Patrick Edward Connor - Battle of Bear River

Battle of Bear River

See main article: Bear River Massacre

In the early 1860s, population pressures in the Washington Territory (present day Idaho-Utah border) led to conflicts between immigrant settlers and native Americans. After an attack on miners with depositions given in Salt Lake City by the survivors, Connor marched his regiment 140 miles over the frozen winter landscape to 'deal' with the Indians. On January 29, 1863, Connor's troops encountered the Shoshoni encampment along the Bear River. Connor and his militia crossed the river and attacked the camp, they feigned a retreat only to encircle the camp and renew their attack.

Connor sent additional troops to block the Indian escape route through a ravine; and sent the rest of the soldiers on a flanking maneuver to a ridge, from where they fired down into the Indians. The soldiers also fired on Indians as they attempted to escape by swimming across the bitterly cold river. The troops killed nearly all the Indians, including women and children, with fatalities estimated at 200-400.

The Indians had been supplied by the Mormons and large quantities of wheat and articles of war were captured by Connor's command after the battle at Bear River. An Indian survivor later said that the large band of Indians were planning on destroying the town of Franklin in modern day Idaho. Connor's dispatches are detailed in The War of the Rebellion - A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies of the Pacific Theater.