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Battle of the Big Hole

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	Topics Battle of the Big Hole Topic Home The Battle of the Big Hole was a costly battle in the Montana TerritoryMontana Territory d>External links * ... between the Nez PercéNez Perce The Nez Perce or Nez Perc are a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Pacific Northwest region of the United St... and United StatesUnited States Overview The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is... army during the Nez Perce WarNez Perce War The Nez Perce War was a series of battles between the Nez Perce and the United States government.... of 1877. Background The Nez Percé Chiefs had led their people on an extensive trek from the Clearwater ValleyClearwater River There are a large number of rivers called Clearwater River.... in IdahoIdaho Summary Idaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.... to the Big Hole RiverBig Hole River Overview The Big Hole River is a tributary of the Jefferson River, approximately 142 mi long, in southwestern Montana in the United S... in MontanaFacts About Montana Montana is a state in the Pacific Northwest and Great Plains regions of the United States.... . General Oliver Otis Howard had set out after the Nez PercéNez Perce The Nez Perce or Nez Perc are a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Pacific Northwest region of the United St... on July 30. He had telegraphed ahead for forces to intercept the Nez Percé warriors. The Nez PercéNez Perce The Nez Perce or Nez Perc are a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Pacific Northwest region of the United St... had gone without shelter since the Battle of the ClearwaterBattle of the Clearwater The Battle of the Clearwater was a battle between the Nez Perce and the United States army.... one month earlier. This fatigue led to persuasion of the chiefs by Chief Looking GlassChief Looking Glass Chief Looking Glass was a Nez Perc war leader who, with Chief Joseph, directed the 1877 retreat from eastern Oregon into Mon... to let the weary Nez PercéNez Perce The Nez Perce or Nez Perc are a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Pacific Northwest region of the United St... rest in the Big Hole BasinBig Hole River The Big Hole River is a tributary of the Jefferson River, approximately 142 mi long, in southwestern Montana in the United S... , believing they were far enough away from Howard's army. The talking wire — the Nez Percé term for the telegraph — was still an unknown concept to them, so they were unaware of a force of about 200 soldiers marching to their camp under Colonel John GibbonJohn Gibbon John Gibbon was a career U.S. Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.... , who had received Howard's telegraph. The battle Colonel Gibbon, who was known to the Indians as "he who limps" due to an old Civil WarAmerican Civil War The American Civil War was a sectional conflict in the United States of America between the federal government and 11 Sout... wound, reached the Nez PercéNez Perce The Nez Perce or Nez Perc are a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Pacific Northwest region of the United St... camp on August 9 and in the early dawn he attacked. Looking Glass, Toohulhulzote, and Ollicot (the war chiefs), believing that they were far enough away from Howard to be out of harm's way, had not bothered to post sentries around their camp. Gibbon's attack took the Nez Percé by complete surprise and threw the camp into complete confusion. Caught in their tipiTipi A tipi is a conical tent originally made of skins or birchbark and popularised by the American Indians of the Great Plains.... s, the women and children suffered greatly. The Nez Perce were routed and lost their camp in just 20 minutes. Gibbon attempted to pursue the warriors across the river, but Looking GlassLooking Glass Looking Glass is a codename for the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command's Airborne Nuclear Command Post.... and JosephChief Joseph Chief Joseph was the chief of the Wal-lam-wat-kain band of Nez Perce Indians during General Oliver O.... regrouped the warriors and in hand-to-hand fighting managed to bring Gibbon to a standstill. Nez Percé sharpshooters inflicted heavy losses on the soldiers and Gibbon withdrew from his position, becoming pinned down in a wooded area near the camp. Only the presence of fickle winds prevented the Nez Perce from burning his command inside the wood. Gibbon sent messages out to Howard for reinforcements. Later that same morning, a mountain howitzerHowitzer howitzer is a type of field artillery.... was brought up but Gibbon's men were only able to fire two shots before the warriors captured and dismantled it. They also captured Gibbon's supply train but the soldiers were able to recover it before long. The battle continued with neither side gaining an advantage. The Nez Perce lit the prairie grass on fire to cover an attack but the fire burned out before his warriors could make an advance. Gibbon himself was wounded in the leg and the Nez Percé changed his name to "he who limps twice". Howard's forces began arriving on the battlefield the next morning August 10 and drove off the remainder of Joseph's sharpshooters. Joseph withdrew from the battle carrying his dead and wounded. Aftermath The Battle of the Big Hole was a costly battle for both sides. Gibbon's force, who suffered almost 70 casualties, was unfit to pursue the Nez Percé. The Army claimed that 87 Indians had been killed, but the Nez Perce put their losses at about 50, of whom only 12 were warriors. Joseph's supply of manpower was severely limited, from which twelve fighting men was a grevious loss. The Nez PercéNez Perce The Nez Perce or Nez Perc are a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Pacific Northwest region of the United St... crossed the mountains into IdahoIdaho Idaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.... and soon into WyomingWyoming Wyoming is a state of the western United States.... . Howard's forces, which had newly arrived on the battlefield, immediately took up the pursuit and followed Joseph towards YellowstoneYellowstone Yellowstone may refer to:* Yellowstone National Park... . The battlefield is preserved in the Big Hole National BattlefieldBig Hole National Battlefield Big Hole National Battlefield is a memorial located in Montana, United States.... unit of the Nez Percé National Historical ParkNez Perce National Historical Park The Nez Perce National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park comprising 38 sites located throughout th... See also Nez Percé National Historical ParkFacts About Nez Perce National Historical Park The Nez Perce National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park comprising 38 sites located throughout th... Sources Dillon, Richard H. North American Indian Wars (1983) Greene, Jerome A. Nez Perce Summer, 1877 (2000)