itives, but who believed that they (the Indians) should be punished
for their crimes, and who were anxious to aid the troops in
administering the punishment. The pursuing party gathered all possible
information en route as to the rate of speed at which the Indians were
traveling, their numbers, etc., and from the citizens and the camp
sites passed, learned that there were still over 400 of the warriors,
and about 150 squaws and children in the band; that the bucks were all
armed with modern breech-loading rifles, many of which were repeaters;
that they were amply supplied with ammunition, and had with them over
2,000 head of good horses. Gibbon ascertained that he was covering two
of their daily marches with one of his, and the question of overtaking
them, became, therefore, merely one of time.

Near the head of the valley he fortunately secured the services of Joe
Blodgett, an old-timer in this region, as guide and scout, who proved a
valuable acquisition to his forces. The General had been previously
assured that it would be impossible to take his wagons over the high
divide between the Bitter Root and Big Hole Rivers, and had decided to
leave them at the foot of the mountains and proceed with such supplies
as he could take on pack mules; but Blodgett assured him that it would
be possible to cross the range with lightly-loaded wagons, as he had
recently taken such over himself. This proved valuable information, for
the wagons and the supplies they contained were subsequently greatly
needed by the troops.

When, however, the command reached the foot of the mountains and
learned that the Indians had already crossed, a number of the citizens
became discouraged and hesitated about going farther. Their affairs at
home needed their attention. They were already out of provisions, and
as it now seemed doubtful as to when or where the fugitives would be
overtaken, they thought it best that they should return home. But the
General knew that his handful of troops, veterans and brave men though
they were, were scarcely equal to the 400 trained warriors in front of
them, and appreciating the importance of keeping these hardy
frontiersmen with him, he besought them to keep on a few days longer.

He assured them that he was in earnest, and should strike the Indians a
terrible blow as soon as he could overtake them. He told the volunteers
that they should have an honorable place in the fight, if one occurred;
that they might have a