Musician John McLennon
Note: Robert Luppi is president of the Friends of Bear Paw, Big Hole & Canyon Creek Battlefields as well as a direct descendent of John McLennon. John McLennon earned the Medal of Honor for “gallantry in action” while serving with Company A of the 7th U.S. Infantry at the Battle of the Big Hole in Montana Territory on August 9-10 1877. McLennon was born in 1855 at Fort Belknap, Texas, to Irish (County Kilkenny) immigrant parents, Michael and Mary (Ryan) McLennon. The couple
1st Sergeant Frederick Stortz: A moving account of the last months of a young soldier's life who
Frederick Stortz As time slips by since that fateful early dawn along the Big Hole when so many died or were maimed for life, we sometimes forget the human side of the story. We thank Ms. Sullivan for offering this wonderful biography of just one of the many so we never forget. The story of Frederick Stortz is presented as a pdf and since it is a large file, so it might take a little extra time to download. You'll need Adobe Reader installed on your computer to read it. Clic
Patrick Rogan, Son of Leitrim: A Biography of First Sergeant Patrick Rogan
Note: Dr. Richard M. Luppi is a member of the board of the Friends of Bear Paw, Big Hole & Canyon Creek Battlefields. Luppi is also a direct descendant of Patrick Rogan. Substitute Volunteer for the Union Army Patrick Rogan was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, in 1847 and immigrated to the United States during the American Civil War.1 Like other sons of Erin, Rogan sought a new life in America as a result of the Great Famine, English prejudice and repression, and harsh econo
Sherman Coolidge (1862 - 1932): Native American Leader and Minister and Nominee as Wyoming Citizen o
Note: Friends President Robert Luppi provides a brief biography of how a young Arapaho Indian was adopted by an officer who was wounded in the Battle of Big Hole. Sherman Coolidge was born in 1862 near Goose Creek in the Wind River area of Wyoming. He was an Arapaho Indian and son to Banasda (Big Heart) and Ba-ahnoce (Turtle Woman). His given name was Runs-on-Top and he was later renamed Sherman Coolidge. Tragedy struck Runs-on-Top early in life, as when he was age 7, his f
Historical Review Part 3: Battle of Canyon Creek September 13, 1877
The little know Battle of Canyon Creek took place on Thursday September 13th and lasted from 10 AM until dark, and was essentially a running fight against Nez Perce sharpshooters who fought a fierce almost text book rear guard action against the Seventh. Sturgis set up a command post below the canyon and as Private Jacob Homer vividly recalled, "He was standing beside Gen. Sturgis, who was viewing the action with his field glasses from his tent at the rear. ... The colonel
Historical Review Part 4: Cow Island & Bear Paw
After defeating the Seventh Cavalry at Canyon Creek, Chief Joseph headed north to the Mussel Shell and Missouri River fighting a rear guard action with the Crow and Cheyenne scouts. On September 23rd they reached the crossing at Cow Island on the Missouri River and were able to seize much needed army and citizen supplies stored there. As Joseph moved off, an Irishman named Michael Foley is said to have penned the following facetious note to his Commander Col. Clendenin: Rifle
Historical Review Part Five: Siege & Surrender - "I Will Fight No More Forever!"
Miles realized that were unable to overrun the camp. The Hotchkiss Gun firing two-pound explosive shells at a rate of 12 a minute was brought up and began to fire into the camp. However, bold Nez Perce sharpshooters soon crawled up and shot the mules and riders of the "Jackass Battery). A deadly sniping duel ensued with Joseph's warriors. At mid afternoon Miles saw an opportunity at the southern end of the camp where isolated lodges belonging to Joseph and his followers stood
The Battle of Big Hole: A Photographic Tour, by Bob Reece
All Photos © Bob Reece Picture 1 looks north--On August 7, 1877 the Nez Perce under the leadership of Looking Glass entered the Big Hole Valley and made camp. The Nez Perce knew this area from years of passing through on the way to hunt the buffalo. The Nez Perce numbered about 800 people with other leaders including Joseph and White Bird. Picture 2 looks SW--They raised 89 tipis, placed their horse herds on the hill to the west of the camp and settled in. Looking Glass told
More Photos of Big Hole Battlefield
All photos courtesy of James Thorn
The Battle of Canyon Creek, by Bill Price
Note: William Price, an editor for a consulting firm in New York, is the author of The Potlatch Run, a novel published by Dutton in 1971, and articles on the 1858 Steptoe Battle in Washington Territory, Jack Slade, and Charley Reynolds in True West and Frontier Times. Following their defeat of Gibbon’s army at Big Hole, the Nez Perce, led by Joseph, Looking Glass, and several others, continued east. Their refuge, they believed, would be with the Crow Indians, their former hun
