Battle of Infernal Caverns

Battle of Infernal Caverns Part of the Indian Wars, Snake War Date 26–28 September 1867 Location Infernal Caverns, Fall River Mills California Result U.S. victory Belligerents  United States Warm Springs Shoshone Paiute Pit River Indians Modoc Commanders and leaders George Crook Cheeoh Sieta Strength 1st U.S. Cavalry 23rd U.S. Infantry (110 soldiers) Warm Springs and Shoshone Scouts (15 Natives)[1] 75 Paiute 30 Pit River few Modoc[2] Casualties and losses 8 killed 11 wounded[2] 20 killed 12 wounded 2 captured[2]

Snake War Mud Lake Table Mountain Three Forks Owyhee River Steen's Mountain Infernal Caverns Castle Rock

The Battle of Infernal Caverns was a battle during the Snake War^[3] fought between Native Americans and the U.S. Army. The Native American warriors had made a fortress out of lava rocks in the Infernal Caverns of northern California near the town of Fall River Mills.,^[2][4] From there they were able to pour a steady fire upon the soldiers commanded by Lt. Col. George Crook. Crook's men attacked on the second day. Despite heavy casualties they managed to scale the cliffs and take the fortifications. Colonel Crook reportedly shot down Chief Sieto himself.^[5] Fighting continued into the night as the Native warriors withdrew deeper into the caverns. Crook commented "I never wanted dynamite so bad as I did when we first took the fort and heard the diabolical and defiant yells from down in the rocks". On the third day the Natives had fled the caverns.

Notes

References

• Michno, Gregory (2003). Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850–1890. Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87842-468-7. 
• The Snake War, 1864-1868, Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series #236, 1966