History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

BATTLE OF BEAR RIVER. 631
volunteers, no effectual curb was placed on the hos-
tile tribes. On the 29th of January, 1863, the battle
of Bear River was fought, twelve miles north of
Franklin, between some three hundred of the Shoshones
and Bannacks, under their chiefs Bear Hunter,
Pocatello, and Sanpitch, and about two hundred
men of Connor's command, its result effectually putting
a stop to hostilities in Northern Utah. For fifteen
years the northern tribes had infested the overland
mail route, slaughtering and plundering emigrants
and settlers, until their outrages had become unbearable.
Beaching Franklin by forced marches, during
an intensely cold winter, the snow T being so deep that
their howitzers did not arrive in time to be of service,
the troops approached the enemy's camp at daylight
on the 29th, and found them posted in a ravine through
which Battle Creek enters Bear Biver. Their position
was well chosen, the ravine being six to twelve feet
deep, about forty in width, with steep banks, under
which willows had been densely interwoven, and
whence they could deliver their fire without exposing
themselves. Attacking simultaneously in flank and
front, Connor routed them after an engagement lasting
four hours, and, their retreat being cut off by
cavalry, the band was almost annihilated. 73 Among
the slain was Bear Hunter, 74 the other chieftains
making their escape. Had the savages committed
78-80, 82-5, v. no. 30; Hayes" Scraps, Los Angeles, iv. 96; Deseret News,
March 17, Apr. 14, July 7, Nov. 3, 17, 1858, Feb. 16, Aug. 3, 24, 31, Sept.
21, Nov. 16, 1S59, May 30, Aug. 1, Oct. 3, 1860, Feb. 13, 1S61, Apr. 16, June
11, Aug. 13, Sept. 17, 24, Oct. 8. Nov. 26, Dec. 10, 31, 1862; S. F. Alia, May
11, Aug. 16, 17, Sept. 6, Oct. 20, 28, 29, 1858, Jan. 18, March 29, 30, July 6,
Sept. 8, 12, 16, 21, 22, 28, Oct. 6, 28, 1S59; S. F. Bulletin, May 8, Aug. 18,
Oct. 28, 29, Nov. 26, 1858, Aug. 24, 30, Oct. 31, Nov. 19, 1859, Oct. 4, 8,
1862; Sac. Union, Aug. 10, 12, Sept. 28, Oct. 2, 5, 12, 19, 31, Nov. 2, 11, 14,
Dec. 7, 1857, March 3, July 21, 29, Aug. 17, Sept. 4, Oct. 20, Nov. 16, 25, 31,
1858, Feb. 18, 23, March 16, Apr. 15, May 10, Aug. 11, 31, Sept. 17, 19, 22,
30, Oct. 5, 7, 27, Dec. 2, 19, 1859, Apr. 6, May 4, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 21, 23, 24,
28, 30, 31, June 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 20, 26, July 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 21,
31, Aug. 1, 21, 23, Oct. 2, 1S60, Apr. 4, 24, 29, May 8, 9, 31, June 7, 11, Aug.
15, 18, Sept. 3, IS, 22, Oct. 2, Dec. 26, 1862.
73 Connor states that he found 224 bodies on the field, and how many more
were killed he was unable to say. A copy of his official despatch will be
found in Tullidge's Hist. S. L. City, 283-6.
74 And two inferior chiefs, named Sagwitch and Lehi. Id., 286.