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A Crook County Historical Moment
| Bannock Indian War of 1878 Caused Panic in Local Settlers |
The Bannock Indian uprising of 1878 created a tense
situation that resulted in many outlying settlers of
Eastern Crook County moving to the safety of
Prineville and other communities.
The Bannock Indians ranged along the Oregon-Idaho
border and were a relatively peaceful tribe until they
were confined to Ft. Hall during the Nez Perce uprising
in 1877. They had difficulty subsisting on rations from
the fort and mistreatment of tribal members led to
hostilities in 1878. Chief Buffalo Horn began raiding
and killing in western Idaho.
situation that resulted in many outlying settlers of
Eastern Crook County moving to the safety of
Prineville and other communities.
The Bannock Indians ranged along the Oregon-Idaho
border and were a relatively peaceful tribe until they
were confined to Ft. Hall during the Nez Perce uprising
in 1877. They had difficulty subsisting on rations from
the fort and mistreatment of tribal members led to
hostilities in 1878. Chief Buffalo Horn began raiding
and killing in western Idaho.
Buffalo Horn was killed in a skirmish with the military and the Bannock were joined by Paiutes under
the leadership of Chief Egan. The combined forces began a bloody path of destruction that ranged
from the Steens Mountains to the John Day Valley.
Settlers began to congregate and fortify sites to repel the raiding Indians. Word of the killings and
raids rapidly spread to Central Oregon and outlying settlers in the Post and Paulina Country rushed
to Prineville to provide safety for their families. A stockade had been designated in Prineville as a
gathering point if the uprising had come to Central Oregon but most hostilities were confined east of
the John Day River.
Chief Egan had hoped to get to the Umatilla Indian Reservation and gain reinforcements for the
combined war party but the Umatilla’s did not want to become a part of the bloody war and captured
Egan and some of his warriors. Chief Egan was killed in an attempt to escape and his head was
presented to the military as a peace offering. Without his leadership the raiders began to falter and
eventually many of the warriors were captured.
The uprising was relatively brief but resulted in several deaths and the destruction of several
ranches. It was the last great show of resentment by the Bannock and Paiute against the white man
who had deprived them of their country.
Many of the settlers that had fled to Prineville for protection returned to their ranches but some
decided that they would remain near the growing community.
the leadership of Chief Egan. The combined forces began a bloody path of destruction that ranged
from the Steens Mountains to the John Day Valley.
Settlers began to congregate and fortify sites to repel the raiding Indians. Word of the killings and
raids rapidly spread to Central Oregon and outlying settlers in the Post and Paulina Country rushed
to Prineville to provide safety for their families. A stockade had been designated in Prineville as a
gathering point if the uprising had come to Central Oregon but most hostilities were confined east of
the John Day River.
Chief Egan had hoped to get to the Umatilla Indian Reservation and gain reinforcements for the
combined war party but the Umatilla’s did not want to become a part of the bloody war and captured
Egan and some of his warriors. Chief Egan was killed in an attempt to escape and his head was
presented to the military as a peace offering. Without his leadership the raiders began to falter and
eventually many of the warriors were captured.
The uprising was relatively brief but resulted in several deaths and the destruction of several
ranches. It was the last great show of resentment by the Bannock and Paiute against the white man
who had deprived them of their country.
Many of the settlers that had fled to Prineville for protection returned to their ranches but some
decided that they would remain near the growing community.
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A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum
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See the drop
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local stories
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colorful past.
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
Use the drop down menu for more local stories of Prineville's colorful past.