The Battle of Bear River, also called the Massacre at Boa Ogoi, took place on January 29, 1863 between the U.S. and the Shoshone Indians in present day Franklin County, Idaho. The U.S. was lead by Col. Patrick Edward Connor and the Shoshone by Chief Bear Hunter .

Shoshone raids in Idaho Territory during the winter of 1862 prompted the U.S. to retaliate. Connor's troops traveled from Fort Douglas, Utah to Chief Bear Hunter's camp 120 miles north in early January.

At dawn, Connor's troops started to cross Bear River. Before everyone had crossed, some of the men made a frontal assault on the Shoshone which failed. Connor took control of the men and the troops forced the Shoshone into a ravine. The troops high on the hills shot at the warriors down below. This caused many of the Shoshone to die or run. The ones that ran were either killed or captured. The battle ended by mid-morning with a U.S. victory.

The U.S. lost 67 soldiers and the Shoshone lost 384 warriors.

Sources

• The American Battlefield Protection Program