Paiute War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paiute War
Part of the American Indian Wars
Numaga, war chief of the Paiute
Date 1860 Location Pyramid Lake, Nevada Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States	Paiute Shoshone Bannock
Commanders and leaders
William Ormsby† John C. Hays Joseph Stewart	Numaga
Strength
207 cavalry 649 militia	~500 warriors
Casualties and losses
85 killed about 34 wounded	31 killed about 30 wounded

The Paiute War, also known as the Pyramid Lake War, was a fight between the Northern Paiute people and settlers from the United States. The Paiute were joined by the Shoshone and Bannock tribes. This conflict happened in May 1860 near Pyramid Lake in what is now Nevada.

Before the war, there were many small problems between the settlers and the Native Americans. These problems grew worse, leading to two big battles. In these battles, 79 settlers and 25 Native Americans lost their lives. Smaller fights continued until August 1860, when both sides agreed to stop fighting. No official peace treaty was ever signed.

Why Did the Paiute War Happen?

When settlers started moving into what is now northwestern Nevada, it caused big changes for the Northern Paiute and Shoshone people. These tribes had always found food in the desert by hunting animals like deer and rabbits. They also ate plants, seeds, and insects.

Settlers cut down important trees that the Paiute used for food. They also gathered around water sources, which were scarce in the desert. The settlers' farm animals ate or trampled the plants that the Native Americans relied on. This meant less food for the Paiute and their horses.

Some Native Americans tried to adapt. They traded their handmade baskets and animal skins for food and other items. Some even worked for settlers. But many were unhappy about people taking over their land. Chief Numaga of the Paiute tribe went to Virginia City to explain his people's concerns. He said that cattlemen were letting their cows eat grass meant for Paiute horses. He also claimed these cattlemen were threatening his people.

Early Problems: 1857-1859

In 1857, there were signs of trouble. A man named Major William Ormsby thought there would be conflict with the Washoe people. He even teamed up with the Paiutes, who were already fighting the Washoe.

By 1858, the Native Americans and settlers tried to make a peace agreement. They agreed that anyone who stole or killed, whether white or Native American, would be punished. For a while, the Paiutes and settlers lived in peace. Chief Numaga even helped the settlers fight against other raiding tribes.

But the winter of 1858 was very harsh. It was hard to get food and supplies. People had to hunt more wild animals to survive. In 1859, a lot of silver was discovered nearby, which brought many more settlers to the area. This made tensions even higher. Many Native Americans believed that an angry spirit was causing the bad weather and hunger.

Spring 1860: Tensions Rise

In January 1860, a settler named Dexter Demming was killed. People wondered if Paiute or other Native American groups were responsible. It turned out that a group of Paiutes, led by Smoke Creek Sam, was involved. This group had separated from Chief Numaga's main tribe.

Settlers wanted revenge. Governor Isaac Roop asked Captain William Weatherlow to talk to Chief Numaga. They wanted Numaga to follow the peace agreement and hand over the killers.

When Weatherlow and another settler went to meet Numaga, they were captured by Smoke Creek Sam's group. One warrior, "Pike," who had lived with one of the settlers as a child, helped them escape.

When they finally met Chief Numaga, he did not say if his people were responsible for the killing. He said he would not stop his people from attacking settlers. He also demanded a large sum of money for the grazing land, knowing about the new silver discoveries. Weatherlow and the other settler left, warning everyone about the coming trouble.

Plans for War

Captain Weatherlow believed a full war was unavoidable. However, some settlers started to wonder if the Paiutes were truly to blame for Dexter Demming's death. It was known that Dexter's brother had once killed a Native American. Perhaps the attack was a mistake or revenge.

Despite these doubts, Governor Roop wrote to the military in February 1860. He said the area was in danger and asked for weapons and soldiers to remove the Paiutes.

During March and April, the Paiutes gathered at Pyramid Lake to decide if they should fight the settlers. Most wanted war, but they needed everyone to agree. Chief Numaga voted against war. While they were still deciding, two Paiute children went missing. This event, known as the Williams Station massacre, pushed everyone into war.

The War Begins

The Williams Station Attack

The Williams Station was a place where people could get drinks, buy supplies, and catch a stagecoach. On May 6, a group led by a Bannock warrior named Mogoannoga attacked the station. They killed five Americans and burned the building.

There are different stories about why this happened. One story says it was a random attack by a rogue group. Another story, told by a Paiute, says that the station owners cheated a young Native American and captured two Paiute children. When a Paiute group went to the station, they found the children tied up. In their anger, they killed the settlers. When the station owner, Williams, returned, he found his two brothers and three other people dead. This event made everyone very angry and led to exaggerated stories about many Native Americans killing everyone in the area.

Settlers Form a Militia

After the attack, volunteers quickly formed a group called a militia from nearby towns like Virginia City and Carson City. About 105 men joined, led by Major William Ormsby. They thought the Native Americans would not fight back.

These groups were not well-organized. They had few rifles and many were undisciplined. One man said they were "full of whisky and without discipline." Major Ormsby was seen as the leader, but the different groups never chose one overall commander.

The first group to arrive at Williams Station buried the dead. One leader, Judge John Cradlebaugh, told his men that the Williams brothers had a bad reputation. He thought the Native Americans might have had a good reason for the attack. The next morning, he and some of his men returned to Carson City. The rest continued towards Pyramid Lake, following a clear trail left by the Native Americans.

First Battle of Pyramid Lake

On May 12, the settlers were attacked by Paiute forces led by Chief Numaga. This happened about five miles south of Pyramid Lake. The settlers first met a small group of Paiutes and attacked them. The Paiutes ran into a deep ditch, firing as they went. Once the settlers followed them into the ditch, a much larger group of Native Americans appeared. They surrounded the settlers and fired from all sides.

The settlers were not well-armed or organized. They were defeated. The survivors escaped into some woods and were chased for about 20 miles. Seventy-six settlers died, including Major Ormsby. Many others were wounded. According to some accounts, only a few Native Americans were killed or injured.

Native Americans who were interviewed later said that the settlers panicked and threw down their guns, trying to surrender, but were killed.

Organizing U.S. Forces

After the first battle, settlers asked Colonel John Coffee Hays, a famous Texas Ranger, for help. He put together a large group of local volunteers called the "Washoe Regiment." The U.S. Army also sent soldiers from California, led by Captain Joseph Stewart. Hays' volunteers and Stewart's soldiers joined forces.

Second Battle of Pyramid Lake

In late June, Captain Stewart and Colonel Hays led their combined forces back to the same place where Ormsby's men had been defeated. This time, they fought Chief Numaga's Paiutes and won. The Paiute forces scattered across the area.

After a small fight northeast of Pyramid Lake, the volunteer groups were sent home. Stewart's regular soldiers stayed near Williams Station to build a fort called Fort Churchill. In this battle, three soldiers and 25 Paiutes were reported killed.

What Happened Next?

After the second battle, the U.S. forces built a small fort at the southern end of Pyramid Lake. This was to keep the Paiutes out of that area. Small fights continued until August. Then, Chief Numaga and some white surveyors agreed to an informal cease-fire.

In 1861, the fort at Pyramid Lake was abandoned. A new, larger fort, Fort Churchill, was built further south. While not many Paiutes died in the battles, the war made it hard for them to gather food, especially by fishing in Pyramid Lake. This may have caused more deaths from hunger.

The Paiute War also affected the famous Pony Express. Several of their stations were attacked, and it was the only time the Pony Express had delays in delivering mail. Some riders, like Robert "Pony Bob" Haslam, became famous for their bravery during this time. He once rode 380 miles in a round trip with only nine hours of rest!