Bear River Massacre

They were guided to the scene by Tone Cole, a brother-in-law to... John Bair. The detachment passed through Richmond about 9 p.m. and the following morning, Jan 29, 1863, started to attack that brought death to the Indians and meant the finish of marauding Redskin expeditions against the whites in Cache valley." Source

In his father's blacksmith shop, father helped thaw out the body of a white man that the Indians had killed. He helped dig the grave and bury him." Source

"The first year, shortly after moving to Richmond many marauding Indians were annoying the settlements in Cache Valley, committing many depredations, stealing stock and killing the settlers and occasionally stealing children when opportunity afforded. 

"While we were living in our wagons not having as yet built any houses, work reached us that a party traveling and while crossing the creek at Smithfield, six miles south of us, had been killed by the Indians and fight was taking place with settlers of Smithfield and the Indians, reinforcements were needed to assist the brethren there. A call company with other brethren hastened to assist in the rescue of the settlement 

"As we reached Smithfield, the brethren were in full chase after the Indians, who were making for the canyon east of town. We joined in the chase and got near to the Indians who had to take a position the brethren could not advance but it had the effect of subdividing the Indians for that time. 

"The result of the fight in town was the shooting of one of the brethren, Samuel Cousins, through the left lung, but in time after careful nursing he partially recovered. 

"One of the Indian Chiefs, Araapeen was killed in the streets before the Indians took to flight. I assisted in carrying him off in a wagon for burial."

"During this time the country was in unrest and we were looked upon with jealously fearing an uprising of the people. 

"The Indians were continually being stirred up against us, at the same time. They were suspicious of the soldiers as they did not like the restraint put upon them and many depredations were committed. 

"Rumor was still rampant that the Mormons were in league with the Indians, that by such an alliance they would be enabled to set up an independent government and bid defiance to Uncle Sam. 

"An army post was established east of Salt Lake City and garrisoned with U.S. soldiers, but being thought inadequate to quell any outbreak of Mormons and Indians. 

"Col. Steptoe and a troop of 600 California volunteers, cavalrymen, were ordered to Utah to assist in quelling any Indians uprising but ostensibly to keep the Mormons in subjection. 

"On arrival they were stationed at the army post, now Fort Douglas, and made war like demonstration toward the city and its inhabitants. 

The Colonel, seeing no likelihood of trouble existing in our community, all was quiet, people attending to their own business and following peaceably their daily avocations. He acknowledged we had been misrepresented. 

His troops were in a state of inactivity, and wishing that something would arise to call them into action. 

The time arrived for emigrants to be traveling toward California in search of gold and those on the route north of Sublet’s Pass were constantly being molested by marauding bands of Indians murdering and brutally assaulting men, women and children burning wagons and making with their plunder and bedding in defiance to “Uncle Sam.”

Col. Steptoe got word that a large band of Indians under the leadership of their chief “Bear Hunter” were rendezvousing on Bear River 10 miles north of Franklin in Cache Valley bidding defiance and challenging the troops to attack them. 

Most of the garrison, together with the Calvary were called to the field and equipped themselves for the fray and started for the scene of action. This I think, was in Feb. of 1863. Snow was quite deep on the ground and it was intensely cold. 

However, we took the march of 13 miles before reaching Bear River. 

Col. Steptoe, after crossing the river, made a charge on the Indians but was repulsed by the sudden fire of the Indians who were concealed in rifle pits outside of their camping ground. Several soldiers were killed and wounded. 

A second charge was made with no better results. The infantry who had just reached the river and on hearing the retreat call bolted into the freezing water nearly waist deep hurrying up to reinforce the horsemen, but it was considered futile to attach the enemy in front so Co. Steptoe ordered a flank movement thinking by a converted attack they could route the Indians in their stronghold. 

After consultation, the troopers dispersed to the northward aiming to attack the Indians on their north flank from the heights overhanging the creek and having a small Howitzer with them that they could use to good advantage in dislodging them. The infantry was to charge them at the same time, from the front, on the open ground. 

All being arranged, the bugle sounded for the charge and soon blood and carnage was the effect and closing in on the Indians a hand-to-hand fight ensued, with the result of routing the Indians and a complete victory for the soldiers. Very few Indians escaped and those by taking to the water and swimming the river. Men, women, and children were massacred it was said, to the number of 1200. Their camp and equipment burned and 1500 ponies captured. If I was informed correctly 200 soldiers were killed and wounded.

On the return march to the city all available sleds were mustered into service to convey the wounded and frozen to the city but when they reached Salt Lake Valley all had to be transferred to wagons as the snow had melted and wagons were a necessity. Many citizens had gone and viewed the battle at a safe distance. 

I was living in Richmond where the soldiers bivouacked on their return and I witnessed some of the groans and distress of the wounded, and saw the booty that had been captured. After that, the Indians were cowed, but still they would occasionally make raids on the settlements, but by carrying out the policy of Brigham Young that it was better to feed them than fight the, to some extent we were left unmolested.