preview

The Battle Of Big Hole

Better Essays

The Battle of Big Hole in 1877 demonstrated well the dynamics of communication, strategy, and risk assessment in every stage of the battle, from the initial gathering of information to the aftermath of the slaughter. The materials of gathering intelligence, for example, can literally make or break the matter of mission completion. In this case, communication between commanders aided in U.S. Army in cutting off the path to Canada for the fleeing Nez Perce Native Americans.
The military doctrine at the time of Western expansion and the Indian Wars is hard to isolate and condense into a succinct statement. This is due to the fact the United States government wanted to treat the Native Americans with decency while also herding them into smaller areas of land and confining them onto reservations. This “peace policy” was complicated by an excitable populace that was keen on seeking revenge against any suspected provocation from a Native American tribe. Altercations often resulted in the United States military intervening to restore what was being defined at that time as “peace”. Once the military became involved in the pursuit of any tribe, human decency was often pushed to the side in multiple demonstrative manners of ineffective, immoral, and otherwise negative leadership. For example, there were countless murders of innocent Native American noncombatants during the late 19th century; referencing to the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 in Colorado or the Wounded Knee Massacre of

Get Access