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This Day In History, January 29th, 2020 – “Bear River Massacre”



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It was just 157 years ago today, January 29, 1863, when men from the 3rd California Volunteer Infantry and the 2nd California Calvary under the command of Colonel Patrick Connor, attacked a Shoshone camp under the command of Chief Bear Hunter. Relations with settlers and Indians had never been peaceful, and as the Civil War raged, Lincoln was worried about losing control over the new state of California, and so volunteers were raised from the available men.

This Day in History, history, American History

After a series of raids on American settlers throughout the west, Colonel Connor attacked the Shoshone Indians near the confluence of Beaver Creek and the Bear River in southern Idaho. The Indians, though not knowing when the attack would take place, had taken defensive measures, including the digging of rifle pits. After the first wave of American troops were driven back, U.S. forces managed to surround the encampment, and win the day. Casualty figures are not fully known amongst the native population, but many estimates place it well into the hundreds, along with Chief Bear Hunter. The U.S. lost 14 soldiers killed, and 49 wounded.

With this battle and the capture of more than 100 native Americans, the Shoshone lost control over this area, allowing for more American settlement. Colonel Connor and his men were cheered as heroes, and continued to fight against the native American Indians throughout the Civil War.


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