The Battle of Owyhee River took place during the

Snake War Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more joints ...

in 1866 in response to Paiute attacks along the Owyhee River earlier that year.Michno 2003, p.211

Background

Lt. Col. George Crook had recently arrived to assume command of the District of Boise in November, 1866. Crook set out with one company from the 1st U.S. Cavalry on December 18. Bad weather, rough terrain, growing opposition from his own ranks and unreliable guides all plagued Crook from the start. Yet, Crook pushed on until he reached the Paiute camp of Chief Howluck (Bigfoot) along the Owyhee River in southeast Oregon.Michno 2007, p.194

Battle

On the morning of December 26, Crook's men caught the Paiutes asleep in their camp.Michno 2003, p.211 However, after the first shots were fired, Chief Howluck determined to stay and fight. The native warriors taunted the soldiers, who returned a deadly accurate fire on the warriors. Quickly into the fighting almost every mounted warrior was shot down. The rest sought refuge behind rocks, remaining there until mid-day when they retreated.Michno 2007, p.194

Aftermath

Crook had caused considerable damage to Howluck's warriors. 30 were killed and another 7 captured. Crook lost 1 man wounded and another mortally wounded. Crook commented the battle "...ended any more depredations from that band". Among the native horses and stores captured was a

Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California; operational headquarters in Manhattan; and managerial offices throughout the United States and intern ...

mail pouch lost in the earlier Paiute raid. Crook did not immediately return to Boise, but continued his expedition engaging the Paiutes again at the

battle of Steen's Mountain The Battle of Steen's Mountain was a battle during the Snake War. In response to Paiute attacks in Idaho, Lt. Col. George Crook led a punitive expedition into southeast Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest r ...

Notes

References

* *Michno, Gregory, ''The Deadliest Indian War in the West: The Snake Conflict, 1864-1868''. Caldwell: Caxton Press, 2007.
''The Snake War, 1864-1868''
Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series #236, 1966 Owyhee River 1867 in Oregon Owyhee River Owyhee River Owyhee River Owyhee River {{US-battle-stub