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Title: The Battle of the Big Hole
A History of General Gibbon's Engagement with Nez Perces
Indians in the Big Hole Valley, Montana, August 9th, 1877.

Author: G. O. Shields

Release Date: March 8, 2010 [EBook #31549]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration: THE ASSAULT ON THE NEZ PERCE VILLAGE.]

THE BATTLE

OF

THE BIG HOLE.

A HISTORY OF GENERAL GIBBON'S ENGAGEMENT WITH NEZ PERCES INDIANS IN THE
BIG HOLE VALLEY, MONTANA, AUGUST 9TH, 1877.

BY

G. O. SHIELDS.
("COQUINA.")

AUTHOR OF "RUSTLINGS IN THE ROCKIES," "HUNTING IN THE GREAT WEST,"
"CRUISINGS IN THE CASCADES," ETC.

CHICAGO AND NEW YORK:
RAND, MCNALLY & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS,
1889.

COPYRIGHT, 1889, BY RAND, MCNALLY & CO.

INTRODUCTION.

CAMP PILOT BUTTE, WYOMING,
March 17 1889.

_Mr. G. O. Shields, Chicago, Ill._

DEAR SIR: I have read with a great deal of interest and pleasure the
manuscript of your book, entitled "The Battle of the Big Hole," and as
a participant in the tragic affair it describes, can cheerfully commend
it to all who are interested in obtaining a true history of the Nez
Perce campaign. It is a graphic and truthful account of the Big Hole
fight, and of the events leading up to it, and must prove a most
valuable contribution to the history of our Indian wars.

I trust the book will meet with the generous reception it deserves.

Yours truly,

CHAS. A. COOLIDGE,
Captain Seventh U.S. Infantry.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

The Nez Perce War. Brief Resume of Events Leading up to it. Various
Treaties Between the Tribe and the United States. Chief Joseph's
Unjust Claim to the Wallowa Valley. President Grant's Proclamation.
Atrocities Committed by White Bird and His Followers on Inoffensive
Settlers. Men Massacred and Women Outraged. General Howard's Effort