Battle of Kelley Creek
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Kelley Creek was one of the last armed conflicts between the United States
and native American
s during the Indian wars era. In January 1911 a small group of Bannocks and Shoshone
s killed four men in an incident known as the Last Massacre. After which a posse
of policemen and citizens were sent to track the natives who were found encamped near Winnemucca
, Nevada
in a region known as Kelley Creek. A skirmish ensued on February 25 that ended with the deaths of nine people. At the time the affair was characterized as a native American revolt though it is now regarded as a family's attempted escape from justice.
, or Shoshone Mike, was the chief
of the small band and in the spring of 1910, he led his group of eleven off the Fort Hall Reservation
at Rock Creek, Idaho
. All but two men of the group were members of Mike's family, which included three women and four or five children. They first headed south into northern Nevada and then wandered west to Oroville
, California
before heading back into Nevada to spend the winter at Little High Rock Canyon in northern Washoe County
. In January 1911, the Daggett party was running low on food so they stole and slaughtered some cattle belonging to a local rancher. A sheepherder named Bert Indiano witnessed the crime and he alerted the people of Surprise Valley, California who sent a posse of three men to investigate the incident and protect the livestock
. The three men were Harry Cambron, Peter Errammouspe and John Laxague, they were to join up with Indiano and ride to the scene of the crime. However, when they arrived in the area, Shoshone Mike and his two eldest sons were waiting for them.
s and pistol
s, killing all four of them. The bodies were found mutilated on a creekbed weeks later, on February 8, by a search party from Eagleville
, California. One man's mustache was removed while another lost his eyelid, all had been stripped of their clothes and the gold fillings in their teeth. When word of the massacre reached the surrounding settlements, women and children were sent away for safety and the men who remained armed themselves in case of another similar episode. Initially it was thought that a gang of outlaws
from Oregon
were responsible, if not a band of Modocs
. The Nevada and California State Police
organized a posse under the command of Captain J.P. Donnelly, to pursue the Daggett party which was heading towards Duck Valley
. Other posses were also organized, though only Donnelly's would make contact with the hostiles, and a large cash bounty was authorized to be awarded to anyone who could arrest or kill the murderers.
s and tomahawk
s against the posse. Shoshone Mike was one of the first men killed in the battle but his death only made the remaining natives fight longer and harder, even though they were eventually forced back. The adult females fought along side the men and reportedly just as well. By the time the battle ended, only four of the original twelve were still alive, among them a sixteen year old girl and three young children who were taken back to Reno
in police custody. Two children were also reported to have been killed in the fight but their deaths were said to be "accidental and could not have been avoided."
One of the Americans, named Ed Hogle of Eagleville, was also wounded in the fight and he later died. After the battle was over, the posse found evidence linking the massacre in Little High Rock Canyon to the natives. Other than Mike's war bonnet
, the posse found guns and a watch that had belonged to Harry Cambron, which was identified by his brother, Ben Cambron, who was a member of the procession. The bodies of the natives were taken by wagon to Gasconade, Nevada and buried in a mass grave
made from the crater of a dynamite
explosion, a tall pole was placed at the site as a marker. The remains of Ed Hogle were returned to Eagleville where he was buried. Sheriff
Charles Ferrell, who was in command of the investigation, but not present at the battle, arrived back at Reno on March 2 with the four captives who later said the Shoshone Mike was indeed Shoshone but their mother, and the others, were Bannock. The four survivors were cared for by Reno's civilian population for some time until they were enrolled in the Stewart Indian School
near Carson City
in May 1911. Though by 1913, only one of the survivors was still alive. The reward offered to anyone who could catch or kill the Daggett party was initially denied to the posse by Governor Tasker Oddie
, due to the fact that there were state policemen involved, but the case was later settled in favor of the posse by the Supreme Court.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and native American
Indigenous 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...
s during the Indian wars era. In January 1911 a small group of Bannocks and Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
s killed four men in an incident known as the Last Massacre. After which a posse
Posse
Posse may refer to:* Posse comitatus , a group of men assembled to assist in law enforcement* Posse , starring Kirk Douglas* Posse , starring Mario van Peebles...
of policemen and citizens were sent to track the natives who were found encamped near Winnemucca
Winnemucca, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 2,736 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. The population density was 867.5 people per square mile . There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 396.6 per square mile...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
in a region known as Kelley Creek. A skirmish ensued on February 25 that ended with the deaths of nine people. At the time the affair was characterized as a native American revolt though it is now regarded as a family's attempted escape from justice.
Background
Mike DaggettMike Daggett
Mike Daggett, or Ondongarte by birth, was a Shoshone native American who is best known for his involvement in the Battle of Kelley Creek, during which he was killed with several members of his family...
, or Shoshone Mike, was the chief
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
of the small band and in the spring of 1910, he led his group of eleven off the Fort Hall Reservation
Fort Hall Indian Reservation
The Fort Hall Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation of the federally recognized Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in the U.S. state of Idaho. It is located in southeastern Idaho on the Snake River Plain north of Pocatello, and comprises 814.874 sq mi of land area in four counties: Bingham, Power,...
at Rock Creek, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. All but two men of the group were members of Mike's family, which included three women and four or five children. They first headed south into northern Nevada and then wandered west to Oroville
Oroville, California
Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
before heading back into Nevada to spend the winter at Little High Rock Canyon in northern Washoe County
Washoe County, Nevada
Washoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 421,407 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Reno. Washoe County includes the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area.-History:...
. In January 1911, the Daggett party was running low on food so they stole and slaughtered some cattle belonging to a local rancher. A sheepherder named Bert Indiano witnessed the crime and he alerted the people of Surprise Valley, California who sent a posse of three men to investigate the incident and protect the livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
. The three men were Harry Cambron, Peter Errammouspe and John Laxague, they were to join up with Indiano and ride to the scene of the crime. However, when they arrived in the area, Shoshone Mike and his two eldest sons were waiting for them.
Last Massacre
The Daggetts knew the Americans were coming to find them so when the posse entered the canyon on January 19, the natives opened fire with rifleRifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
s and pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
s, killing all four of them. The bodies were found mutilated on a creekbed weeks later, on February 8, by a search party from Eagleville
Eagleville, Modoc County, California
Eagleville is a census-designated place in Modoc County, California. It is located east-southeast of Alturas, at an elevation of 4642 feet . The population was 59 at the 2010 census....
, California. One man's mustache was removed while another lost his eyelid, all had been stripped of their clothes and the gold fillings in their teeth. When word of the massacre reached the surrounding settlements, women and children were sent away for safety and the men who remained armed themselves in case of another similar episode. Initially it was thought that a gang of outlaws
Outlaws
Outlaws or The Outlaws may refer to:* Outlaw, a person living outside the law-Music :* Outlaws , an American southern rock band* The Outlaws , a 1960s band featuring Ritchie Blackmore* Outlawz, a rap group...
from Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
were responsible, if not a band of Modocs
Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma
The Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma is the smallest federally recognized tribe in Oklahoma. They are descendants of Captain Jack's band of Modoc people, removed from the West Coast after the Modoc Wars.-Early history:...
. The Nevada and California State Police
California State Police
The California State Police was a security police agency founded in 1887 which served to protect the State Capitol Building, the Governor and other state agencies located throughout the state. They provided police services to all state agencies that did not have their own police force...
organized a posse under the command of Captain J.P. Donnelly, to pursue the Daggett party which was heading towards Duck Valley
Duck Valley Indian Reservation
The Duck Valley Indian Reservation was established as a homeland for members of both the Shoshone and Paiute tribes of Native Americans. It lies directly on the state line between Idaho and Nevada in the western United States...
. Other posses were also organized, though only Donnelly's would make contact with the hostiles, and a large cash bounty was authorized to be awarded to anyone who could arrest or kill the murderers.
Battle
The posse included at least five policemen, a few armed civilians, and the "county coroner and physician" and after stopping in Little High Rock Canyon on February 13, they continued on in extreme winter weather conditions. Over 200 miles later, northeast of Winnemucca, the posse found Mike and his followers in an area known as Kelley Creek on Sunday, February 25. After the fighting began the two sides skirmished for three hours and by the end of the engagement, the natives had ran out of ammunition and were using bows, spearSpear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
s and tomahawk
Tomahawk
Tomahawk usually refers to:* Tomahawk , a type of axe made and used by Native Americans* Tomahawk , a cruise missile built in the United StatesIt may also mean:- Military and transportation :...
s against the posse. Shoshone Mike was one of the first men killed in the battle but his death only made the remaining natives fight longer and harder, even though they were eventually forced back. The adult females fought along side the men and reportedly just as well. By the time the battle ended, only four of the original twelve were still alive, among them a sixteen year old girl and three young children who were taken back to Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
in police custody. Two children were also reported to have been killed in the fight but their deaths were said to be "accidental and could not have been avoided."
One of the Americans, named Ed Hogle of Eagleville, was also wounded in the fight and he later died. After the battle was over, the posse found evidence linking the massacre in Little High Rock Canyon to the natives. Other than Mike's war bonnet
War bonnet
Feathered war bonnets were worn by honored Plains Indian men, sometimes into battle, but most often for ceremonial occasions, and were seen as items of great spiritual and magical importance...
, the posse found guns and a watch that had belonged to Harry Cambron, which was identified by his brother, Ben Cambron, who was a member of the procession. The bodies of the natives were taken by wagon to Gasconade, Nevada and buried in a mass grave
Mass grave
A mass grave is a grave containing multiple number of human corpses, which may or may not be identified prior to burial. There is no strict definition of the minimum number of bodies required to constitute a mass grave, although the United Nations defines a mass grave as a burial site which...
made from the crater of a dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
explosion, a tall pole was placed at the site as a marker. The remains of Ed Hogle were returned to Eagleville where he was buried. Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Charles Ferrell, who was in command of the investigation, but not present at the battle, arrived back at Reno on March 2 with the four captives who later said the Shoshone Mike was indeed Shoshone but their mother, and the others, were Bannock. The four survivors were cared for by Reno's civilian population for some time until they were enrolled in the Stewart Indian School
Stewart Indian School
The Steward Indian School was an Indian school southeast of Carson City, NV. The school was named for Nevada's first senator, William M. Stewart and opened on December 17, 1890. The school opened with 37 students from Washoe, Paiute and Shoshone tribes and was staffed by 3 teachers...
near Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
in May 1911. Though by 1913, only one of the survivors was still alive. The reward offered to anyone who could catch or kill the Daggett party was initially denied to the posse by Governor Tasker Oddie
Tasker Oddie
Tasker Lowndes Oddie was an American politician. He was the 12th Governor of Nevada and a United States Senator. He was a member of the Republican Party.-Biography:...
, due to the fact that there were state policemen involved, but the case was later settled in favor of the posse by the Supreme Court.