The Battle of the Big Hole
True Reminiscences of Early Montana
In 1877 we heard the Nez Perce Indians were on the warpath. I remember my father telling my mohter about the disastrous battle of the Big Hole. (The battle of the Big Hole was fought Aug 9th and 10th, 1877 100 miles from Virginia City, Montana) In this battle a force of 155 officers and men of the 7th U.S. Infantry with 8 other soldiers and 36 citizen volunteers, under command of General John Gibbon, surprised and fought all day a superior force of 400 Nez Perce warriors (who had with them 150 squaws and children). More than 0ne-third of the military command was either killed or wounded.
The Nez Perce were retreating through Montana on their way to Canada when this bloody engagement was fought. The Nez Perce had long been a peaceful tribe living in eastern Idaho. They left their reservation to seek sanctuary in Canada after some young "hot-heads" of their tribe murdered white men and women in Wallowa Valley, Oregon.
General O.O. Howard, commanding the Department of the Columbia, began a pursuit of the fleeing Indians; but from the beginning he was either bypassed or his forces defeated, as they were at the battle of the Big Hole.
Governor B.F. Potts of Montana ordered several civilian companies to be formed to assist General Howard in an effort to force the Indians to return to their reservation. My father, Colonel James E. Callaway (Samuel Taylor, Edmund, James, Joseph Callaway), because of his fighting experience in the Civil War and the proximity of Virginia City to the line of march, was asked to raise a company to go to the assistance of General Howard. (Camas Creek, where Callaway's company caught up with General Howard was some fifteen miles southwest of Henry's Lake and about thirty miles west of Yellowstone Park.) The company was to be for the protection of the settlers. The settlers would have been safer without the army.
Callaway's company comprised some real Indian fighters and some good citizens who were willing to fight. Colonel Deimling, late colonel of the 10th Missouri; Sam Word, noted lawyer and orator; Sim Buford, leading merchant; Doctors Smith and Yager; Tom Baker, editor of the Madisonian; Tom Farrell, former Confederate soldier and sheriff; R.O. Hickman; William Morris, druggist and leading citizen; and Father Kellegher, Catholic priest, a good fellow and a fine marksman, went along. There were 40 men in the Company. Tom Farrell, part owner of a large horse ranch, furnished many horses. My father rode Chief, worth $150. He furnished another worth $175. Well I remember seeing the company going forth to war. Each man road a horse. Everyone had a pistol and a gun. The mountain howitzer brought up the rear. They left town one fine August evening, the women in tears. They knew their husbands would be killed. My mother was sure my father would be. I felt injured because, being a small boy, I could not go; so I would not get a scalp. The company went out sixteen miles along the Salt Lake Road to the crossing of the Ruby, and then sent back for ammunition for the cannon; they had forgotten it. The invidious, who remained at home, said that wasn't the kind of ammunition they wanted. They must have run out of the necessary article pretty quick.
The company went on bravely, up Sweetwater and over the Big Hill, going down on the Blacktail side, their eyes alert for savage warriors; and they beheld them in large numbers. The Virginians halted, held an impromptu council of war. My father, the captain, decided to charge. When in danger, attack! All who had been in the army favored that course over intrenching. Spurs were put to the horses and the charge was on. But it was only a large band of horses going to water!
General Howard was reported marching to Camas Creek. My father sent a courier to the general, tendering the services of his company. I have the bacon-grease stained message. It was written from Camp Sladen, Headquarters Department of the Columbia. The general addressed my father by his army title, colonel, and said he would be glad to have the assistance of his command. He said he would not promise a battle tomorrow, but would do all in his power "to bring about that highly desirable result." The general's army lay along Camas Creek in Idaho. My father was directed to camp just across the creek, to turn his horses in with the army horses, and was advised that the army sentries would surround the entire camp. My father objected. He said his horses were acquainted and would stay together; also, that some of his men knew Indians and would be excellent on sentry duty. Now, horses are gregarious and they do not make up with strange horses at once. But "orders is orders," and the general had his way.
The volunteers from Virginia City made up their beds and went to sleep. Now comes an odd occurrence. It had been reported to General Howard that there was a canyon through which the Indians must pass, beyond Henry's Lake, in which a troop of cavalry could intrench, blocking the way. The main army coming up would entrap the Indians; it would be repetition of Thermopylae if they didn't surrender. So Lieutenant Bacon was sent ahead with his troops to block the canyon. When Bacon got to Henry's Lake he found the country full of passes, none of which he could block. He sent word by his Indian scouts to Howard, telling of the conditions he found and saying he was returning to join the main command. At least, that was the story as everyone understood it. The Indian scouts, Bannacks, must have leaked the information. The Bannacks and Nez Perces were pretty friendly. The soldiers knew Bacon was returning.
In the morning about daybreak, the sleepy sentinels saw Bacon and his troops returning, or thought they did. They came in columns of fours. As the column came close, the sentries challenged, and bedlam seemed to break loose. There were war whoops, guns firing, blankets waving, as the Indians rode through the volunteers' camp and across the creek, cutting off Howard's horses and the volunteers.
The volunteers got out of their blankets in a hurry and began to fire their guns. They ran toward the main command; some found shallow fords, others deep holes - notably Sam Word who was six feet tall. Only his whiskers appeared above the water. Doctor Yager, running, stepped on the end of a stick which struck his other leg, throwing him to the ground. He yelled, "My God, I'm shot!" Doctor Smith, the other surgeon, ran to him but didn't find any bullet wound. No one was hurt. It was called the Camas Creek Massacre. Daylight came. The army was afoot - all but Captain Norwood's troop. He had but recently arrived, and his horses wouldn't associate with the army horses. Upon the attack the bugler blew "Boots and Saddles," upon which Norwood's troopers mounted and rode to "Frying Pan" Basin, where there was a real fight. The volunteers from Virginia City claimed that some of them went to the basin, offering substantial aid to Norwood's company.
Doctor Smith, a highly intelligent man, understood the Nez Perce tongue. He told the army officers he heard the great voice of Looking Glass above the din, giving commands. Hearing what the great chief said, the officers said his commands would not have been any more perfect if he had been graduated from West Point.
The volunteers eventually arrived home afoot, all but Tom Baker who had tied up his horse, the Morris boys' pet, "Old Baldy." Anybody could stir up a fight by mentioning the massacre at Camas Creek. During the winter the wags forgot it and peace reigned.
It was reported in Virginia City just after the "battle" that a man had been killed. The bugler was killed, and, I think, there were some killed in Frying Pan Basin. All the women in Virginia claimed "the man." My mother was sure it was my father. "He was so brave," she said.
He looked like a mountain man when he did return. His clothes were rough and travel-stained. he didn't have much to say about the Camas Creek affair.
~ from Montana's Righteous Hangmen, The Vigilantes in Action, by Llewellyn Link Callaway (1868-1951), edited by Llewellyn Link Callaway, Jr., pp. 153-157, 1982.
In 1877 we heard the Nez Perce Indians were on the warpath. I remember my father telling my mohter about the disastrous battle of the Big Hole. (The battle of the Big Hole was fought Aug 9th and 10th, 1877 100 miles from Virginia City, Montana) In this battle a force of 155 officers and men of the 7th U.S. Infantry with 8 other soldiers and 36 citizen volunteers, under command of General John Gibbon, surprised and fought all day a superior force of 400 Nez Perce warriors (who had with them 150 squaws and children). More than 0ne-third of the military command was either killed or wounded.
The Nez Perce were retreating through Montana on their way to Canada when this bloody engagement was fought. The Nez Perce had long been a peaceful tribe living in eastern Idaho. They left their reservation to seek sanctuary in Canada after some young "hot-heads" of their tribe murdered white men and women in Wallowa Valley, Oregon.
General O.O. Howard, commanding the Department of the Columbia, began a pursuit of the fleeing Indians; but from the beginning he was either bypassed or his forces defeated, as they were at the battle of the Big Hole.
Governor B.F. Potts of Montana ordered several civilian companies to be formed to assist General Howard in an effort to force the Indians to return to their reservation. My father, Colonel James E. Callaway (Samuel Taylor, Edmund, James, Joseph Callaway), because of his fighting experience in the Civil War and the proximity of Virginia City to the line of march, was asked to raise a company to go to the assistance of General Howard. (Camas Creek, where Callaway's company caught up with General Howard was some fifteen miles southwest of Henry's Lake and about thirty miles west of Yellowstone Park.) The company was to be for the protection of the settlers. The settlers would have been safer without the army.
Callaway's company comprised some real Indian fighters and some good citizens who were willing to fight. Colonel Deimling, late colonel of the 10th Missouri; Sam Word, noted lawyer and orator; Sim Buford, leading merchant; Doctors Smith and Yager; Tom Baker, editor of the Madisonian; Tom Farrell, former Confederate soldier and sheriff; R.O. Hickman; William Morris, druggist and leading citizen; and Father Kellegher, Catholic priest, a good fellow and a fine marksman, went along. There were 40 men in the Company. Tom Farrell, part owner of a large horse ranch, furnished many horses. My father rode Chief, worth $150. He furnished another worth $175. Well I remember seeing the company going forth to war. Each man road a horse. Everyone had a pistol and a gun. The mountain howitzer brought up the rear. They left town one fine August evening, the women in tears. They knew their husbands would be killed. My mother was sure my father would be. I felt injured because, being a small boy, I could not go; so I would not get a scalp. The company went out sixteen miles along the Salt Lake Road to the crossing of the Ruby, and then sent back for ammunition for the cannon; they had forgotten it. The invidious, who remained at home, said that wasn't the kind of ammunition they wanted. They must have run out of the necessary article pretty quick.
The company went on bravely, up Sweetwater and over the Big Hill, going down on the Blacktail side, their eyes alert for savage warriors; and they beheld them in large numbers. The Virginians halted, held an impromptu council of war. My father, the captain, decided to charge. When in danger, attack! All who had been in the army favored that course over intrenching. Spurs were put to the horses and the charge was on. But it was only a large band of horses going to water!
General Howard was reported marching to Camas Creek. My father sent a courier to the general, tendering the services of his company. I have the bacon-grease stained message. It was written from Camp Sladen, Headquarters Department of the Columbia. The general addressed my father by his army title, colonel, and said he would be glad to have the assistance of his command. He said he would not promise a battle tomorrow, but would do all in his power "to bring about that highly desirable result." The general's army lay along Camas Creek in Idaho. My father was directed to camp just across the creek, to turn his horses in with the army horses, and was advised that the army sentries would surround the entire camp. My father objected. He said his horses were acquainted and would stay together; also, that some of his men knew Indians and would be excellent on sentry duty. Now, horses are gregarious and they do not make up with strange horses at once. But "orders is orders," and the general had his way.
The volunteers from Virginia City made up their beds and went to sleep. Now comes an odd occurrence. It had been reported to General Howard that there was a canyon through which the Indians must pass, beyond Henry's Lake, in which a troop of cavalry could intrench, blocking the way. The main army coming up would entrap the Indians; it would be repetition of Thermopylae if they didn't surrender. So Lieutenant Bacon was sent ahead with his troops to block the canyon. When Bacon got to Henry's Lake he found the country full of passes, none of which he could block. He sent word by his Indian scouts to Howard, telling of the conditions he found and saying he was returning to join the main command. At least, that was the story as everyone understood it. The Indian scouts, Bannacks, must have leaked the information. The Bannacks and Nez Perces were pretty friendly. The soldiers knew Bacon was returning.
In the morning about daybreak, the sleepy sentinels saw Bacon and his troops returning, or thought they did. They came in columns of fours. As the column came close, the sentries challenged, and bedlam seemed to break loose. There were war whoops, guns firing, blankets waving, as the Indians rode through the volunteers' camp and across the creek, cutting off Howard's horses and the volunteers.
The volunteers got out of their blankets in a hurry and began to fire their guns. They ran toward the main command; some found shallow fords, others deep holes - notably Sam Word who was six feet tall. Only his whiskers appeared above the water. Doctor Yager, running, stepped on the end of a stick which struck his other leg, throwing him to the ground. He yelled, "My God, I'm shot!" Doctor Smith, the other surgeon, ran to him but didn't find any bullet wound. No one was hurt. It was called the Camas Creek Massacre. Daylight came. The army was afoot - all but Captain Norwood's troop. He had but recently arrived, and his horses wouldn't associate with the army horses. Upon the attack the bugler blew "Boots and Saddles," upon which Norwood's troopers mounted and rode to "Frying Pan" Basin, where there was a real fight. The volunteers from Virginia City claimed that some of them went to the basin, offering substantial aid to Norwood's company.
Doctor Smith, a highly intelligent man, understood the Nez Perce tongue. He told the army officers he heard the great voice of Looking Glass above the din, giving commands. Hearing what the great chief said, the officers said his commands would not have been any more perfect if he had been graduated from West Point.
The volunteers eventually arrived home afoot, all but Tom Baker who had tied up his horse, the Morris boys' pet, "Old Baldy." Anybody could stir up a fight by mentioning the massacre at Camas Creek. During the winter the wags forgot it and peace reigned.
It was reported in Virginia City just after the "battle" that a man had been killed. The bugler was killed, and, I think, there were some killed in Frying Pan Basin. All the women in Virginia claimed "the man." My mother was sure it was my father. "He was so brave," she said.
He looked like a mountain man when he did return. His clothes were rough and travel-stained. he didn't have much to say about the Camas Creek affair.
~ from Montana's Righteous Hangmen, The Vigilantes in Action, by Llewellyn Link Callaway (1868-1951), edited by Llewellyn Link Callaway, Jr., pp. 153-157, 1982.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association
posted by DFM | 7/21/2004
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