Snake War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Snake War
Part of the American Indian Wars
Date 1864 to 1868 Location Oregon, Nevada, California, Idaho Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Snake Indians:
Commanders and leaders
Benjamin Alvord Reuben F. Maury George B. Currey Frederick Steele Louis H. Marshall George Crook Billy Chinook William C. McKay	Wewawewa Howluck Po-li-ni Paunia Egan Paulina Oytes Winnemucca Ocheho
Strength
1864-65 1st Oregon Cavalry 1st Regiment Washington Territory Volunteer Infantry 1st Nevada Cavalry 1864-67 1st Oregon Infantry 1866-68 U.S. 14th Infantry Regiment U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment 8th Cavalry Regiment U.S. Army Wasco Scouts	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Total casualties: ~1762

The Snake War (1864–1868) was a conflict in the western United States. It was fought by the United States Army against Native American groups. These groups were called "Snake Indians" by settlers. They included Northern Paiute, Bannock, and Western Shoshone bands. These groups lived along the Snake River.

The fighting happened in parts of Oregon, Nevada, California, and Idaho Territory. About 1,762 people were killed, wounded, or captured during the war.

Why the Snake War Started

This war began because of growing problems between Native tribes and settlers. For many years, more and more settlers moved onto Native lands. They competed for important resources like game (animals for hunting) and water.

Early explorers did not cause many problems. But in October 1851, Shoshone Indians killed eight men in Fort Hall, Idaho. From 1851, Native Americans in the region, often called "Snakes" by settlers, attacked groups of people traveling through the Snake River Valley.

Settlers often fought back by attacking Native American villages. For example, in September 1852, miners attacked a Modoc village in Oregon. They killed about 41 Modoc people. Similar attacks and counter-attacks happened for years before the Snake War officially began.

In August 1854, Native attacks on travelers led to the Ward Massacre. On August 20, 1854, Native Americans killed 21 people. The next year, the U.S. Army sent out the Winnas Expedition to punish those involved.

After 1858, the U.S. Army started protecting people moving to Oregon. They sent escorts each spring. But Native groups still attacked travelers, especially those who fell behind. One example is the Salmon Falls Massacre in September 1860.

When the American Civil War started in 1861, many U.S. Army troops went back east to fight. Volunteer soldiers from California, Oregon, and Washington Territory then took over protecting the travelers.

Gold Rush and Land Conflicts

In the late 1850s, gold mining in California slowed down. Miners began moving north and east into the Great Basin and Snake River Valley. This meant more competition for resources with Native Americans. Miners stayed longer on the land and used more game and water.

Many small fights broke out, leading both sides to prepare for war. The arrival of miners into the Nez Perce lands during the Clearwater Gold Rush also increased tensions. Some Nez Perce leaders agreed to a new treaty allowing miners, which divided their people.

More settlers arrived when new gold areas were found near Boise in 1862 and in the Owyhee Canyonlands in 1863. Western Shoshone, Paiute, and other local Native groups fought back against these newcomers. This resistance became known as the Snake War, from 1864 to 1868.

How the War Was Fought

The Snake War was not one big battle. Instead, it was a series of small, surprise attacks, also known as guerrilla warfare. These fights happened between Native Americans and American patrols from many small army camps. The war spread across California, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho.

Unlike some other Indian Wars, the Snake War did not have many famous leaders on either side. One of the best-known Native leaders was Chief Paulina. The most famous U.S. Army commander was George Crook. He had been an important leader for the Union in the Civil War. After successfully ending the Snake War, he went on to lead operations in the Apache Wars.

Many of the U.S. troops at the start of the war were volunteers from Oregon, California, and Washington Territory. The regular U.S. Army called their part in the Snake War the Campaign against Indians, Oregon, Idaho, and California (1865–1868).

Ending the Conflict

The Snake War slowly ended after peace talks. These talks happened between U.S. Army General George Crook and Snake chief Weahwewa.

The Snake War is often forgotten in United States history. One reason is that the Paiute and Western Shoshone were not as widely known as warriors, unlike groups like the Apache. Also, few reporters covered the war. Most of the country was focused on the American Civil War and what happened after it.

Even though it is often overlooked, the Snake War was one of the deadliest Indian Wars in the West. It had a very high number of casualties. By the end, 1,762 people were known to have been killed, wounded, or captured on both sides. To compare, the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn had about 847 casualties.