Thus another page had been added to the glorious record of gallant deeds done; of bloody fights waged by our soldiers in wresting from the grasp of lawless savages the great and glorious West, and making it a land where industrious white men and their families might live in peace and safety. And every man, woman, and child who lives and prospers in that great West to-day owes the privilege of so doing to the brave men who for a quarter of a century have camped, tramped, and fought over the broad domain where now all is peace.
The Battle of the Big Hole, although fought with but a handful of men, was one of the most brilliant, heroic, and desperate pieces of work known in the annals of Indian warfare.
It was a glorious achievement, a victory dearly bought but gallantly won, and the grand old Seventh Infantry has no brighter page in its history than that earned by this day's work.
Gibbon's name will for ages to come be a terror to belligerent redskins, and Indian mothers will use that name to reduce to obedience their refractory offspring, long after he who rendered it illustrious shall have passed away.
The following is a list of the casualties that occurred in the action:
Company A.--Capt. William Logan and Private John B. Smith.
Company B.--First Lieut. James H. Bradley.
Company D.--Corporal William H. Payne, Corporal Jacob Eisenhut, and Musician Francis Gallagher.
Company F.--Privates William D. Pomroy and James McGuire.
Company G.--First Sergeant Robert L. Edgeworth, Sergeant William H. Martin, Corporal Domminic O'Conner, Corporal Robert E. Sale, and Privates John O'Brien and Gottlieb Mauz.
Company H.--Private McKindra L. Drake (orderly for General Gibbon).
Company I.--Sergeant Michael Hogan, Corporal Daniel McCaffrey, and Private Herman Broetz.
Company K.--First Sergeant Frederick Stortz, Musician Thomas Stinebaker, and Artificer John Kleis.
Col. John Gibbon, Seventh Infantry (left thigh, severe flesh wound).
Company A.--First Lieut. C. A. Coolidge (both legs above knees, right hand, severe); Private James C. Lehmer (right leg, serious); Private Charles Alberts (under left breast, serious); Private Lorenzo D. Brown (right shoulder, serious); Private George Leher (scalp, slight).