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Period: 1540 to 1540
Tiguex War
Fought in the winter of 1540-41 by the army of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado against the 12 pueblos of Tiwa Indians along both sides of the Rio Grande in New Mexico. It was the first war between Europeans and Native Americans in the American West. -
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Powhatan Wars
Following an initial period of peaceful relations in Virginia, a 12-year conflict left many natives and colonists dead. -
Jamestown Massacre
Powhatan Indians kill 347 English settlers throughout the Virginia colony during the first Powhatan War. -
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Pequot War
Taking place in Connecticut and Rhode Island, the death of a colonist eventually led to the destruction of 600-700 natives. The remainder were sold into slavery in Bermuda. -
Mystic Massacre
During the Pequot War, English colonists, with Mohegan and Narragansett allies, attack a large Pequot village on the Mystic River in what is now Connecticut, killing around 500 villagers -
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King Phillips War
King Philip’s War erupts in New England between colonists and Native Americans as a result of tensions over colonist’s expansionist activities. -
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Pueblo Revolt
In Arizona and New Mexico, Pueblo Indians led by Popé, rebelled against the Spanish and lived independently for 12 years. The Spanish re-conquered in them in 1692. -
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King Williams War
The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William’s War was fought between England, France, and their respective American Indian allies in the colonies of Canada (New France), Acadia, and New England. It was also known as the Second Indian War (the first having been King Philip’s War). -
Schenectady Massacre
French and Algonquin Indians destroy Schenectady, New York, killing 60 settlers, including ten women and at least twelve children. -
Deerfield Massacre
A force comprised of Abenaki, Kanienkehaka, Wyandot and Pocumtuck Indians, led by a small contingent of French-Canadian militia, sack the town of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 civilians and taking dozens more as captives. -
Tuscarora War
Taking place in North Carolina, the Tuscarora War, led by Chief Hancock, was fought between the British, Dutch, and German settlers and the Tuscarora Native Americans. In an attempt to drive the colonists out of their territory, the tribe attacked several settlements, killing settlers and destroying farms. In 1713, James Moore and Yamasee warriors defeated the Indians. -
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Yamasee War
In southern Carolina, an Indian confederation led by the Yamasee came close to exterminating a white settlement in their region. -
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French and Indian War
A conflict between France and Britain for possession of North America. For various motivations, most Algonquian tribes allied with the French, the Iroquois with the British. -
Fort William Henry Massacre
Following the fall of Fort William Henry, between 70 and 180 British and colonial prisoners are killed by Indian allies of the French. -
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Cherokee Uprising
A breakdown in relations between the British and the Cherokee leads to a general uprising in present-day Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas. -
Pontiacs Rebellion
In the Ohio River Valley, War Chief Pontiac and a large alliance drove out the British at every post except Detroit. After besieging the fort for five months, they withdrew to find food for the winter. -
Conestoga Massacre
Pennsylvania settlers kill 20 peaceful Susquehannock in response to Pontiac’s Rebellion. -
Devil’s Hole Massacre
Seneca double ambush of a British supply train and soldiers. -
Enoch Brown School Massacre
Four Delaware Indians killed a schoolmaster, 10 pupils, and a pregnant woman. Amazingly two pupils who were scalped survived. -
Lord Dunmore’s War
Shawnee and Mingo Indians raided a wave of traders and settlers in the southern Ohio River Valley. Governor Dunmore of Virginia sent in 3,000 soldiers and defeated 1,000 natives. -
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Chickamauga Wars
A series of conflicts that were a continuation of the Cherokee struggle against white encroachment. Led by Dragging Canoe, who was called the Chickamauga by colonials, the Cherokee fought white settlers in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. -
Wyoming Valley Massacre
Following a battle with rebel defenders of Forty Fort, Iroquois allies of the Loyalist forces hunt and kill those who flee, then torture to death those who surrendered. -
Stockbridge Massacre
A battle of the American Revolution that rebel propaganda portrayed as a massacre. -
Cherry Valley Massacre
An attack by British and Seneca Indian forces on a fort and village in eastern New York during the American Revolution. The town was destroyed and 16 defenders were killed. -
Gnadenhutten Massacre
Nearly 100 non-combatant Christian Delaware (Lenape) Indians, mostly women, and children, were killed with hammer blows to the head by Pennsylvania militiamen. -
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Old Northwest War
Fighting occurred in Ohio and Indiana. Following two humiliating defeats at the hands of native warriors, the Americans won a decisive victory under “Mad Anthony” Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. -
Nickajack Expedition
Cherokee Chief, Dragging Canoe, and his followers, who opposed the peace, separated from the tribe and relocated to East Tennessee, where they were joined by groups of Shawnee and Creek. Engaged in numerous raids on the white settlers for several years, they used Nickajack Cave as their stronghold. In 1894, the military attacked, leaving some 70 Indians dead. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Prophet, brother of Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, attacked Governor William Henry Harrison’s force at dawn near the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers in Indiana Territory. After hand-to-hand combat, the natives fled. -
Fort Dearborn Massacre
American settlers and soldiers are killed in an ambush near Fort Dearborn, at the present-day site of Chicago, Illinois. -
Battle of Frenchtown
Also known as the River Raisin Massacre, it was a severe defeat for the Americans during the War of 1812, when they attempted to retake Detroit. -
Dilbone Massacre
Three settlers killed in Miami County, Ohio. -
Fort Mims Massacre
Following the defeat at the Battle of Burnt Corn, a band of Red Sticks sack Fort Mims, Alabama, killing 400 civilians and taking 250 scalps. This action precipitates the Creek War. -
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Peoria War
An Armed conflict between the U. S. Army and the Potawatomi and the Kickapoo that took place in the Peoria County, Illinois area. -
Creek War
Militiamen under Andrew Jackson broke the power of Creek raiders in Georgia and Alabama after the Creek had attacked Fort Mims and massacred settlers. They relinquished a vast land tract. -
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First Seminole War
The Seminole, defending runaway slaves and their land in Florida, fought Andrew Jackson’s force. Jackson failed to subdue them, but forced Spain to relinquish the territory. -
Battle of Claremore Mound
Cherokee Indians wipe out Osage Indians led by Chief Clermont at Claremore Mound, Indian Territory. -
Chehaw Affair
U.S. troops attack a non-hostile village during the First Seminole War, killing an estimated 10 to 50 men, women and children. -
Arikara War
Occurring near the Missouri River in present-day South Dakota, Arikara warriors attacked a trapping expedition and the U.S. Army retaliated. It was the first military conflict between the United States and the western Native Americans. -
Winnebago War
Also referred to as the Le Fèvre Indian War, this armed conflict took place in Wisconsin between the Winnebago and military forces. Losses of lives were minimal, but the war was a precedent to the much larger Black Hawk War. -
Black Hawk War
Occurring in northern Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin, it was the last native conflict in the area. Led by Chief Black Hawk, the Sac and Fox tribes made an unsuccessful attempt to move back to their homeland. -
Indian Creek Massacre
Potawatomi Indians, kidnap two girls and kill 15 men, women and children north of Ottawa, Illinois. -
Battle of Bad Axe
Battle of Bad Axe – Around 300 Indian men, women, and children are killed in Wisconsin by white soldiers. -
Cutthroat Gap Massacre
Osage Indians wiped out a Kiowa Indian village in Indian Territory. -
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Second Seminole War
Under Chief Osceola, the Seminole resumed fighting for their land in the Florida Everglades. Osceola was captured and they were nearly eliminated. -
Creek War of 1836
Though most Creeks ad been forced to Indian Territory, those that remained rebelled when the state moved to abolish tribal governments and extend state laws over the Creeks. -
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Comanche Wars
On the southern plains, primarily in the Texas Republic, there were many conflicts with the Comanche. The U.S. Military instituted official campaigns against the Comanche in 1867. -
Fort Parker Massacre
Six men killed by a mixed Indian group in Limestone County, Texas. -
Osage Indian War
A number of skirmishes with the Osage Indians in Missouri. -
Battle of Stone Houses
A Texas Ranger Company pursued a band of raiding Kichai Indians up the Brazos River, where they battled near the present-day city of Windthorst, Texas. -
Killough Massacre
Indians massacre eighteen members and relatives of the Killough family in Texas. -
Cherokee War
This war was a culmination of friction between the Cherokee, Kickapoo, and Shawnee Indians and the white settlers in Northeast Texas. -
Battle of the Neches
The principal engagement of the Cherokee War, the battle culminated after the Cherokee refused to leave Texas. -
Great Raid of 1840
The largest raid ever mounted by Native Americans on white cities. Following the Council House Fight, Comanche War Chief Buffalo Hump raised a huge war party and raided deep into white-settled areas of Southeast Texas. -
Council House Fight
A conflict between Republic of Texas officials and a Comanche peace delegation in San Antonio, Texas. When terms could not be agreed on, a conflict erupted resulting in the death of 30 Comanche leaders who had come to San Antonio under a flag of truce. -
Battle of Plum Creek
The Penateka Comanche were so angry after the Council House Fight, they retaliated in the summer of 1840 by conducting multiple raids in the Guadalupe Valley. The raids culminated in a battle between the Indians and the Texas volunteer army along with the Texas Rangers near the present-day city of Lockhart, Texas. For two days they battled and the Comanche were defeated. -
Whitman Massacre
The murder of missionaries Dr. Marcus Whitman, Mrs. Narcissa Whitman and twelve others at Walla Walla, Washington by Cayuse and Umatilla Indians, triggering the Cayuse War. -
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Cayuse War
Occurring in Oregon Territory and Washington Territory, the conflict between the Cayuse and white settlers was caused in part by the influx of disease, and resulting in the Whitman Massacre and the Cayuse War. -
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Cayuse War
Occurring in Oregon Territory and Washington Territory, the conflict between the Cayuse and white settlers was caused in part by the influx of disease, and resulting in the Whitman Massacre and the Cayuse War. -
Battle of Coon Creak
When a company of about 140 soldiers were on their way to left join the Santa Fe battalion in Chihuahua, Mexico, they were attacked near the present town of Kinsley, Kansas by some 200 Comanche and Apache Indians. -
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Navajo Conflicts
Persistent fighting between the Navajo and the U.S. Army in Arizona and New Mexico led to their expulsion and incarceration on an inhospitable reservation far from their homelands. -
Bloody Island Massacre
The murder of up to 200 Pomo people on an island near Upper Lake, California by Nathaniel Lyon and his U. S. Army detachment, in retaliation for the killing of two Clear Lake settlers who had been abusing and murdering Pomo people. -
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Mariposa War
Spawned by the flood of miners rushing onto their lands after the California Gold Rush, some tribes fought back including the Paiute and the Yokut. -
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Utah Indian Wars
Numerous skirmishes throughout Utah which finally lead to the Walker War. -
Walker War
When the Mormons began to settle on the hunting grounds of the Ute Indians of Utah, they were at first friendly, then fought back. -
Gunnison Massacre
In Millard County, Utah, a band of Ute Indians massacred Captain John W. Gunnison’s Pacific Railroad Survey party of seven men. -
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Sioux Wars
As white settlers moved across the Mississippi River into Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, the Sioux under Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse resisted to keep their hunting grounds. -
Kaibai Creek Massacre
Forty-two Winnemem Wintu men, women and children are killed by white settlers at Kaibai Creek, California. -
Ward Massacre
Eighteen of the 20 members of the Alexander Ward party were killed by Shoshone Indians while traveling on the Oregon Trail in western Idaho. -
Snake River War
Fighting occurred at the junction of the Tucannon River and the Snake River in Washington Territory. -
Klickitat War
This conflict occurred between the Klickitat and Cascade Indians against white settlers along the Columbia River in central Washington. When intimidation and force failed to get the Indians to cede their lands, battles erupted resulting in the Indians being removed from their lands. -
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Rogue River Wars
In the Rogue River Valley area southern Oregon, a conflict between the area Indians and white settlers increased eventually breaking into open warfare. -
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Yakima War
A conflict of land rights in Washington state, involving the Nisqually, Muckleshoot, Puyallup, and Klickitat tribes in the state of Washington. The central figure of the war, Nisqually Chief Leschi, was executed. -
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Klamath and Salmon Indian Wars
Klamath and Salmon River War, aka Klamath War, or Red Cap War, occurred in Klamath County, California after local miners wanted Indians disarmed due to rumors of an uprising. Some of the Native Americans of the Yurok and Karok tribes refused, leading to hostilities resulting in the state militia and U.S. Army involvement. -
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Third Seminole War
Under Chief Billy Bowlegs, the Seminole mounted their final stand against the U.S. in the Florida Everglades. When Bowlegs surrendered; he and others were deported to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. -
Tintic War
A short series of skirmishes occurring in Tintic and Cedar Valleys of Utah, after the conclusion of the Walker War. -
Battle of Seattle
Native Americans attacked Seattle, Washington, as part of the Yakima War. The attackers are driven off by artillery fire and by Marines from the U.S. Navy. -
Antelope Hills Expedition
A campaign by Texas Rangers and members of allied tribes against the Comanche and Kiowa in Texas and Oklahoma. -
Coeur d’Alene War
This is the second phase of the Yakima War was a series of encounters between the Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, Palouse, and Northern Paiute tribes and U.S. forces in the Washington and Idaho areas. -
Battle of Four Lakes
Also known as the Battle of Spokane Plains, the conflict was part of the Coeur d’Alene War. A force of 600 military men were sent to subdue the tribes, defeating the Indians. -
Mendocino War
A conflict between settlers and Native Americans in California that took place in 1859. Several hundred Indians were killed. -
Paiute War
the war was fought between Northern Paiute, along with some Shoshone and Bannock, and white settlers in present-day Nevada. The war culminated in two pitched battles in which approximately 80 whites were killed. Smaller raids and skirmishes continued until a cease-fire was agreed to in August 1860. -
Utter-Van Ornum Massacre
In 1860 one of the worst massacres along the Oregon Trail took place in Idaho. No other Oregon Trail wagon train suffered greater losses than the Utter-Van Ornum wagon train of 1860. -
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California Indian Wars
Numerous battles and skirmishes against Hupa, Wiyot, Yurok, Tolowa, Nomlaki, Chimariko, Tsnungwe, Whilkut, Karuk, Wintun, and others. -
Gunther Island Massacre
Also known as the Humboldt Bay Massacre, local white settlers, without any apparent provocation, attack four Indian villages, slaying 188 Wiyot Indians, mostly women and children in Humboldt County, California. -
Battle of Pease River
Battle between Comanche Indians under Peta Nocona and a detachment of Texas Rangers, resulting in the slaughter of the Indians, including women, when the Rangers caught the camp totally by surprise. -
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Navajo Wars
Occurring in Arizona and New Mexico Territories, it ended with the Long Walk of the Navajo. -
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Apache Attacks
In New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas, numerous Apache bands rejected reservation life, and under Geronimo, Cochise, and others, staged hundreds of attacks on outposts. Geronimo finally surrendered in 1886; others fought on until 1900. -
Sioux War of 1862
Skirmishes in the southwestern quadrant of Minnesota resulted in the deaths of several hundred white settlers. In the largest mass execution in U.S. history, 38 Dakota were hanged. About 1,600 others were sent to a reservation in present-day South Dakota. -
Battle of Apache Pass
Battle fought in Arizona between Apache warriors and the California Column as it marched from California to New Mexico. -
Tonkawa Massacre
Tonkawa Massacre – Accompanied by Caddo allies, a detachment of irregular Union Indians, mainly Kickapoo, Delaware and Shawnee, attempt to destroy the Tonkawa tribe in Indian Territory. One hundred and fifty of 390 Tonkawa survive. -
Bear River Massacre
Colonel Patrick Connor leads a regiment killing at least 200 Indian men, women, and children near Preston, Idaho. -
Grattan Fight
Twenty-nine U.S. soldiers killed by Brulé Lakota Sioux Indians in Nebraska Territory.