained G1is point with the citizens
! very coolly marched around the breast
| works of Captain Raum and his COM
! mand and in full view of the fortihca-
tions about half a mile. and took his
course towards the head of the Bitter
| Root river without moleS tation. AT
this time General Howard was four or
| five days behind the Indians and was
| cutting his way for his artillery over
the 10 10 trail
General Gihbon. at Fort Shaw, had
been notified. and he put two compa-
MES Of infantry in the governing nj
/ wagons. crossed the mountains oVei
| Cadotte's rass and came down the bis
! Plackfoot river. arriving At MISSOURI
| three days after Joseph had passed
| CAPTAIN Raums command. on the
| way up the Bitter Root valley some o1
| the rcuegades that belonged to Joseph.
! band I'm the absence Of the owner OF
the ranch sacked the house of Mr.
Lockwood. This onra god the settlers
so of whom Joined the troops. C"nttir
| Raum had Joined General GiNhpn'
command ard there were about 100 reg
ulars ON tho night Of Aug. :, lbt'
Ifcutouaut bradley. ACCOMPANIED Joy
Joe Blo1"ott tho guide, sighted the
| camp of the Indians on Gi'rv crock
one Of the hcadvatcrs Of the vi" Hole
That ntcht General Gihhon. W. Is
! whole command. moved down Il v tn
in a few hundred yards Of the Indians
arriving there few hours before day
/ light. Just at daylight an Indian 60
up 10 60 out to tho herd and pr.Hgrt. ,
| such a fine mark tl.t one az a.. c.t
| zen soldiers let drive against positiv,
orders and knocked him ovor. In ord'
| TO make the surprise complete, g nora
| Gihlon was compelled To make tn
charge somewhat before he Was r'ady
The surprise was complete aHl h
drove the Indians out Of the N.llag
and set fire 10 a number Of tho lodge
and compelled Joseph and his brave
t. take refuge in the brush If Pub,
! creek In 20 minutes IL came E'r tu-l
to be surprised. The Indians rallie
and got the soldiers under terrific HrC
ard drove thcu bacl, out Of thy N.lag,
To keep from being annih,iated the
| were compelled 10 retreat 10 point q
| timber on 4 juttinC fnothill above IN
| creek. where they were surrounded 70
three days and nights, the Indians do
| ing n good deal Of execution IN the va
| of v-0urdiny the soldiers. even art,
they had fortified themselves and du