“August 25th. Every thing necessary for our expedition being ready this morning, we started in a southern direction, but did not go far until we encamped for the night - thinking that if we had neglected any thing which we would stand in need of, we would thus discover it. The next morning finding all things in order, we continued travelling down what is called Pieres hole, or valley. This valley is situated on the river of the same name, and is from 70 to 80 miles in length, with a high mountain on the east and west - each so high that it is impossible to pass over them, and is from eight to ten miles wide. The river runs immediately through the centre, with a beautiful grove of timber along either bank; from this timber to the mountain, a distance of four or five miles, there is nothing but a smooth plain. This meadow or prairie is so perfectly level that a person may look up or down as far as the eye will reach without meeting any thing to obstruct the sight, until the earth and sky appear to meet. After travelling a few miles this morning, some of the men, in taking a view of the country before us, discovered something like people upon horses, who appeared to be coming towards us. After continuing in the same direction for some time we came in view with the naked eye, when we halted. They advanced towards us displaying a British flag. This we could not comprehend; but on coming closer discovered them to be hostile Indians. We immediately despatched a messenger back to the rendezvous for reinforcements and prepared ourselves for defence. The Indians commenced building a fort in the timber on the bank of the river; but at the time we were not aware of what they were doing. After waiting here a few hours we were reinforced by 200 whites, 200 Flatheads, and 300 Nez Perces Indians. The Indians with the British flag, on seeing such a number of people galloping down the plain at full speed, immediately retreated within their fort, whither they were hotly pursued. The friendly indians soon discovered them to belong to the Blackfeet tribe, who are decidedly the most numerous and warlike tribe in the mountains, and for this reason are not disposed to have any friendly intercourse with any other nation of an inferior number, unless they are good warriors and well armed with guns, &c. We thought we could rush right on them and drive them out of the brush into the plain and have a decisive battle at once. We advanced with all possible speed, and a full determination of success, until we discovered their fort by receiving a most destructive fire from the enclosure. This throwed our ranks into complete confusion, & we all retreated into the plain, with the loss of 5 whites, 8 Flatheads and 10 Nez Perces Indians killed, besides a large number of whites and Indians wounded. The formation of their fort astonished all hands. We had been within a few hundred yards of them all day and did not discover that they were building it. It was large enough to contain 500 warriors; and built strong enough to resist almost any attempt we might make to force it. After dressing the wounded, and having reconnoitered their fort, our forces were divided into several detachments, and sent in different directions with the intention of surrounding the fort and making them prisoners. This was done under the superintendance of Fitzpatrick, who acted as commander-in-chief.

In a case of this kind any man not evincing the greatest degree of courage, and every symptom of bravery, is treated as a coward; and the person who advances first, furthest and fastest, and makes the greatest display of animal courage, soon rises in the estimation of his companions. Accordingly with the hope of gaining a little glory while an opportunity offered, though not for any electioneering purpose, as a politician in the States would do - I started into the brush, in company with two acquaintances (Smith and Kean) and two Indians. We made a circuitous route and came towards the fort from a direction which we thought we would be least expected. We advanced closer and closer, crawling upon our hands and knees, with the intention of giving them a select shot; and when within about forty yards of their breast work, one of our Indians was shot dead. At this we all lay still for some time, but Smith's foot happening to shake the weeds as he was laying on his belly, was shot through. I advanced a little further, but finding the balls to pass too quick and close, concluded to retreat. When I turned, I found that my companions had deserted me. In passing by, Smith asked me to carry him out, which met my approbation precisely, for I was glad to get out of this unpleasant situation under any pretext - provided my reputation for courage would not be questioned. After getting him on my back, still crawling on my hands and knees, I came across Kean, lying near where the first Indian fell, who was also mortally wounded and died soon after. I carried Smith to a place of safety and then returned to the siege. A continual fire was kept up, doing more or less execution on both sides until late in the afternoon, when we advanced to close quarters, having nothing but the thickness of their breast work between us, and having them completely surrounded on all sides to prevent any escaping. This position we maintained until sun-set, in the meantime having made preparations to set fire to the fort, which was built principally of old dry logs, as soon as night would set in, and stationed men at the point where we thought they would be most likely to make the first break, for the purpose of taking them on the wing, in their flight. Having made all these preparations, which were to put an end to all further molestation on the part of the Blackfeet, our whole scheme and contemplated victory was frustrated by a most ingenious and well executed device of the enemy. A few minutes before the torch was to be applied, our captives commenced the most tremendous yells and shouts of triumph, and menaces of defiance, which seemed to move heaven and earth. Quick as thought a report spread through all quarters, that the plain was covered with Blackfeet Indians coming to reinforce the besieged. So complete was the consternation in our ranks, created by this stratagem, that in five minutes afterwards, there was not a single white man, Flathead or Nez Perces Indian within a hundred yards of the fort. Every man thought only of his own security, and run for life without ever looking round, which would at once have convinced him of his folly. In a short time it was ascertained that it was only a stratagem, and our men began to collect together where our baggage was. I never shall forget the scene here exhibited. The rage of some was unbounded, and approached to madness. For my own part, although I felt much regret at the result after so much toil and danger, yet I could not but give the savages credit for the skill they displayed in preserving their lives, at the very moment when desperation, as we thought, had seized the mind of each of them.

By the time we were made sensible of the full extent of our needless alarm, it had began to get dark; and on ascertaining the extent of the injury which we received, (having lost 32 killed, principally Indians,) it was determined not to again attempt to surround the fort, which was a sore disappointment to some of the men who were keen for chastising the Indians for their trick. We then took up our march for the rendezvous; but on starting one of our party of 15 men, who had first started out the day before, could not be found. Search was made, and he was found in the brush, severely wounded. After carrying him on a litter a few miles he died and was buried in the Indian style: - which is by digging a hole in the ground, wrapping a blanket or skin round the body, placing it in the hole, and covering it with poles and earth. This is the manner of interring the dead in this country both by the Indians and whites, except in the winter season on account of the ground being frozen, when the Indians are in the habit of wrapping their dead in buffaloe robes, and laying them on poles from one tree to another, on which poles the corpse is tied with cords. The next morning we raised another war party and went back to the battle ground, but no Indians could be found. They must have left the fort in great haste for we found 42 head of horses, together with Fitzpatrick's which they had taken on the mountain, two warriors and one squaw lying dead inside of their fort, besides a large quantity of their baggage, such as furs, skins, &c. There must have been a great number of them, from the holes they had dug in the ground around their dead horses and the edges of the fort, say from three to four hundred. I learned afterwards that the Nez Perces Indians shortly after found seven more dead Blackfeet, in some brush close by, where they had been secreted to save their scalps, which is the principal object with these Indians, in order to have their women dance. In the afternoon we returned to the rendezvous and presented Mr. Fitzpatrick with his long-lost and highly valued horse, which seemed to compensate for all the sufferings and hardships which he had encountered.”

Nathaniel Wyeth offers this description of the Battle of Pierre’s Hole as taken from Journal of Captain Nathaniel J. Wyeth's Expeditions to the Oregon Country: First Expedition - 1832 (Reference Link). Wyeth had been very successful in business in the East and his purpose in traveling to the West was to assess business opportunities. At this time Wyeth a party of twelve other Yankee New Englanders had traveled to the 1832 Rendezvous and were now accompanying a brigade under the leadership of Milton Sublette and Henry Fraeb.

“On the 18th we did not leave camp when near starting we observed 2 partys of Indians coming out of the pass about 200 in number with but few horses after securing our camp our riders went out to meet them and soon found them to be Blackfeet a little skirmish ensued one of the Blackfeet was killed and his Blankett and robe brought into camp on this the Indians made for the timber the women and children were seen flying to the mountains at this time only 42 men being the party of Mess Milton Sublette & Frapp mine and a few Independent Hunters were in sight and the Indians were disposed to give us their usual treatment when they meet us in small bodies but while the Indians we[re] making their preparations we sent an express to camp which soon brought out a smart force of Nez Perces Flatheads and whites the Indians finding they were caught fortified themselves in a masterly manner in the wood. We attacked them and continued the attack all day there were probably about 20 of them killed and 32 horses were found dead They decamped during the night leaving most of their utensials lodges &c and many of the dead we have lost 3 whites killed 8 badly wounded among which is Mr Wm. Sublette who was extremely active in the battle about 10 of the Indians were killed or mortally wounded of the Nez Perces and Flatheads in the morning we visited their deserted fort they had dug into the ground to reach water and to secure themselves from our shot It was a sickening scene of confusion and Blood[s]head one of our men who was killed inside their fort we found mutilated in a shocking manner on the 19th we removed back to our former ground to be near our whole force and to recruit the wounded and bury the dead. We think that 400 lodges or about 600 warriors of the Blackfeet are on the other side of the pass and if they come they must be met with our whole force in which case the contest will be a doubtful one. We have mad[e] Horse pens and secured our camp in as good a manner as we can and wait the result this affair will detain us some days. On 24th we again moved out of the valley in the same direction as at first viz about S.E. and encamped at night in the gorge of it during the march I visited the scene of our conflict for the first time since the battle the din of arms was now changed into the noise of the vulture and the howling of masterless dogs the stench was extreme most of the men in the fort must have perished I soon retired from this scene of disgusting butchery”

John Ball was member of Nathaniel Wyeth's 1832 expedition to the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest . Ball provides an account of the Battle of Pierre’s Hole in: The Autobiography of John Ball - Across the Plains to Oregon, 1832.

“Mr. Sublette had come out with arms, ammunition, traps, etc., for his business and new men to take the places of those whose term of service had expired, so there was much fixing up to sort out the parties for the different purposes. And our party of trappers under Mr. Frapp one afternoon left the main camp and went out some seven or eight miles and encamped on a prairie near some timber on a little creek, as usually there is timber on the streams and mountainsides.

We had a quiet night but in the morning, as we were about to commence our day's march, Indians were seen in line of march on horseback off across the prairie, say some two miles. And the trappers at once decided they must see who they were. So Frapp told Antoine, the half-breed, to take a good horse and have an Indian of the party go with him and go out and see who they were. As Antoine approached them he saw they were Blackfeet, and their chief left his party and came out in a friendly way to meet him. But his father having been killed by the Blackfeet, he was going to have his revenge.

So he said to his companion, "I will appear to be friendly when we meet, but you watch your chance and shoot him." His plan was carried out. He was shot down. Antoine caught his robe, a square of blue and scarlet cloth, and turned and the Blackfeet fired after him, when they saw his treachery. He escaped and came into our camp, said they were Blackfeet, and that he had killed their chief and there was his robe in evidence.

"All right" they said, "they would play friendly now but at night attack our camp." But we twelve [Wyeth's Yankees] could not appreciate the reasoning. But here we were in the company that thus decided. But as we watched to see what they would next do they seemed at first to break up and scatter, but soon we saw that a large band, the warriors, seemed coming directly towards us to make fight. So we immediately tied our horses to bushes near and put up our saddles as a kind of breastwork but before they reached us, they turned off into some timber on a stream, built a kind of fort of logs, bushes, their saddles and blankets, as a shade if we attacked them, and took their horses into the fort with them.

The moment that Antoine gave the information that they were Blackfeet, an express flew off back to the old camp to tell we had met the enemy, and in the time, it seemed to me, that race horses could have hardly gone over the ground, some of Sublette's men and the friendly Indians came rushing into our camp inquiring where were the Blackfeet. And on soon finding where they had fortified themselves, each white or Indian, as he felt that his gun was right, and all things ready for his part, would start off. And so they went helter skelter, each on his own hook to fight the common enemy. For the friendly Indians had their own wrongs to avenge. As they thus almost singly approached their brush and saddle fort, they could only see the defences whereas, they, the Blackfeet, could see everyone who approached them. They soon shot down some of the trappers and Flatheads, for the timber was not large enough to shelter a man. And soon wounded men were brought back to our camp.

We twelve Yankees felt that we had no men to spare to be killed or wounded that we were not called upon to go out of the way to find danger, but had they attacked our camp, we should have taken our full part, to save ourselves and horses. But we readily assisted in taking care of the wounded and in other ways aid, as far as we felt belonged to us. They kept up a firing at them at a safer distance, but did not rout them. Six trappers and as many friendly Indians were killed or mortally wounded. And as night approached it was determined to retreat. And the whites took a wounded man on a horse, others riding each side to hold him up. The Indians fixed long fills to a horse letting the ends draw on the smooth ground and fixed onto them a kind of hurdle, onto which they laid the wounded and drew them off easily over the smooth prairie. A better way than ours.

When night came on we encamped in the best manner of defence we could, and the next day expecting surely an attack from them, built a high fence and strong pen for our horses in such case, and a guard on the open prairie to run them in if attacked, and then awaited the result. Their fort was finally visited and a number of dead horses found. But of course they had secreted any men they lost from scalping. We did not go back so far as the old camp.

The man who died in our camp we buried in the horse pen where the ground was so trodden that the enemy could not find the body to scalp it. Another badly wounded was sent to Sublette s camp on a bier suspended between two horses, one ahead of the other. And when we found that the enemy was not near, after a few days, we took up our line of march as originally intended. “

Warren Ferris, although not a participant in the Battle of Pierre’s Hole, was in the area and visited the battle ground on May 25^th, 1833 , about nine months after the event. Here are Ferris’ observations as recorded in Life in the Rocky Mountains: A Diary of Wanderings on the sources of the Rivers Missouri, Columbia, and Colorado from February, 1830, to November, 1835 (Reference Link):

“On the succeeding morning, in company with a friend or two, I visited the battle ground which was situate in a grove of aspen trees, several hundred yards in extent. The pen or fort was probably about fifty feet square, was composed of green and dry aspen timber, and though hastily, yet firmly constructed. It had sunk down in some places, however, from decay, below the height of two feet perpendicular. The beseiged had excavated holes or cavities in the earth, within the pen, sufficiently capacious for two or three persons to remain in, quite below the surface of the ground. These holes extended entirely round the pen; and we ascertained that the Indians had fired, in most cases, from small holes at the surface of the ground, beneath the pen or breast work, which circumstance (happily for them) was not observed in the smoke and confusion of the battle, or they would have been annihilated in a few moments. The attack was principally made on the north side, where at every tree, sticks were still seen piled up against the roots, from which the beseigers fought; who had likewise raised a heap of brush and logs, a few paces from the pen or fort, to nearly or quite the same height; and had the Indian allies not objected, in the hope of capturing their arms, ammunition and other equipments, it would have soon been so greatly increased and advanced toward the pen, as to have insured its destruction, if fired, with all its contents and defenders. Parties were also stationed behind trees, and clusters of willows on the other sides of the fort, which was thus entirely surrounded. The trees both within and outside of the pen, were covered with the marks of balls, or of the axes successfully employed by our comrades, to exhume and save them; lead being very valuable in these remote regions, where it is so extremely necessary, both to the purposes of defence and subsistence. Bones, of both men and animals, lay scattered about, in and around the pen, bearing evident indications of having contributed their fleshy covering, to the sustenance of wolves and ravens; who undoubtedly gratified their gastronomical propensities, after a protracted fast, for some days subsequent to the conflict.”

Robert Campbell was writing a letter, dated July 18, 1832, to his brother from the 1832 Rendezvous when interrupted by the battle:

"19th July. - I was yesterday interrupted in describing our route, by the cry of "Black Feet ! " - Instantly I threw down my pen, and hastily preparing for a conflict with those savages, I proceeded in the direction pointed out by the express, in company with my friend S. - In Indian warfare, we do not marshall our forces; nor approach the scene of conflict in any regular order. Each person goes "on his own hook," if I may be allowed the expression; and in this way our party, with the exception of a few left in charge of the camp, proceeded down the ravine at full gallop. Mr. S. and I, without being aware of the cause or nature of the approaching contest, felt convinced we were about entering on a perilous engagement, in which one, or both of us might fall. We therefore briefly directed each other as to the disposition of our property, or in other words, made our wills, appointing each other sole executor. So far as I have known, (and I have known too many instances,) the utmost respect is paid to the disposal of property in this manner, amongst the hunters; - and I question whether the dying wishes of your fellow citizens, - guarded as they are, by salutary laws, - are better, or more correctly fulfilled, than amongst our mountain traders.

On reaching the party that gave the alarm, we found them debating on the propriety of attacking the enemy, who were strongly fortified in a willow swamp about a mile distant. The information derived from our friends, was given in a few sentences; for at such times "our words are few and full of meaning." No one waits to answer questions, and he who has not a quick ear and ready comprehension, must go to the battle without news. We learned that a small party leaving our encampment on the day previous, had suddenly encountered a band of Black Feet warriors - and, that coming to a halt, a parley ensued; our friends sending two half bred Indians to meet the chief of the Black Feet, who rode out in advance. A few signs (for their languages were unknown to each other) soon satisfied the parties of the irreconcilable enmity existing; an enmity that originated on the part of the Black Feet, with the first visit of Lewis and Clarke to this region and continues, unabated to the present day. This interview took place in sight of both whites and Indians. On a signal given, the latter immediately retired to the swamp where they constructed a fortification of logs, hanging their lodge skins around - by way of masked battery - to conceal their position more effectually. Their number was estimated at 250 warriors.

Our force consisted of from 40 to 50 whites - a few half breeds - and two small bands of friendly Indians, from the Pierced Nose and Flat Head tribes. Mr. S. [William Sublette]- (brave as a lion) addressed a few words to the whites, telling them that the enemy was near, and that if at the commencement of the season we did not show a bold front, our prospects in the mountains would he blasted. He concluded his brief but energetic address, by remarking "and now boys, here are the Black Feet who have killed so many of your companions; - who have probably been prowling around us for several days, waiting a favorable chance of attacking us, when they believed us unprepared; - and who are at this moment daring the palefaces to the onset. Some of us may fall; but we die in a good cause; for whose life or property will be secure if the foe be encouraged by refusing their challenge?" Addressing my old friends the Flat Heads, I told them our determination to assail their enemies, in their strong hold, and that we knew we should have their assistance. Then raising the war whoop, Mr. S. and myself, with about twenty others, dashed off at full speed towards the willows. Drum, fife and trumpet, are as nothing when compared with the effect of the war whoop. The yell, the action, and their effect, perhaps, in banishing reflection for the time being, prepare us better for entering into battle than all the "pomp and circumstance" of the best martial music. On reaching the willows we fastened our horses in a thicket, a short distance above where the Black Feet were fortified. Our little party was then formed in two divisions; one under Mr. M. S. [Milton Sublette] approached along the creek; while Mr. S. his brother A. four other Americans and myself, kept towards where we knew the Indians were waiting for us. We were soon within a few steps of their rude but formidable breastwork - and here "the boldest held his breath for a time." We approached according to the usage in Indian warfare, on our hands and knees; and while in this attitude Mr. S. and myself a little in advance, - a shot from behind the breastwork mortally wounded a brave fellow named St. Clair [Alexander Sinclair], who was within two feet of me. Poor fellow! he had a brother in our company, to whom he was greatly attached, and feeling death approach rapidly, he called to us. "I am shot! - oh God - take me to my brother." These were his last words - and we gave immediate directions that they should be obeyed. A few steps further and another of our men, named Phelps, was wounded in the thigh. One of the men was directed to carry him off, and we were thus left within 10 or 15 steps of the fort with only a party of four effective men, opposed to hundreds!

Perhaps you will call it madness to continue an attack under such circumstances; but you must remember that on entering the thicket we expected our example would be followed by more of our men and by the friendly Indians. Even should our course deserve the name of rashness, a retreat would be attended with greater danger than maintaining our ground; for by crawling cautiously along we more effectually avoided the bullets which were now "hailing" around us, than by exposing our backs to an Indian's aim. We continued to keep up a steady fire, never rising higher than our knee to take aim, and never losing a shot by firing without an object. While thus engaged on one occasion, with my left heel touching the right knee, and taking deliberate aim at a rascal who was peeping out between the lodge skins, a bullet whistled by so near my leg, as to induce the belief that I was wounded. I soon found it was a false alarm, and am since then grateful that my legs are not larger; -for it requires a centre shot to hit there. In the mean time another brave fellow, quickly, received a bullet in his head - gave one spring from where he stood, leaning against Mr. S. and me and fell down a corpse! Either the same ball, or one fired at the same time, struck Mr. S. on the left arm, fracturing the bone, and passing out under the shoulder blade. He remarked that he was wounded, and continued the attack for a short time, but the loss of blood, and thirst which succeeded, obliged him to call on me for assistance.

By this time the Pierced Nose and Flat Head Indians began to join us, and the fire on the Fort became more formidable and deadly. I assisted Mr. S. from the scene to the creek, where I probed the wound, and dressed it as well as the means within reach admitted of. We then made a litter and carried him back to the encampment, where I am happy to say he seems to be recovering.

To return, however, to the field of battle; our men, and the friendly Indians continued the assault from the time we left (late in the afternoon) until dark, without being able to enter the fortress. The Black Feet defended their position (which was well chosen) with obstinate bravery. During the night our men drew off, and took such stations around the spot as to detect the enemy in case of an attempt to escape. Notwithstanding all their precautions, the Black Feet effected a retreat, so quietly that it was not discovered until this morning. I have just returned from the battle field; - the sight was distressing; - two of our brave men were killed - two more are I fear mortally - and four seriously wounded. Of the friendly Indians I saw the bodies of five braves who -

"Could lightly wheel the bright claymore, And send the whistling arrow far:"

- dressed and painted for burial; and then laid in one grave. Two or three others I am told have died since morning.

The loss of the enemy I am unable to ascertain. You are aware that it is their custom to carry off the slain, when in their power. We found on examination that we had killed of their horses, which were within the enclosure and conjectured from their trail that there was an equal number in killed and wounded amongst their warriors.

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