Tule River War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tule River War
Part of the American Indian Wars
Date 1856 Location San Joaquin Valley, California Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States  California	Yokuts
Commanders and leaders
Foster DeMasters W. G. Poindexter LaRhett Livingston	?
Strength
300–400	>700
Casualties and losses
some wounded	>100 killed

The Tule River War was a short conflict in 1856. It took place in the southern San Joaquin Valley in California. American settlers, the California State Militia, and the U. S. Army fought against the Yokuts people. The war lasted about six weeks.

Why the Conflict Started

For a long time, Native Americans living in the Sierra Nevada foothills were mostly left alone. But in the late 1840s and 1850s, things changed. Gold was found in California, and many miners moved into the area. This meant they started using lands that belonged to Native American tribes.

In 1850, a trader named James Woods settled near the Kaweah River. He and about fifteen other settlers were attacked by Native Americans the next spring. Woods died violently. Other stories say Woods was the only one killed.

Broken Promises: Treaties and Land

In 1851, the U.S. government signed treaties with many Native American tribes in California. These treaties promised to set aside land for reservations. They also promised food, like cattle, for the tribes. However, the U.S. Senate never officially approved these treaties. This meant the promises were not kept. The tribes did not get the land or resources they were promised. This secret vote was not made public until 1905.

New settlers kept moving into the area. In 1851, the Wingfield brothers settled near where Woods had lived. At first, they had no problems with the Native Americans. But in 1852, Tulare County was formed. This brought more government officials and settlers. The Wingfield brothers were taken captive by Native Americans. They were later released when a group led by Major Jim Savage arrived.

There were also conflicts over land and resources. For example, William Campbell and John Poole set up a ferry on the Kings River. This land was meant for the Choinumni tribe under one of the unapproved treaties. In 1852, Judge Walter Harvey attacked a Choinumni village. After this fight, Judge Harvey shot and killed Major James Savage.

Clashes Over Resources

Throughout the 1850s, groups of settlers often attacked Native American villages. They said they were fighting back because Native Americans stole their cattle and horses. While some animals were taken, it was often because Native Americans were struggling to find food. Their usual ways of living were disrupted by the settlers. These raids usually did not harm settlers. But the settler groups often killed Native Americans without checking if they were involved.

In 1853, some of the Yokuts people were moved to the Sebastian Indian Reservation. This was done by Ned Beale, who was in charge of Indian Affairs in California. Beale wanted the reservations to be self-sufficient, like the old Spanish Missions. But the Sebastian Reservation was far from the Yokuts' traditional lands. So, most of the Yokuts stayed in Tulare County.

By 1855, people in Visalia worried that Native Americans might starve. They asked the new Superintendent, Thomas J. Henley, to help. They thought that if Native Americans had enough food, they would not raid farms. Henley also wanted to create self-sufficient reservations. He sent people to find good locations near the Tule Lake area.

The Fighting Begins

In the spring of 1856, a false rumor spread. People heard that 500 cattle had been stolen by Native Americans. After checking, it turned out only one young calf had been taken. It was used as a gift for a wedding feast. Also, a sawmill owned by Orson Smith burned down. People blamed Native Americans for the fire. Because of these rumors, armed groups of settlers were formed. They started attacking Native American camps and killing people.

Some people in Visalia tried to help. They took in a Native American village when they heard a settler group planned to attack it at night.

Battles and Reinforcements

One settler group, led by Captain Foster DeMasters, went up the Tule River. They found a strong Native American camp. The camp had defenses made of rocks and brush, about two to four feet high. It was hard for attackers to get around them. In their first attack, DeMasters' group could not defeat the larger Native American force. The settlers wore jackets padded with cotton for protection, but these did not stop arrows.

A smaller group, led by John Williams, had separated from DeMasters' main force. They found a small group of Native Americans and attacked them. Williams' group then returned to DeMasters. They decided to ask for more help. On the way to Keyesville, Williams thought he saw a bear and shot it. Later, they found out he had shot a large black mule belonging to a local settler.

More settlers from Keyesville joined the fight. The combined force was now led by Sheriff W.G. Poindexter. But they still could not defeat the Native American camp. After falling back, the settler groups then forced Native Americans who had been protected by other settlers to move. They also destroyed Native American food supplies.

News of these fights spread across California. The stories often made the danger seem worse than it was. They also twisted the reasons for the conflict.

The Final Battle

Finally, in May 1856, soldiers from the U.S. Army joined the fight. They were led by Lt LaRhett Livingston. They planned to attack the camp from four sides at dawn. During scouting, Livingston came under attack while choosing a spot for a cannon. He ordered a charge, and his forces drove off the camp's defenders. The soldiers chased the Native Americans into the mountains for a few days. But they could not find them before Livingston's group had to return to the valley.

This was the last major fight of the war. After a few more weeks of small raids on farms, the Indian sub-Agent William Campbell found the Native Americans in the mountains. They were ready to make peace. About 100 Native Americans had died in the war. The Tule River War lasted about six weeks.

What Happened Next

Looking back, historian George Stewart wrote that the Tule River War could have been avoided. He felt that if the white settlers had truly wanted peace, it might not have happened. He also said that both sides likely shared some blame.

Later, historian Annie Mitchell wrote that people often thought the Tule River War was a small, almost funny event. But she said it was not. She believed that if the Native Americans had more guns instead of bows, they would have forced the white settlers out of the valley.