Patrick Edward Connor, shown after his promotion to general, established Camp Douglas in 1862 and commanded the soldiers who participated in the . (Photo by Flaglor, State Historical Society) Chapter 13

Harold Schindler

The Bear River Massacre New Historical Evidence

ontroversy has dogged the Bear River Connor’s [p. 301] estimate, the camp CMassacre from the first. lay in a dry ravine about forty feet The event in question occurred when, on wide and was shielded by twelve-foot January 29, 1863, volunteer soldiers under embankments in which the Indians Colonel Patrick Edward Connor attacked had cut firing steps. . . . a Shoshoni camp on the Bear River, killing When the soldiers appeared shortly nearly three hundred men, women, and after daybreak on January 27 [sic], children. The bloody encounter culminated the Shoshonis were waiting in their years of increasing tension between whites defenses. and the Shoshonis, who, faced with dwin- About two-thirds of the command dling lands and food sources, had resorted succeeded in fording ice-choked Bear to theft in order to survive. By the time of River. While Connor tarried to hasten the battle, confrontations between the once- the crossing, Major [Edward] McGarry friendly Indians and the settlers and emi- dismounted his troops and launched grants were common. a frontal attack. It was repulsed with So it was that “in deep snow and bitter cold” heavy loss. Connor assumed control Connor set forth from Fort Doug- and shifted tactics, sending flanking las with nearly three hundred men, parties to where the ravine issued from mostly cavalry, late in January 1863. some hills. While detachments sealed Intelligence reports had correctly off the head and mouth of the ravine, located Bear Hunter’s village on Bear others swept down both rims, pour- River about 140 miles north of Salt ing a murderous enfilading fire into Lake City, near present Preston, . the lodges below. Escape blocked, the Mustering three hundred warriors by Shoshonis fought desperately in their 228 Harold Schindler

positions until slain, often in hand- At the onset of his expedition against the to-hand combat. Of those who broke Bear River band, he announced that he was free, many were shot while swimming satisfied that these Indians were among those the icy river. By mid- who had been murdering morning the fighting emigrants on the Overland had ended. Mail Route for the previ- On the battlefield ous fifteen years. Because the troops counted of their apparent role as 224 bodies,­ including “principal actors and lead- that of Bear Hunter, ers in the horrid massacres and knew that the toll of the past summer, I deter- was actually higher. mined . . . to chastise them They destroyed 70 if possible.” He told U.S. lodges and quanti- marshal Isaac L. Gibbs that ties of provisions, Gibbs could accompany the seized 175 Indian troops with his federal war- A young Shoshoni brave. Shoshonis bore horses, and captured the brunt of the January 1863 attack. rants if he wanted, but “it 160 women and (Photo by William H. Jackson, Utah State [p. 302] was not intended Historical Society) children, who were to have any prisoners.”3 left in the wrecked village with a store However—and­ this is another controversy— of food. The Californians had been there have been many who have questioned hurt, too: 14 dead, 4 officers and 49 whether Connor’s­ soldiers actually tangled men wounded (of whom 1 officer and with the guilty Indians. 6 men died later), and 75 men with Recently discovered evidence, while frostbitten feet. Even so, it had been it resolves neither of those debates, does a signal victory, winning Connor the address a more fundamental aspect of the fulsome praise of the War Department encounter that ultimately claimed the lives of and prompt promotion to brigadier twenty-three soldiers and nearly three hun- general.1 dred American Indians: that is, Bear River began as a battle, but it most certainly degen- Controversies over the battle have tainted erated into a massacre. We have that informa- it ever since. For one thing, Chief Justice tion from a participant, Sergeant William L. John F. Kinney of the Utah Supreme Court Beach of Company K, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, had issued warrants for the arrest of several Volunteers, who wrote an account Shoshoni chiefs for the murder of a miner. But and sketched a map just sixteen days after the critics have questioned whether the warrants engagement, while he was recuperating from could legally be served, since the chiefs were the effects of frozen feet. no longer within the court’s jurisdiction.2 The The sergeant specifically describes a cru- legality of the federal writs was irrelevant, cial moment in the four-hour struggle: the however, to Colonel Connor, commander of point at which the soldiers broke through the California Volunteers at Camp Douglas. the Shoshoni fortifications and rushed “into The Bear River Massacre 229

Battle action superimposed on a picture of the battlefield. (Utah State Historical Society) their very midst when the work of death and located the Indian camp and its defenders commenced in real earnest.” Having seen a on a map of the battlefield. He also charted the dozen or so of his comrades shot down in course of the river at the time of the engage- the initial attack, Beach watched as the tide ment and pinpointed the soldiers’ ford across of battle fluctuated until a desperate enemy the Bear. From his map, historians learn for finally sought to surrender. the first time that some of the Shoshonis broke from the fortified ravine on horseback.4 Beach Midst the roar of guns and sharp traced the warriors’ retreat on the map with a report of Pistols could be herd the cry series of lowercase “i” symbols. for quarters but their was no quarters The manuscript and map came to light that day. . . . The fight lasted more in February 1997 after Jack Irvine of Eureka, than four hours and appeared more California, read an Associated Press story in like a frollick than a fight the wounded the San Francisco Chronicle about Brigham D. cracking jokes with the frozen some Madsen, University of Utah emeritus profes- frozen so bad that they could not load sor of history, and learned that Madsen had their guns used them as clubs. written The Shoshoni Frontier and the Bear River The “cry for quarters” fell upon deaf ears Massacre.5 Irvine, a collector of Northwest doc- as the bloody work continued. uments and photographs, telephoned Madsen In his account, the cavalry sergeant also that night and told him that he had collected provided valuable insights concerning the Sergeant Beach’s narrative and map. He sent movement of troops as the attack took shape; the historian a photocopy and so opened he carefully recorded the position of each unit a sporadic correspondence and telephone 230 Harold Schindler

and rancher. Harville had an abiding interest in local history and was a founding member of the Humboldt County Historical Society. He also owned a large col- lection of California memo- rabilia, which was put up for sale after his death in 1996. Irvine found the narra- tive and map folded in an envelope and was intrigued because the documents referred to Bear River, which he at first took to be the Bear of Humboldt County. When he found that it was not the Northern California stream, he briefly researched the Connor expedition. Although he determined that Joseph Russ had been alive when the regiment was organized in 1861, he could find no connection between the pioneer and the soldier to indicate how the manuscript had come into Russ’s possession.

Map drawn by Sergeant William L. Beach shortly after the Bear River Massacre in 1863. After his research, Irvine (Courtesy of Harold Schindler family, University of Utah Press) put the document away and thought no more of it until dialogue that would continue over the span of he saw the Chronicle article a year later. some eighteen months. Both Irvine and Madsen agreed that The manuscript has an interesting, if not the document should be made available to sketchy, pedigree. According to Irvine, he scholars and researchers, preferably those in obtained the four pages from the estate of Utah. The only obstacle was in determining a Richard Harville, a prominent Californian and fair exchange for the four-page manuscript.6 a descendant of Joseph Russ, an early 1850s When Irvine suggested a trade for Northwest overland pioneer to Humboldt County who documents or photos, Madsen contacted became fabulously wealthy as a landowner Gregory C. Thompson of the University of The Bear River Massacre 231

Looking along the line of the old riverbank where Indians were camped the morning of the massacre. (Utah State Historical Society)

Utah’s Marriott Library Special Collections. confirms the magnitude of the massacre He also contacted me. Special Collections had when he cites the enemy loss at “two hundred nothing that fell within Irvine’s sphere of inter- and eighty Kiled.” This number would not est, but after some months of dickering, Irvine include those individuals shot while attempt- and I were able to reach a mutually acceptable ing to escape across the river, whose bodies agreement.7 Beach’s narrative and map would were swept away and could not be counted.8 return to Utah. While the fight itself has been occasionally Madsen feels that the Beach papers are very treated in books and periodicals, Sergeant important in resolving some of the issues sur- Beach’s narrative and map are singularly rounding the encounter. He also says the papers important for what they add to the known can “emphasize and strengthen the efforts of record. Here is his account as he penned it: the National Park Service to bring recognition, at last, to the site of this tragic event, which This View Represents the Battlefield was the bloodiest killing of a group of Native on Bear River fought Jan. 29th /’63 Americans in the history of the American Far Between four companies of the Second West.” Cavelry and one company third Infan- Madsen’s comment points to the fact that, try California Volenteers under Colonel although Bear River has long been considered Conner And three hundred and fifty by those familiar with its details as the larg- Indians under Bear hunter, Sagwich est Indian massacre in the Far West, scholars and Lehigh [Lehi] three very noted and writers continue to deny the encounter Indian chiefs. The Newspapers give a its rightful place in frontier history. Yet, Beach very grafic account of the Battle all of 232 Harold Schindler

which is very true with the exception end of the Ravine where it appeared of the positions assigned the Officers like rushing on to death to apprach which Cos K and M cavelry were first them But the victory was not yet won. on the ground With a deafening yell the infuriated When they had arrived at the posi- Volenteers with one impulse made a tion they occupy on the drawing Major rush down the steep banks into their McGeary [Edward McGarry] gave the very midst when the work of death commands to dismount and prepare commenced in real earnest. Midst the to fight on foot which was instantly roar of guns and sharp report of Pistols obayed. Lieutenant [Darwin] Chase could be herd the cry for quarters but and Capt. [George F.] Price then gave their was no quarters that day. Some the command forward to their respec- jumped into the river and were shot tive companies after which no officer attempting to cross some mounted was heeded or needed The Boys were their ponies and attempted to run the fighting Indians and intended to whip gauntlet in different directions but them. It was a free fight every man on were shot on the wing while others ran his own hook. Companies H and A down the River (on a narrow strip of ice came up in about three minutes and that gifted the shores) to a small island pitched in in like manner. Cavelry and a thicket of willows below where Horses were sent back to bring the they foung [found] a very unwelcome Infantry across the River as soon as reception by a few of the boys who they arrived. When across they took a were waiting the approach of straglers. double quick until they arrived at the It was hardly daylight when the fight place they ocupy on the drawing they commence and freezing cold the val- pitched in California style every man ley was covered with Snow—one foot for himself and the Devil for the Indi- deep which made it very uncomfort- ans. The Colonels Voice was occasion- able to the wounded who had to lay ally herd encourageing the men teling until the fight was over. The fight them to take good aim and save their lasted four hours and appeared more amunition Majs McGeary and Galiger like a frollick than a fight the wounded [Paul A. Gallagher] were also loud in cracking jokes with the frozen some their encouragement to the men. frozen so bad that they could not load The Indians were soon routted their guns used them as clubs No dis- from the head of the ravine and appar- tinction was made betwen Officers and ently antisipated a general stampede Privates each fought where he thought but were frustrated in thair attempt he was most needed. The report is cur- Maj McGeary sent a detachment of rant that their was three hundred of mounted cavelry down the River and the Volunteers engaged That is in cor- cut of their retreat in that direction rect one fourth of the Cavelry present Seing that death was their doom they had to hold Horses part of the Infantry made a desparate stand in the lower were on guard with the waggons While The Bear River Massacre 233

others were left behind some sick with ...... Trail in the snow frozen hands and feet. Only three hun- ^^^^^^^^^ Lodges or Wickeups in Ravine dred started on the expedition. iii iii iii Retreating Indians Our loss—fourteen killed and forty ::: ::: ::: Co. K, 3rd Infantry two wounded Indian Loss two hun- !!!!!!! Cavelry four companies afterwards dred and eighty Kiled. scattered over the field The Indians had a very strong natu- Sergeant W. L. Beach. Co. K, 2nd c. C. V. ral fortification as you will percieve by Camp Douglas. Feb. 14th /63 the sketch within it is a deep ravine {with thick willows and vines so thick I recieved six very severe wounds in that it was difficult to see an Indian my coat. W. L. Beach from the banks} runing across a smooth flat about half a mile in width. Had the Beach had enlisted in the California Volun- Volunteers been been in their position teers on December 8, 1861, in San Francisco. all h—l could not have whiped them. After his hitch was up, he was mustered out at The hills around the Valley are about San Francisco on December 18, 1864.9 After six hundred feet high with two feet of that, Sergeant William L. Beach may have snow on them. . . . faded away as old soldiers do, but his recollec- In the language of an old Sport I tions of that frigid and terrible day in 1863 at weaken Bear River will now live forever in Utah annals.

The late Harold Schindler was a member of the Advisory Board of Editors for the Utah Historical Quarterly­ and an award-winning historian of Utah and the West.

NOTES This article originally appeared in the Fall 1999 issue of Utah Historical Quarterly and is reprinted by permission of the Utah State Historical Society.

1. Robert M. Utley, Frontiersmen in Blue: The United 3. “Report of Col. P. Edward Connor, Third California States Army and the Indian, 1848–1865 (: Infantry, commanding ,” The War of Macmillan, 1967), 223–24. Other accounts tell the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of of soldiers ransacking the Indian stores for food the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington, DC: and souvenirs and killing and raping women. See Government Printing Office, 1897), 185. Brigham D. Madsen, The Shoshoni Frontier and the 4. In the past, the belief was that the warriors had been Bear River Massacre (: University of cut off from their herd of ponies. Utah Press, 1985), 192–93. Madsen’s study is the 5. “Historian Delights in Debunking Myths of Old best account of the expedition and of the circum- West,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 8, 1997. stances surrounding it. 6. The manuscript was written in ink on a large sheet 2. The Bear River Indian camp, located twelve miles of letter paper folded in half to provide four pages north of the Franklin settlement, was in Washington measuring 19.3 cm by 30.6 cm. Beach’s map covers Territory. the fourth page. There are two large tears in the paper, 234 Harold Schindler

one in the upper right corner of the first page and two howitzers into action, but deep snow prevented another across the bottom of the same leaf. Evidently, the cannons from reaching the battlefield in time. the paper was ripped before Beach began his narra- Madsen’s book conservatively places the number of tive, for he wrote around the ragged edges, thus pre- Shoshoni dead at 250. It also addresses the question serving the integrity of the account. His penmanship of why Bear River has been generally neglected and is quite legible though flavored with misspellings. advances three reasons: (1) at the time, the massacre 7. Schindler owned a California-related manuscript site was in , some eight hundred that Irvine was willing to trade for the Beach papers. miles from the territorial capital, so residents of that The battle narrative and map are presently in the territory paid little attention; (2) the event occurred possession of the Schindler family. during the Civil War, when the nation was occupied 8. Most histories of the American West mention the with other matters; and (3) in Cache Val- massacres at Sand Creek, Colorado, in 1864; Washita, ley welcomed and approved of Connor’s actions, and Indian Territory, in 1868; Marias River in 1870; Camp some historians may have been reluctant to highlight Grant, Arizona, in 1871; and Wounded Knee, South the slaughter because of the sanction it received from Dakota, in 1890. Yet Bear River is generally ignored. the massacre that involved Mormons. See Shoshoni Body counts vary widely in these histories, but typi- Frontier, 8, 20–24. Currently, Madsen says, some tra- cal numbers of Indian fatalities listed in traditional ditional military historians are still opposed to using sources are Sand Creek, 150; Washita, 103; Marias the term “massacre” relative to Bear River. River, 173; Camp Grant, 100–128; and Wounded 9. Fortunately, none of Beach’s “wounds” seems to have Knee, 150–200. penetrated beyond the coat; officially the sergeant Sergeant Beach’s first-person assertion of at least was listed among the men hospitalized with frostbit- 280 Shoshoni deaths lends additional support to Mad- ten feet. See Brigadier General Richard H. Orton, sen’s claim that the Bear River Massacre was the largest comp., Records of California Men in the War of the in the Far West. The toll would almost certainly have Rebellion, 1861 to 1867 (Sacramento: State Printing been even higher had Connor been able to press his Office, 1890), 178–79, 275.

Addendum By Ephriam D. Dickson III

hen Hal Schindler first published the California gold fields, hoping to find their WSergeant Beach’s historic map of the fortune. Failing in that, he worked at a variety Bear River Massacre in Utah Historical Quar- of odd jobs until the outbreak of the Civil War. terly in 1999, he noted that little was known In 1862, Beach enlisted in Company K, Sec- of this soldier. Since then, however, much ond California Volunteer Cavalry, and spent has been discovered about Sergeant Beach’s the next seven months at Camp Alert near San background. Francisco learning the basic skills of a soldier. William Leake Beach was born in He was promoted to corporal on March 1, August 1832 in Abbeville County, South 1862, and to sergeant five months later. Carolina, the son of Chauncey and Huldah In July 1862, the Second California Cav- Beach. By 1840, the family had located in alry joined Colonel Connor’s column as they Upson County, Georgia. William Beach left marched over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, home in 1849 at the age of seventeen, joining bound for . In the Ruby Valley, thousands of young men who headed west to they established Fort Ruby and then headed The Bear River Massacre 235 for Salt Lake City. As Connor led his column east, Sergeant Beach’s company was assigned to Major McGarry as he swung north to punish the Shoshoni who had attacked a wagon train near Gravelly Ford. His company participated in sev- eral later Indian campaigns, including the attack at Bear River and a fight near Fort Ruby in which fifty-three Gos- hiute were killed. Company K was trans- ferred back to California in the summer of 1864 where Sergeant Beach was mustered William L. Beach (center with beard) and his family, circa 1894. Photo by Charles H. out of the service in Decem- Pautzke, taken at Auburn, Washington. (Courtesy of David Vandergriff) ber that year. He returned home to Georgia after the war, but finding Indian fighting service in Utah Territory. That the area economically devastated, he soon he had been a participant at Bear River and headed back west. Beach operated a meat had drawn a map of the battlefield was a sur- market in St. Louis and later in Salina, Kan- prise to his descendants. Hal Schindler died sas, before moving his family to Washington a year before the Beach map was published, Territory. William Beach retired in Seattle, and the original document appears to have where he died on September 30, 1904. He once again disappeared. Despite a diligent is buried in the Grand Army of the Republic search by his son through his father’s papers, Cemetery—his grave marked with the white this important historical document could not military headstone bearing his unit and years be located. Perhaps one day, Sergeant Beach’s of service during the Civil War. map will once again reemerge and hopefully Sergeant Beach rarely spoke about his find its way into a public repository where army experience, saying only that he remained it will be available for all those who wish to haunted by what he witnessed during his further explore this chapter of Utah history.

Ephriam D. Dickson III is the curator at the Military Museum in Salt Lake City.