Dates 26 Sep 1867 – 28 Sep 1867 | Result U.S. victory | |
1st U.S. Cavalry23rd U.S. Infantry(110 soldiers)Warm Springs and Shoshone Scouts(15 Natives) 75 Paiute30 Pit Riverfew Modoc 8 killed11 wounded 20 killed12 wounded2 captured People also search for Battle of Owyhee River, Battle of Steen's Mountain, Snake War, Modoc War, Apache Wars | ||
The Battle of Infernal Caverns was a battle during the Snake War 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., 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. 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.