The National tribune., 1907-01-10
BATTLE OF BEAR RIVER.
Severe Punishment inflicted Upon IndiaI
MnrRuSers.

| Mnrnu,,ers.
Editor National Tribune: Please give
particulars of the battle of Bear River
Utah: number of men killed in the &c
| Cal Cav. and Sd Cal. and the number
of Indians killed. I have been told that
| the California troops never fired a shot
William B. Spencer, I'd Cal. Cav, Ma
| tional Military Home, Ind.
In the last part of 1852 the Indians
in Uta h Territory were particularly
troublesome in murderng miners and
immigrants, and Col. p. Edward Con-
nor, Sd Cal, commanding the District
of Utah, determined to punish them
Jan. %, 1868, he made up force con-
sisting of Co. X. Sd Cal, two howitzers
under Lieut.. Honeyman; Cos. A, H, X
and M, I'd Cal. Cav, under command of
Maj. McGarry, and a number of officers,
who were attending a general court
martial. Altogether he had 220 men.
The point for which he started his ex-
peditiop was a large encampment of
Indians on Bear River. in Utah Terri
tory, 140 miles north of Salt Lake City.
Col. Connor made his arrangements
with the greatest secrecy. and took
every precautiOn to surprise the In
dians. The first night he marched to
Brigham City, IS miles distant, and the
second night he reached Franklin, only
about IL miles from the Indian en-
campment. He reached the encamp-
ment about daylight, and surrounded it,
with Maj. McGarry opening the battle
by an attack from his cavalry. The In
dians promptly accepted the challenge,
and rushed out at McGarry's dismount-
ed men, flouriShing scalps of white wo-
men and taunting the troops to battle.
The Indian position was an exceedingly
strong one, being protected by deep,
dry ravine from six to 12 feet deep and
from 80 to 40 feet wide. On the steep
banks the Indians had constructed steps
by which they could climb up and fire
without exposing themselves. Col. Con-
nor sent detachments to turn the flanks
of this position, while he maintained
the fight in front The Indians gave
way when the fanking party struck
them and tried to escape but were shot
down as they ran out. Those who got
away were shot in attempting to swim
the river. The fight began about 6
o'clock in the morning and continued
until 10 in weather so bitter that the
men found difficulty in loading their
pieces with their numbed hands. and no
less than 10 had their feet frozen. The
California troops stood up magnificent
ly to the work and shot to kill. 1t was
not the intention to take any prisoners,
and at the conclusion of the fight 224
dead bodies were found upon the field,
among them being those of Chiefs Bear
Sagwich and Leight, who were
implicated in the murders upon the i'm
migrants and miners. ConnOr also cap
tured IT'S horses, some arms and de-
stroyed over 20 lodges with a large
quantity of wheat and other provisions.
He left enough wheat for the support
of the $50 squaws and Indians whom
he left in the camp. He took about 200
men into the fight and encountered
about 300 warriors. mostly well armed
with rifles and having plenty of am
which had been supplied them
by the Mormons. Col. Connor lost IA
men killed on the field and four Off
rers and 40 men wounded, of whom one
officer and five men subsequently died.
National Tribune. /