Battle of Mud Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Mud Lake/Mud Lake Massacre |
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| Part of the Indian Wars, Snake War |
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| Nations | |||||
 United States |
Smoke Creek Paiute|Kuyuidika-a Paiute | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Almond B. Wells | Unknown | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| 50 troopers of 1st Battalion Nevada Volunteer Cavalry 2 civilian guides |
30 Kuyuidika-a Paiute women, children, elderly. | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| "several wounded" | 29 killed | ||||
The Battle of Mud Lake/Mud Lake Massacre was a conflict that happened on March 14, 1865. It took place near what is now Winnemucca Lake in Nevada. This event was part of the larger Snake War, which was happening at the same time as the end of the American Civil War.
Contents
What Happened at Mud Lake?
The Cavalry's Mission
Fifty soldiers from the 1st Nevada Volunteer Cavalry Battalion, led by Captain Almond D. Wells, rode towards Pyramid Lake. They were looking into reports of cattle being stolen in the area.
Some accounts say that Chief Winnemucca told the soldiers that a group of Smoke Creek Paiutes might be the thieves. However, Chief Winnemucca's daughter, Sarah Winnemucca, wrote that her father and other young men were away hunting at the time.
Sarah Winnemucca also said that her father learned about the attack from a newspaper. This is interesting because Chief Winnemucca could not read.
The Attack on the Camp
Captain Wells reported that he took 29 of his soldiers and two civilian guides to Mud Lake. They found a camp there. Wells said his goal was to arrest the people who stole the cattle.
According to Wells, the Paiutes started shooting as the cavalry got close. The soldiers then surrounded the camp. The people in the camp tried to get away.
The soldiers killed 29 Native Americans during the fight. Only one person from the camp was reported to have escaped. Several soldiers were wounded. Wells also claimed that Chief Winnemucca was happy about the victory, believing it would teach the thieves a lesson.
What Happened After the Battle?
Meetings and Disagreements
After the attack, Major Charles McDermit and Nevada's first governor, Henry G. Blasdel, met with Paiute leaders. This meeting took place at Fort Churchill. Chief Winnemucca arrived at the meeting wearing war paint, along with over 60 other Paiute leaders.
Chief Winnemucca stated that the men who stole the cattle were not in their camp. Another leader, Numaga, explained that Chief Winnemucca had just lost his wives and newborn son. Numaga said that if the soldiers had just asked, they would have given up any cattle thieves before anyone was hurt.
Lasting Impact
This event deeply affected Chief Winnemucca. He made a promise never to return to the Pyramid Lake Paiute reservation. He kept this promise for the rest of his life.
Newspapers at the time reported different numbers for those killed. Some said 32 people were killed, and most of them were men. Other reports claimed that 16 to 18 of those killed were women and children.
After this event, the Black Rock Desert area became a major battleground. The fighting there was very intense.
Most local newspapers praised Captain Wells for his actions. However, one newspaper, the Virginia Daily Union, later questioned the story. They wondered how Wells's company had only one wounded soldier if the fight was so tough. They also asked why no weapons were taken from the enemy. The newspaper called for an investigation, but there is no record of one happening.
