Pinhook battleground, Utah

[RGINN]

A bit of forgotten history. The markers explain what happened. The Utes took the high ground on either side of the draw so the pursuing posse were pretty much sitting ducks when they got to this point, there's really not much cover, unless you could break for the trees about a quarter mile south. The posse members killed were buried close to where they fell in a common grave. Except for a fire about 11 years ago, the area hasn't changed much from since when the fight happened. Along the La Sal loop road SE of Moab. In later years, John Wayne made movies not far from here.

 

[tamrock]

I wonder if those wasichu were out numbered? The Ute's I believe were a pretty fierce people.

 

[RGINN]

They were led into an ambush spot. I guess they thought they were hot on the trail and got careless. I'm like family with Kiowa Chief Stumbling Bear's descendants in Oklahoma. For recreation the Kiowas used to always come to Colorado and raid the Utes. In the late 1800's on a raid up to Ute country Stumbling Bear snuck into a Ute teepee and scalped a sleeping Ute, but didn't kill him. Years later, after the turn of the century, the Utes and Kiowas met in the Oklahoma Panhandle (neutral ground I guess) to make a symbolic peace treaty, and Stumbling Bear returned the scalp to that Ute, who was still living. I thought that was a nice gesture. And I would have given almost anything to have been there and seen that presentation!

 

[Kray Gelder]

Interesting history. Beautiful country. The last few decades of the 1800's was a desperate, futile time for the Natives, experiencing the end of their way of life.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Thank you for sharing!

 

[WannaDig3687]

Interesting. I never would have known had you not posted. Thank you.

 

[Mekong Mike]

Man, how do you start that conversation?
Uhh... Sorry about sneaking into your teepee and taking your scalp. Here it is, you can have it back.