Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1896-02-20
BATTLE OF THE BIG HOLE.
Col. Nelson. of Hamilton. Dives q Graphic
Description Of that Notable Engagement.

Helena Herald.
Col. Robert Nelson, of Hamilton,
who was i'm attendance at the meeting
of the county assessors, held yester-
day at the court house, is one of the
pioneers of the west, and also OF
Montana, having been i'm the west
since the early sos. and a resident
of the Bitter Root valley for over
twenty years.
For several years he has been serv-
ing as assessor Tor Ravalli county
and it was business connected with
his office that brought him to Helena
yesterday.
The colonel knows all the old
timers i'm the state, ana among them
was personally acquainted with Col.
James Fisk having met him at Gold
Creek i'm "a, when the latter was
plotting his first wagon train across
the prairie from the far east.
In speaking of this train Col. Mel
son said that Col. Fisk took lots of
chances i'm making that trip, as the
v
was not a very large one.
Talking about Indians" said the
Colonel, ''reminds me of an article /
saw i'm the Independent recently,
about the battle of the Big Hole.
between Gen. John Gibbon and
Joseph's Nez Perces. There were
several things i'm that article that
caused me to smile. and among
other things was the statement that
there were only twelve citizens in
that fight. who aided Gen. Gibbon
when i'm reality there were thirty-siN
civilians i'm the battle, and had ii
not been for them there would have
been another massacre similar to
that of the Little Big Horn.
when Joseph came down over
the Lo Lo trail into Missoula county,
fresh and victorious from the defeat
of Capt. Perry at White Bird canyon,
ut which place thirty-three men and
one officer were killed. the ranchmen
i'm the Bitter Root valley were pretty
badly scared. But they need not
have been for Joseph informed every
one he met that he was not on the
war path but on his way to the
buffalo country i'm the Judith Basin
with one exception they did not
injure any one in the valley. but con.
tinued peacefully on their way up
to Trailcreek and then continued ON
down to the Big Hole river, camping
on n level spot at the junction oi
these two streams infancied security
But even i'm this secluded spot
they were not safe. General Gibbon,
having been informed of the defeat
of Perry, gathered two companies
of cavalry about him and marched
from Fort Shaw across the main
range at Cadotte's pass and down
the Big Blackfoot to FIT. Alissoula
Here he was Joined by Capt. RawI
with a company of infantry and
another company from Fort Ellis
| The command then numbered lag en-
listed men and 36 civilians.
son the 4th of August General
Gibbon started up the Bitter Root
and soon found Joseph's trail. TIL,
Indians had been in no hurry and
the soldiers Travelled twice as fast
as they were going as was showI
by the camp fires.
"On the evening of the Sth %
August the Indian camp had beer
located on the Big Hole river ant
tiibbon made his preparations IL
attack it on the morning of the 9th
Everything was i'm readiness for TIN,
| fight and i'm the early dawn tn,
camp was charged The surpriss
was complete and the soldiers wen1
clear through the village, which con
sisted of 80 lodges. without meeting
any resistance.
'.The Indians poured out of thei
tepces and ran into the timber, bu
as soon as they recovered from tn,
first surprise they began to- com,
after their guns and ammunition, an,
the squaws carried the weapons on
to the braves. General GibboI
ordered that the lodges he burned
This it was found impossible to ds
as a heavy dew made everything