A Forgotten Chapter in Western History

One hundred forty-nine years ago tomorrow, Col. Patrick Edward Connor led the forces of the Third California Infantry against a village of Northern Shoshone in Idaho. When the battle was over, 14 California troops and an unknown number of Native Americans were dead.

The battle was first named the Battle of Bear River, but history has come to call it the Bear River Massacre since losses among the Northern Shoshone range between 224 and 493 dead. These are higher casualty figures than either Wounded Knee or Sand Creek, both of which are better known to students of western American history. (In addition to the 14 dead, the California forces suffered 49 injuries, seven of which were mortal.)

Click on the links below for additional information on the Bear River Massacre:

Wikipedia entry on the Bear River Massacre

Online Utah entry on the Bear River Massacre

Military History Online entry on the Bear River Massacre and the American Civil War

Eugene Lehe, Pioneer Photographer and Businessman

Lt. Eugene Lehe was born in New York City in 1841. He lived with his paternal grandparents in France for several years as a child and returned to the United States in 1849. At the beginning of the Civil War, he was a musician with the 9th Infantry at Ft. Stellacoom, Washington, and the Presidio of San Francisco. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2nd California Volunteer Infantry in 1865. After the war, Lt. Lehe was an early photographer in Stockton. After getting out of the photography business, he was an agent for the Pacific Union Express Company, a restaurant owner and served as the president of the Stockon City Council. He was also active for many years in the California National Guard, rising to the rank of brigadier general. Photo from the Mike Mancuso Collection, United States Army Military History Institute

Clarence Bennett: Distinguished Officer

Lt. Col. Clarence Bennett was born in New York in 1833. He graduated from West Point in 1855 and served in Utah with the 10th Infantry. He resigned from the Army in 1860 and moved to San Bernardino. In 1861, Bennett made Secretary of State William Seward and General Edwin V. Sumner aware of a Secessionist plot to seize Fort Yuma. He left California in April 1862 and made his way to Fort Yuma, where he met up with California Volunteers heading east. In September 1862, Bennett returned to California and was commissioned major, 1st California Cavalry. He served at Camp Morris, Ft. Yuma, Ft. Craig, Ft. Bowie and Ft. McDowell. He was mustered out of the California Cavalry in 1866 and transferred to the 6th Cavalry. He also served in the Quartermaster Corps, the 17th Infantry, the 19th Infantry and the 11th Infantry. Bennett retired in 1897 as a lieutenant colonel. His two sons served in the military and his two daughters married Army officers. Lt. Col. Bennett died Nov. 4, 1902, at Ft. McPherson, Georgia. Photo from the Roger D. Hunt Collection, United States Army Military History Institute.

Hierom and Charles Atchisson: Brothers in Arms in Wartime, Brothers in Life in Peacetime

Sgt. Hierom Atchisson was born in Hamilton County, Illinois, in 1834. He moved to California during the Gold Rush and mined for several years. He enlisted in Company I of the 4th California Infantry and was honorably discharged in Arizona on Oct. 31, 1864. He remained in Arizona for about five years, then returned to Illinois. After his first wife died, he returned to Arizona briefly, then went back to Illinois, where he was active in the GAR and Republican politics. Sgt. Atchisson died Dec. 11, 1910, in Illinois.

Capt. Charles Atchisson was born in Illinois in 1824. He was mustered in as the captain of Company I of the 4th California Infantry on Nov. 18, 1861. Company I was posted to Camp Sigel, Camp Union, Benicia Barracks, Drum Barracks and Ft. Mojave. Capt. Atchisson served primarily at Ft. Mojave, Arizona, and was mustered out in 1865, He returned to Mojave City, Arizona, where he served as postmaster and later became a probate judge in Mojave County. Capt. Atchisson died at his brother Hierom's home in Hamilton County, Illinois, on July 19, 1891. Photos from the Ed Atchisson Collection of the United States Army Military History Institute

A Belated Happy Lee-Jackson Day!

Friday was the annual observance of Lee-Jackson Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a holiday that has been celebrated since 1904 to commemorate the birthdays of Robert E. Lee (January 19, 1807) and Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824).

I admire the military careers of both these men greatly, and wish I had a better tie-in to California than the fact that both served in the Mexican War. which resulted in the territory that became California being added to the United States in 1848