Bahsahwahbee

Beginning in May 1859, Army Captain James H. Simpson surveyed a new route across the Great Basin to California, resulting in increased emigrant traffic through Newe territory and further disruption of their resources and lifestyles. On August 13, 1859, a detachment of U.S. cavalry led by Lieutenant Ebenezer Gay tracked down a band of Indian warriors that had massacred an emigrant train to California. His troops engaged the warriors at Devil's Gate Canyon, about 30 miles northeast of Swamp Cedars. His report of August 15 stated: "I went into camp, and two hours afterwards had reliable information that a large body of Indians were probably encamped somewhere in the canon leading from this valley to Cache valley. I was informed at the same time, that within five or six days past they had stolen a number of animals from this and the adjoining settlements, and that they were the same party who had murdered and robbed an emigrant train on Sublett's cut-off. I immediately resolved to attack them... After a rapid march of two hours, the encampment was indicated by a number of ponies grazing, and in a moment afterwards by the Indians jumping up from their beds under the bushes... I immediately formed my men and charged upon the main body of them; in this charge several of the enemy were killed and wounded. They then scattered and took position behind rocks, &c., &c.; here they were charged and driven up precipices beyond the reach of men on horses... The guide and many others estimated the Indian force at from 150 to 200 warriors. The number killed was about twenty, as near as we can calculate. I had no men killed, but four severely though probably not mortally, and two slightly wounded... The company behaved nobly on this occasion."[8]

In November 1859, Gay's commander, brevet Brigadier General Albert Sidney Johnston reported the incident to Major General Winfield Scott: "I have ascertained that three [emigrant] parties were robbed, and ten or twelve of their members, comprising men, women, and children, murdered... The perpetrators of the robbery of the first party were severely chastised by a detachment of dragoons, under the command of Lieutenant Gay. The troops failed to discover the robbers of the last two parties that were attacked. They are supposed to be vagabonds from the Shoshonee (sic) or Snake and Bannack (sic) Indians, whose chiefs deny any complicity with these predatory bands. There is abundant evidence to prove that these robber bands are accompanied by white men, and probably instigated and led by them. On that account I am inclined to believe the disclaimer of the Indians referred to, of having any knowledge of the robberies or any share in the plunder."[9]

The Mountaineer Newspaper reported that on August 14, 1859, "Brevet Brigadier General Albert S. Johnston, Colonel 2nd Cavalry, commanding department of Utah, having received information that a band of northern Indians had robbed and murdered a party of emigrants on the California road, detached 2nd Lieutenant Ebenezer Gay, 2nd Dragoons, in command of Company G, 2nd Dragoons, from Camp Floyd, to take such steps as circumstances might require. The latter learning, near Box Elder, that the Indians were not distant, resolved to attack them... Lieutenant Gay surprised the encampment of the Indians, and charged upon the main body, killing and wounding several. The number of the Indians is estimated from one hundred and fifty to two hundred warriors, of whom some twenty were killed; twenty horses were captured, nearly half being American horses; four men severely, and two slightly wounded; and nine horses wounded."[10]

Possibly referencing the same event, Elijah Nicholas Wilson,[11] who claimed to be one of the army's interpreters and guides, published a book of anecdotes in 1910 that claimed that 350 Indians were killed by the troops on an unspecified date in somewhere in the Utah Territory in 1859. Wilson's account has no mention of Spring Valley. Oral histories that rely heavily on Wilson's account also reference the event but there is no substantiation by contemporary documentary evidence.[4]

The U.S. Army established Fort Ruby in White Pine County in 1862 to protect white emigrants. At this time, the Newe faced severe starvation and resorted to eating grains given by the Overland Mail Company and even undigested barley from horses' manure.[4] Stationed at Fort Ruby, Colonel Patrick Connor instructed his troops to "destroy every male Indian whom you may encounter."[4]

On March 22, 1863, Goshute warriors attacked a stage station near Spring Valley, killing the company operator and taking stock animals. In retribution, Captain S. P. Smith led a cavalry company to seek out those responsible. Discovering an Indian encampment at Duck Creek on May 3, they massacred 24 Indians in their sleep and five more who arrived at the camp the next day. Two days later, the company attacked another Indian camp in the Bahsahwahbee area. Military records state they massacred another 23 Indians, though others were able to escape because some of the Army's horses became stuck in the swamp. Goshute oral history states "most of them" were killed.[4]

Five months after this Goshute War, the Newe signed the Treaty of Ruby Valley that gave the United States significant rights to the use of their land.[4]

The third massacre at Bahsahwahbee, as reported through oral histories, was committed by vigilantes in 1897. False accusations that the Newe's gatherings were to prepare for war led settlers to target the Newe at their seasonal events. Self-appointed militia members are told to have followed Indians to the Swamp Cedars site where tribal members were gathered for a harvest festival. The attackers raped the women and killed almost everyone there, who were largely women, children, and elders, as the men were away hunting.[4] Only two young girls survived the massacre.[6]

By the 1930s, 16 small villages remained in Spring Valley.[4]

Since the three massacres, the Newe have a spiritual connection to Bahsahwahbee as a place where their ancestors lived and died. The site went from being a place of celebration to a place of commemoration, where the swamp cedar trees each represent those killed. The site's waters and springs are considered sacred, and the Newe – now organized as the Ely Shoshone Tribe, the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation – also continue to use it for gathering of plants and hunting.[4]