Western Indian Wars
1763-1795
United States Army — versus — Apache, Navajo, Nez Perce,
Black Hawk War — 1865-72 (Utah) Apache War — 1849-86 (New Mexico) Navajo War — 1848-63 (Arizona) Nez Perce War — 1877 (Idaho) Cayuse/Yakima Wars — 1855-58 (Washington) Modoc War — 1872-73 (Oregon) Paiute War — 1860 (Nevada)
American Indian tribes of the Western United States that inhabited the rocky mountain states and regions west of the Rockies include:
- Arizona, New Mexico: Apache, Navajo
- Montana: Blackfeet, Flathead
- Idaho, Wyoming: Shoshone, Nez Perce, Kootenai
- Washington: Salish, Walla Walla, Yakima, Spokane
- Oregon: Modoc, Cayuse
- Nevada, California: Paiute
- Utah: Ute
Black Hawk War : 1865-1872
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The Black Hawk War in Utah was fought between Ute, Paiute, Apache, and Navajo tribes and Mormon Settlers in Utah
Important Battles
Battle of Gravelly Ford
Massacre at Battle Creek
Bear River Massacre.
| Ute chieftain who led the Utes against the Mormons in the Black Hawk War in Utah. | |
| Navajo Indian War Chief. |
Apache War : 1849-1886
About Apache Wars
Important Battles
Battle of Cieneguilla
Battle of Ojo Caliente Canyon
| Famed Frontiersman who guided Fremont on his expedition to Colorado, and served during the Mexican-American war. | |
| Civil War general who later served in the Western Indian Wars. | |
| Major General in Western Indian Wars. Also served as an officer in the American Civil War and the Spanish American War. | |
| Chieftain who led the Apaches during the Apache Wars. | |
| Apache Indian War Chief. | |
| Last Apache Warrior to hold out against the U.S. Army. Finally capitulated and became a celebrity. |
| Cochise, the Chiricahua Apache Chief in | Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known by Oliver Otis Howard |
| Geronimo, the Last Apache Chief on the War-path in | Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known by Oliver Otis Howard |
Navajo War : 1846-1864
Navajos lived entirely in Spanish territory of American Southwest. Did not have conflicts with American Army until after the Mexican American War. There were few pitched battles, just broken treaties, and Local militia raids. Civil complicated Navajo managment since Texas was Confederate and California was Union.
Long Walk, 1864 Deportation
| Famed Frontiersman who guided Fremont on his expedition to Colorado, and served during the Mexican-American war. | |
| Major General in Western Indian Wars. Also served as an officer in the American Civil War and the Spanish American War. | |
| Navajo Indian War Chief. |
| Manuelito: a Navajo War Chief in | Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known by Oliver Otis Howard |
Cayuse and Yakima Wars : 1848-1858
Yakima War involved Yakimas, Cayuse, Coeur d'Alenes, Palouse, and Spokane tribes. Inland Northwest Tribes had long had dealings with Hudson bay Company and Metis. They disliked American settlers because they were farmers who sought to block off land, rather than trappers who dealt in furs.
Battles: Cascades Massacre, Battle of Pine Creek, Battle of Four Lakes
| Yakima Chieftain | |
| Nisqually Chieftain |
Nez Perce War : 1877
1000-1500 American soilders took losses of about 10% killed, 10% wounded. by only 250 warriors/500 women and children. 150 Indians killed, all others surrendered or escaped.
Battles: Battle of White Bird Canyon, Battle of the CLearwater, Battle of the Big Hole, Battle of Bear Paw
| Civil war General who later oversaw the Freedman's bureau, founded Howard University, and was involved in the Indian Wars. | |
| Major General in Western Indian Wars. Also served as an officer in the American Civil War and the Spanish American War. | |
| Led Nez Perces in a resistance against the encroachment of white settlers. Finally surrendered. | |
| Joseph's Nez Perces and the Story of the Poncas in | Indian History for Young Folks by Francis S. Drake |
| Chief Joseph in | Indian Heroes and the Great Chieftains by Charles A. Eastman |
| Great War Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces in | Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known by Oliver Otis Howard |
| Search for the Book of Heaven in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
| Chief Joseph Goes to War in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
Modoc War : 1872-73
Chief Captain Jack led 52 warriors out of Reservation to take refuge on lava beds, in southern Oregon. From there they waged a a guerilla war with U.S. army, killing over 60 soldiers.
| Led a tribe of Modocs off the Klamath reservation to their native home, where they held out caves for several months. |
| Captain Jack, Chief of the Modoc Indians in | Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known by Oliver Otis Howard |
Paiute War : 1860
Following the death of Chief Winnemucca, a widely respected peace keeper, No law enforcement of any kind was left in Nevada. Paiutes, Shoshone, Bannock began the ware with a Massacre at William Station in retaliation for kidnapping of young Paiute girls. Local militia sought to punish the tribe.
Battles: Williams Station Massacre, 1, 2 Battle of Pyramid Lake, Bannock War
| Chief of a Piute tribe. First befriended the white settlers, but rebelled when his tribe was mistreated. | |
| Paiute chief involved in Battle of Pyramid Lake. | |
| Early settler of Nevada, founder of Carson City. Killed at Battle of Pyramid Lake. | |
| Civil war General who later oversaw the Freedman's bureau, founded Howard University, and was involved in the Indian Wars. | |
| Daughter of Chief Winnemucca. Served as translator between Piutes and U.S. Army. Wrote a book. |
| Winnemucca, Chief of the Paiutes in | Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known by Oliver Otis Howard |
| Toc-me-to-ne, an Indian Princess in | Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known by Oliver Otis Howard |
Image Links | ||
|---|---|---|
 Captain Jack and his companions in Indian History for Young Folks |
 On the war-path in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Captain Jack's Cave and Stronghold. Lake and Camps in the Distance in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Modocs in their stronghold in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Massacre of the Commissioners by the Modocs in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Joseph, the Nez Perce Warrior in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Battle of Canon Creek in Indian History for Young Folks |
 General O.O. Howard in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Advance of the Skirmish Line in Indian History for Young Folks |
 General Nelson A. Miles in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Kit Carson in Indian History for Young Folks |
 An Ambuscade in Indian History for Young Folks |
 The relief of Captain Payne's command; the trumpet signal in Indian History for Young Folks |
 For many months there were battles, battles, battles. in Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known |
 The soldier and the Indian fired at the same instant in Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known |
 William Frederick Cody ('Buffalo Bill') in Buffalo Bill and Overland Trail |
 Chief Joseph in Boy's Book of Indian Warriors |
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