Battle of Bear Valley
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Bear Valley was a small engagement between the revolutionary
Yaqui natives and the United States
Army on January 9, 1918 in southern Arizona
. This skirmish is widely recognized as the final battle of the American Indian Wars.
struggled against Mexico in hopes of establishing an independent state in northern Sonora
. By 1918 the conflict remained unresolved. Yaquis, being poor peasants, would smuggle themselves across the border into Arizona, where they traveled to Tucson
to find work in the orange groves. Upon payment, the Yaquis would purchase weapons and return to Mexico to fight their war. In 1917, American farmers and ranchers began reporting sightings of armed native Americans and butchered livestock in their grazing ranges. This prompted the United States Army to conduct border patrols in the area. Yaqui natives had constructed a base in Bear Valley
, along trails widely used by travelers passing to and from Mexico
. The natives positioned their camp on a ridge inside the valley.
Once in range, the Yaquis opened fire, and both sides proceeded to exchange hasty volleys. Under fire, the cavalry moved forward. For thirty minutes the two forces fought in the classic Indian War style, relying extensively on natural cover. Eventually the Yaquis surrendered, their chief wounded in the chest by an explosion caused by a bullet hitting his ammunition catridges.
, the Yaqui chief died of his injury. The rest of the Indians, except for the boy, were taken back and put in jail on charges of gun smuggling and other minor crimes. Some of the natives spent a few weeks in jail but were eventually released.
When asked why the Yaquis fired on the approaching Americans, they replied by saying they thought the buffalo soldiers
involved were Mexicans, coming to attack them. The small battle marks the last engagement between the United States Army and native Americans, thus ending the Indian wars period.
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
Yaqui natives and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army on January 9, 1918 in southern Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. This skirmish is widely recognized as the final battle of the American Indian Wars.
Background
For years, the Yaqui native AmericansIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
struggled against Mexico in hopes of establishing an independent state in northern Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
. By 1918 the conflict remained unresolved. Yaquis, being poor peasants, would smuggle themselves across the border into Arizona, where they traveled to Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
to find work in the orange groves. Upon payment, the Yaquis would purchase weapons and return to Mexico to fight their war. In 1917, American farmers and ranchers began reporting sightings of armed native Americans and butchered livestock in their grazing ranges. This prompted the United States Army to conduct border patrols in the area. Yaqui natives had constructed a base in Bear Valley
Bear Valley
Bear Valley may refer to:United States* Bear Valley, San Bernardino County, California, USA* Bear Valley, Arizona a valley in Santa Cruz County, Arizona* Bear Valley, Alpine County, California, USA...
, along trails widely used by travelers passing to and from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The natives positioned their camp on a ridge inside the valley.
Battle
On January 9, 1918, a small force of American 10th Cavalry soldiers detected a band of over two dozen Yaquis, hiking up to their camp. At some point the Yaquis discovered the advancing Americans and hastily began to withdraw, leaving behind ten men to protect their retreat. The cavalry stopped and dismounted, their objective being the capture of the Yaquis base. Now on foot, the cavalrymen proceeded up to the camp.Once in range, the Yaquis opened fire, and both sides proceeded to exchange hasty volleys. Under fire, the cavalry moved forward. For thirty minutes the two forces fought in the classic Indian War style, relying extensively on natural cover. Eventually the Yaquis surrendered, their chief wounded in the chest by an explosion caused by a bullet hitting his ammunition catridges.
Aftermath
No Americans were killed that day but some were reported to have minor injuries. The Yaquis, one of whom was ten years old, were captured. The US Army gave aid to the wounded natives. On their way back to NogalesNogales, Arizona
Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 21,017 at the 2010 census. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,833. The city is the county seat of Santa Cruz County....
, the Yaqui chief died of his injury. The rest of the Indians, except for the boy, were taken back and put in jail on charges of gun smuggling and other minor crimes. Some of the natives spent a few weeks in jail but were eventually released.
When asked why the Yaquis fired on the approaching Americans, they replied by saying they thought the buffalo soldiers
Buffalo Soldier
Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas....
involved were Mexicans, coming to attack them. The small battle marks the last engagement between the United States Army and native Americans, thus ending the Indian wars period.