Army versus Natives: Battle of the Big Hole, August 9-10, 1877
Even the best military commanders can have battles where things just don't go right. Whether or not the fault was theirs or just a matter of circumstance, the buck always stops at the top. Looking Glass of the Nez Perce suffered this unfortunate truth during the retreat of the Nez Perce toward Canada during the Nez Perce War of 1877.
The Nez Perce were fighting to avoid being placed on a reservation. Though they had held their own against the Army in several battles, being able to withdraw after each engagement, the Nez Perce leaders knew that their only safety lay in Canada. Chief Joseph, Looking Glass and White Bird knew that their only safety lay in reaching Canada. They crossed the border of what is now Idaho, trekked through Montana's Bitterroot range and entered the Bitterroot Valley. While on the march, the Nez Perce warriors were under Looking Glass' command. He convinced the local settlers that the Nez Perce would pass through the area and didn't intend to harm anyone. Tensions eased and the Natives even traded with White families for supplies they needed. In August, 1877, they camped at Big Hole Basin, taking time to replenish tipi poles from the local pine forests. Not anticipating trouble this far north, the Native command team had allowed for a leisurely pace to accommodate the non-combatants and hadn't posted scouts. This would be their undoing.
Unbeknownst to Looking Glass and his colleagues, Colonel John Gibbons was following their trail. His orders were to fight the Nez Perce into submission and return them to the reservation, no negotiations. He was at the head of a force of 161 men, 45 civilian volunteers and a mountain howitzer, a light cannon made for travel over rough terrain. On August 8, 1877 Gibbons located the Nez Perce camp and left the howitzer behind. He could see the Nez Perce camp, with about 200 effective warriors, just beyond the Big Hole River. At down on August 9, soldiers encountered an elderly Nez Perce and killed him before he could spread the alarm. They then waded across the river and opened fire on the village. As both men and women scrambled for firearms, others began to flee in panic. One of Gibbons' officers was killed, slowing the onslaught on the northern side of the encampment. Looking Glass and White Bird quickly rallied their men to make a stand. The Army could hear their shouted commands to their warriors clearly across the distance.
Gibbons ordered his men to burn the tipis and while they were trying to accomplish this, the Native command team had rallied their warriors. Gibbons' horse was shot and he was wounded in the leg. The Nez Perce warriors were excellent shots and Gibbons realized he needed to get his men back across the river. They dug in and he sent for the howitzer. As its crew attempted to fire the weapon, Nez Perce marksmen did their work, causing the cannon crew to dismantle and abandon the gun. As men on both sides shot back and forth, the women quickly dismantled and evacuated the camp, retreating in good order. Gibbons believed that he was outnumbered by Nez Perce, though the forces were about equal. He took stock, with rations being low and there being a large number of wounded who needed care. During the night, the Nez Perce warriors withdrew. Gen. Oliver O. Howard and a force of cavalry responded to Gibbons' position the morning of August 10.
Casualties were 31 killed and 38 wounded on the Army's part and 70-90 killed and many more wounded for the Nez Perce. Although this total included warriors, it also took in women and other non-combatants, including one of Joseph's own wives. In the tightly knit Nez Perce band, there wasn't a family who didn't have killed or wounded and people were tired and angry. They directed their ire at Looking Glass, who had convinced them that they would be safe in the Bitterroot Valley. Although Looking Glass was still the battle commander, Joseph reasserted his role in overall leadership. The Nez Perce continued their trek toward Canada. Today, the Big Hole Battlefield is part of the Nez Perce National Historic Park.
The Nez Perce were fighting to avoid being placed on a reservation. Though they had held their own against the Army in several battles, being able to withdraw after each engagement, the Nez Perce leaders knew that their only safety lay in Canada. Chief Joseph, Looking Glass and White Bird knew that their only safety lay in reaching Canada. They crossed the border of what is now Idaho, trekked through Montana's Bitterroot range and entered the Bitterroot Valley. While on the march, the Nez Perce warriors were under Looking Glass' command. He convinced the local settlers that the Nez Perce would pass through the area and didn't intend to harm anyone. Tensions eased and the Natives even traded with White families for supplies they needed. In August, 1877, they camped at Big Hole Basin, taking time to replenish tipi poles from the local pine forests. Not anticipating trouble this far north, the Native command team had allowed for a leisurely pace to accommodate the non-combatants and hadn't posted scouts. This would be their undoing.
Unbeknownst to Looking Glass and his colleagues, Colonel John Gibbons was following their trail. His orders were to fight the Nez Perce into submission and return them to the reservation, no negotiations. He was at the head of a force of 161 men, 45 civilian volunteers and a mountain howitzer, a light cannon made for travel over rough terrain. On August 8, 1877 Gibbons located the Nez Perce camp and left the howitzer behind. He could see the Nez Perce camp, with about 200 effective warriors, just beyond the Big Hole River. At down on August 9, soldiers encountered an elderly Nez Perce and killed him before he could spread the alarm. They then waded across the river and opened fire on the village. As both men and women scrambled for firearms, others began to flee in panic. One of Gibbons' officers was killed, slowing the onslaught on the northern side of the encampment. Looking Glass and White Bird quickly rallied their men to make a stand. The Army could hear their shouted commands to their warriors clearly across the distance.
Gibbons ordered his men to burn the tipis and while they were trying to accomplish this, the Native command team had rallied their warriors. Gibbons' horse was shot and he was wounded in the leg. The Nez Perce warriors were excellent shots and Gibbons realized he needed to get his men back across the river. They dug in and he sent for the howitzer. As its crew attempted to fire the weapon, Nez Perce marksmen did their work, causing the cannon crew to dismantle and abandon the gun. As men on both sides shot back and forth, the women quickly dismantled and evacuated the camp, retreating in good order. Gibbons believed that he was outnumbered by Nez Perce, though the forces were about equal. He took stock, with rations being low and there being a large number of wounded who needed care. During the night, the Nez Perce warriors withdrew. Gen. Oliver O. Howard and a force of cavalry responded to Gibbons' position the morning of August 10.
Casualties were 31 killed and 38 wounded on the Army's part and 70-90 killed and many more wounded for the Nez Perce. Although this total included warriors, it also took in women and other non-combatants, including one of Joseph's own wives. In the tightly knit Nez Perce band, there wasn't a family who didn't have killed or wounded and people were tired and angry. They directed their ire at Looking Glass, who had convinced them that they would be safe in the Bitterroot Valley. Although Looking Glass was still the battle commander, Joseph reasserted his role in overall leadership. The Nez Perce continued their trek toward Canada. Today, the Big Hole Battlefield is part of the Nez Perce National Historic Park.
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