Bannock War of 1895 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bannock War of 1895
Part of the American Indian Wars
Recent Uprising Among the Bannock Indians. A Hunting Party Fording the Snake River Southwest of the Three Tetons.
Date 1895 Location Jackson Hole, Wyoming Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Bannock
Casualties and losses
none	1 killed

This event should not be confused with the Bannock War of 1878.

The Bannock War of 1895, also called the Bannock Uprising, was a small conflict in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In the early 1890s, Wyoming made a law against hunting elk for their teeth. This led to the arrest of several Bannock hunters in 1895.

One Bannock person died during these arrests. This caused many false rumors to spread. Some news reports even claimed that the Bannocks had attacked and killed many settlers in Jackson Hole. The United States Army sent soldiers to the area. When the troops arrived, they found everything was peaceful. The fears of an uprising were not true.

Why the Conflict Started

In the late 1800s, there were fewer elk in Jackson Hole. People worried that elk would become extinct because of too much hunting. By 1895, Jackson Hole was popular for big game hunters. They felt that local Bannock hunters were getting in the way of their sport.

Elk were a main food source for the Bannocks. They lived on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Idaho. Their treaty allowed them to hunt on "unoccupied lands." In July 1895, a group of Bannock hunters was arrested for hunting. A group of 27 men led by Constable William Manning arrested them.

As they were being taken to town, the Bannocks feared for their lives. They tried to escape. During the confusion, one elderly Bannock man was killed. A local official sent a telegram to the Wyoming governor. He reported that one Bannock was killed and others escaped. He also said that settlers were afraid and needed protection.

False Reports and Army Response

News of the incident quickly spread. Many reports were exaggerated, especially on the East Coast. A New York newspaper wrongly claimed that all settlers in Jackson Hole had been killed. A Maryland newspaper, the Baltimore Morning Herald, had a shocking headline. It read: "Butchered by Bannocks - An Awful Massacre at Jackson's Hole."

The newspaper claimed that "every home and cabin" was burned. It said that "not one escaped." This false information came from three fishermen. They claimed that "every man, woman and child in Jackson's Hole [was] murdered." Another article said that the Bannocks had blocked off paths into Jackson Hole. It claimed residents were running away.

Because of these alarming reports, the United States Army sent soldiers to the region. Their orders were to take control of Jackson.

The Truth Revealed

Most soldiers found it hard to cross Teton Pass. But one company of Buffalo Soldiers managed to get through. They used ropes to lower their wagons down the slopes.

When the soldiers arrived, they found no Bannocks. There were no dead citizens or fires. This proved that the newspaper stories were completely wrong. The Indian agent at Fort Hall sent a telegram. It said that all Bannock people had returned to the reservation. They had a big meeting and felt good. They had not harmed any white people. They would start haying and trust in the justice system.

Hunting Rights and Court Cases

After the incident, the United States Indian Service arranged a test case. They wanted to clarify the Bannocks' treaty rights to hunt outside the reservation. A Bannock hunter named Race Horse was arrested for hunting. He was taken to court in Evanston.

A legal case, Ward v. Race Horse, was filed to free him. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided that Wyoming becoming a state meant the Bannock hunting rights were no longer valid. However, this decision was later changed. In 2019, the Supreme Court case Herrera v. Wyoming said that the earlier decision was wrong.