How a Civil War colonel turned an arrest warrant into a slaughter at Bear River

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The Bear River Massacre

Mormon farmers took over Cache Valley starting in 1860, forcing 450 hungry Shoshone under Chief Bear Hunter to raid for survival. After miners accused Indians of killing 10 travelers and robbing others in early January 1863, territorial officials demanded action.

Colonel Patrick Connor marched 200 California Volunteers north from Camp Douglas, announcing he would take no prisoners before attacking the winter camp on January 29th and killing 250 Shoshone…

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