Battle of the Big Hole: The Story Of The Landmark Battle Of The 1877 Nez Perce War - Paperback

by Aubrey Haines (Author), Calvin Haines (Author)

In Battle of the Big Hole, noted historian Aubrey Haines has compiled the many written and first-person accounts of this historic moment in the Indian Wars into a complete and exhaustive history of the 1877 battle. Ultimately, neither the U.S. forces or their adversaries could claim victory in the two-day struggle in this idyllic setting in southwest Montana, and the Nez Perce continued their dramatic flight for freedom after heavy losses on both sides. This fine volume reveals the story of the landmark battle of the Nez Perce War with reproductions of first-person accounts of the battle, photographs, maps, and drawings.

Back Jacket

In the quiet predawn of August 9, 1877, along the tranquil banks of the North Fork of the Big Hole River, Chief Joseph and his refugee band of more than seven hundred Nez occurred warriors, women, and children were startled awake by four gunshots. Advancing stealthily toward the camp, Colonel John G. Gibbon and his Seventh U.S. Infantry had stumbled upon a solitary Indian rider and shot him from his horse. Less than thirty-six hours later, between sixty and ninety Nez Perce would be dead, as well as twenty-two soldiers, a civilian guide, and five civilian volunteers.Describing events that occured six weeks into the famous, five-month running battle now known as the Nez Perce War of 1877, The Battle of the Big Hole is a study of the heartbreaking futility of the Indian wars as well as a look at the cultural misunderstandings that helped give rise to those wars. From an array of original documents and first-person accounts, noted author Aubrey L. Haines presents the only exhaustive retelling of one of the landmark conflicts in the history of the American West.

Author Biography

The late Aubrey Haines served as management assistant in charge of the Big Hole National Battlefield in 1964-65. He is also the author of The Yellowstone Story; Yellowstone, Its Exploration and Establishment; and Valley of the Upper Yellowstone.