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Battles of Mullan Road War Battle of Toppenish Creek Battle of Union Gap Cascades Massacre Battle of Pine Creek Battle of Four Lakes Battle of Spokane Plains Steamboat Chippewa Fiasco Battle of Lower Sioux Agency Battle of Redwood Ferry Battle of New Ulm Battle of Fort Ridgely Battle of Birch Coulee Siege of Fort Abercrombie Battle of Wood Lake Surrender at Camp Release Battle of Big Mound Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake Battle of Stoney Lake Battle of White Stone Hill Battle of Killdeer Mountain Fisk's Expedition Battle of Red Buttes Battle of Deer Creek Station Battle of Dry Creek Custard Wagon Train Fight Platte Bridge Battle Battle of Platte Bridge Station Battle of Bone Pile Creek Battle of Fort Rice Battle of Tongue River 1865 Powder River Expedition Sun River Stampede Battle of Crazy Woman Creek Battle of Peno Creek Fetterman Massacre Fort Buford Massacre Haystack Battle Battle of Fort Kearny Battle Near Fort Ellis Battle of Popo Aguie Marias River Massacre Battle of Miner's Delight Pryor's Fork Battle Second Battle of Tongue River Battle of Bighorn Battle of Powder River Battle of the Rosebud Custers Last Stand Battle of Snake Mountain Battle of Slim Buttes Battle of Cedar Creek Battle of Bates Creek Battle of Ash Creek Battle of Wolf Mountain Battle of Little Muddy Creek Battle of White Bird Canyon Battle of the Cottonwoods Battle of the Clearwater Battle of Weippe Prairie Battle of Big Hole Battle of Horse Prairie Battle of Birch Creek, Idaho Battle of Camas Creek Battle of Canyon Creek Battle of Cow Island Battle of Cow Creek Battle of Bear Paw Battle of South Mountain Battle of Silver River Battle of Birch Creek Battle of Clearwater River Battle of Clark's Fork Battle of Heart Mountain Massacre Near Yellowstone Lake Battle of Jackson Hole Battle of Careless Creek Battle of Milk River Battle of Big Creek Battle of Pumpkin Creek Battle of Poplar River

August 9-10, 1877 Battle of Big Hole

After defeating Ojibway Soldiers at Nez Perce Reservation, American Soldiers were then sent to Big Hole Valley located in southwestern Montana. A large Ojibway Reservation (Blackfeet Reservation or Peigan Reservation) was set aside in that location in 1855 and yet exists. There is no evidence or proof, it was ceded. There were several Ojibway villages in Big Hole Valley. Battle of Big Hole was a part of Mullan Road War. A list of Mullan Road War battles is above. Colonel Gibbon left Fort Shaw near Great Falls and led 161 American Soldiers and 45 civilians to Big Hole or Big Hole Valley. These American Soldiers reached Big Hole Basin then found an Ojibway village to attack on August 9, 1877. A fierce battle followed after American Soldiers attacked this Ojibway village. Ojibway Scouts were sent to other nearby Ojibway villages to get reinforcements which kept this battle going. Whites described this Ojibway village as being V shaped and having 89 lodges. A small Ojibway village of possibly 300 to 500 people. Why Ojibway Soldiers prevented whites from easily winning, was those other Ojibway villages located in Big Hole Basin. Perhaps 5,000 to 10,000 Ojibway's lived throughout Big Hole Basin in 1877. Wisdom, Montana is located in Big Hole Basin today. Wisdom is 9.8 miles or 15.6 kilometers slightly southeast of where Battle of Big Hole was fought. Colonel Gibbon's soldiers were initially successful yet within a short time were driven away from this Ojibway village. He instructed his soldiers to dig rifle pits and build rock and log barriers, which indicates far more Ojibway Soldiers had joined battle. Ojibway Soldiers kept Gibbons force from advancing again. On August 10, 1877 this battle continued before Ojibway leaders gave orders to their soldiers to retreat south some 18 miles or 29 kilometers, to a location where most Ojibway's lived in Big Hole Basin. General Howard reached Gibbons force on August 11. American Soldiers were now established in Big Hole Basin. However, they lost Battle of Big Hole. American casualties were 29 killed and 40 wounded. Ojibway casualties were 70 to 90 killed and an unknown number wounded. Gibbon's force of 206 soldiers was no match to an Ojibway military force close to 2,000 soldiers. Ojibway People continued to live in Big Hole Valley.