Mohave War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mohave War
Part of the American Indian Wars
Date 1858–1859 Location Arizona Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States Maricopa	Mohave Hualapai
Commanders and leaders
William Hoffman Lewis Addison Armistead Elisha Marshall Samuel A. Bishop Ahwantsevarih	Espaniole Irataba Cairook  † Sickahot

The Mohave War was a conflict between the Mohave people and the United States. It took place from 1858 to 1859. After the California Gold Rush in 1849, many American settlers traveled west. They passed through the lands where the Mohave people lived, heading towards California. This large number of people moving through, along with simple misunderstandings, led to fighting.

To help with operations against the Mohave, Fort Mohave was built. It was located on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. This was the second American military post built on the river. Eventually, the United States had better weapons and fighting methods. This led the Mohave and their allies to give up. A peace treaty was signed in 1859. After this, the Mohave no longer fought against the United States. This peace also ended a long period of small, ongoing fights between the Mohave and the Maricopa people in south-central Arizona.

Early Conflicts: Beale's Crossing

In 1857, President James Buchanan asked Edward Fitzgerald Beale to build a road. This road would be about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) long. It would go from Fort Defiance in northern New Mexico Territory to the Colorado River. The road was for settlers traveling to the California gold fields. It crossed the Colorado River at a place called Beale's Crossing, which was in Mohave territory.

In 1857, Beale's Crossing was just a shallow part of the river. Then, a group of settlers called the Rose-Baley Party arrived. They had traveled from Santa Fe. When they reached the Colorado, they set up camp. They built a dock to make rafts. These rafts would help them move their heavy wagons across the river.

Meeting Mohave Chiefs

Chiefs Irataba, Cairook, and Sickahot met with the American settlers. In a meeting, the Mohave asked the group's leader, L. J. Rose, if they planned to build a town there. Rose said no. He told the chiefs they were going to California and would only stay a short time.

Rising Tensions and Attack

Problems started when the Mohave learned another group, the Bailey company, would come next. The Mohave began taking cattle for food. The Americans noticed their animals were missing. When they caught the Mohave taking them, L. R. Rose spoke to them. But the Mohave acted as if it was a joke.

Near the American camp were cottonwood trees. These trees belonged to the Mohave. They used the wood for buildings and clothing. Rose and his men did not know the trees were Mohave property. They cut them down to build their rafts. When the Mohave found out their valuable trees were gone, they attacked the settlers. Their Walapai allies joined them.

The Rose Party had many women and children. Only twenty-five men were fighting against hundreds of Mohave warriors. The Walapai and a few Mohave warriors attacked four women and children. They were hiding in a cabin in the mountains near the camp. The main Mohave force attacked the camp itself. In the end, seventeen Mohave warriors were killed. The Americans lost one person, Alpha Brown, and eleven were badly hurt. The settlers won the fight, but they lost most of their animals. Instead of going to California, they turned back to New Mexico.

A sketch of Fort Mohave in the late 1800s.

Chief Irataba's View

Chief Irataba and his group of Mohaves had helped make peace at the end of the Yuma War. He was against fighting the United States. Later, Irataba became an important leader among his people. He helped end the Mohave War. The war with the Maricopa was also happening. This was a big reason why Irataba wanted to work with the Americans. However, in 1858, other important chiefs like Cairook and Sickahot wanted to fight the United States. These chiefs were very popular with their warriors. So, Irataba could not stop them.

First Army Trip to Mohave Land

News of the battle at Beale's Crossing quickly reached the public. It also reached the United States War Department and General Newman S. Clarke in Los Angeles. General Clarke sent Lieutenant Colonel William Hoffman. Hoffman was from the 6th Cavalry. He was sent on an expedition to Beale's Crossing. His job was to build a military post there. This post would protect settlers crossing the Colorado River.

Hoffman left a ranch in Cajon Canyon on December 28, 1858. He hoped to cross the Mohave Desert along the Mohave Road. He wanted to do this before the hot summer began.

Skirmish at Beaver Lake

In January 1859, Hoffman and his fifty men camped near Beaver Lake. Chief Cairook was in the area with about 300 men. The two groups met in a small fight called the Battle of Beaver Lake. The American camp was surrounded. But accurate musket fire was deadly for the Mohaves. Hoffman reported that ten to twelve Mohave warriors fell. The Americans went back to their base after this fight. They did not build a post on the Colorado River yet.

On March 1, Lieutenant Samuel A. Bishop was sent from Los Angeles. He was to deliver supplies to Lieutenant Edward Beale. Beale was working on his road in northern Arizona. Bishop had thirty-eight men on camels, and several wagons and mules. They met employees of the Central Overland Mail company at Cave Canyon in the Mohave Desert. Soon after, 1,500 Mohave warriors appeared. The Mohaves fired at the small American group. Reports say they missed on purpose at first. But later, they moved closer for a real attack. In the fight, two native warriors were hurt by musket fire. One of them died later. Lieutenant Bishop decided to send the wagons back to the coast. He successfully continued to Beale's camp.

Two Mohave men next to the Colorado River in 1871.

Second Army Trip and Fort Mohave

Lieutenant Colonel Hoffman used the fight at Beaver Lake to ask the War Department for more soldiers. So, in April 1859, another expedition was sent to the Colorado River. This group included over 600 infantry (foot soldiers), cavalry (soldiers on horseback), and artillery (soldiers with cannons).

After setting up Camp Gaston as a first base, Hoffman's second expedition reached Beale's Crossing. Camp Colorado was officially built on April 19. Nine days later, Captain Lewis Addison Armistead renamed it Fort Mohave.

Peace Talks and Surrender

On April 23, Lieutenant Colonel Hoffman arrived at the Mohave Villages. He talked about peace with the people living there. Hoffman told the chiefs that if they agreed not to attack settlers traveling through their land, and not to stop the government from building roads and forts in Mohave territory, then they would not be destroyed.

The Mohave reluctantly agreed. Chief Cairook gave himself up. He was taken down the Colorado River to Fort Yuma with eight other Mohave people. Hoffman then went to San Bernardino. He left Captain Armistead of the 6th Infantry in charge of Fort Mohave. Armistead had fifty men and a few cannons. Meanwhile, soldiers and two river steamers were waiting at Fort Yuma. They were ready to help Fort Mohave if needed.

Escape and New Fights

After several weeks in a hot cell, Chief Cairook and the eight others planned their escape. Every day, the prisoners were allowed to leave their cell for fresh air. It was during one of these times in late June that their simple plan happened. Cairook grabbed one of his guards. The other eight prisoners ran for the bushes. The other guards noticed and fired at the fleeing Mohaves. One was killed, and Cairook was stabbed with a bayonet and shot.

Three of the Mohaves eventually made it back to their villages. They told the high chief, Espaniole, what happened. Espaniole decided to end the peace. He attacked a mail station two miles south of Fort Mohave. The station was destroyed, along with a field of melons planted by the Americans. When Captain Armistead learned of this, he started a series of small operations against the Mohaves. He and his fifty men had several small fights.

Final Battle and Peace

The only big battle of the war happened on August 4, 1859. Captain Armstead and First Lieutenant Elisha Marshall led fifty men. They attacked over 200 Mohaves twelve miles south of the fort, along the Colorado River. The native warriors were defeated. Twenty-three Mohave warriors were left on the field. Only three Americans were wounded.

After this, the Mohave, led by Chief Espaniole, asked for peace. The war was over. There was still a group among the Mohaves who wanted to keep fighting the United States. However, no new conflict started. Irataba, with help from the United States Army, became an important leader. He was seen as key to keeping the peace.

When the Maricopa people heard about the peace, they sent Chief Ahwantsevarih to Mohave territory. He went to end their war, which had mostly been small raids. The only major fight was an engagement at Pima Butte in 1857. Irataba met with Ahwantsevarih. The two chiefs agreed to have peace and start trading with each other.