US ResearchConflictsEarly Republic and War of 1812Battle of Hungry Hill
Early Republic and War of 1812

Battle of Hungry Hill

1856
Oregon
Era
Early Republic and War of 1812
Year
1856
Location
Oregon
Status
Verified engagement
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Oregon Volunteers / US Army
Forces
dragoons, militiamen and volunteers
VS
Victor
Rogue River Tribes
Forces
Native Americans
Outcome
U.S. troops and militiamen retreated out of the mountains after failing to dislodge the Native Americans from their defensive position on the hilltop. The Native American forces successfully held their ground despite being outnumbered.
The Battle

History & Significance

The Battle of Hungry Hill, also known as the Battle of Grave Creek Hills or Battle of Bloody Springs, was the largest battle of the Rogue River Wars. It occurred on October 31, 1855. The Native Americans were camped on the top of a hill, with the soldiers located across a narrow ravine about 1,500 feet deep.

Duration
Single day engagement (October 31, 1855)
Historical context

The early republic period saw the United States move from the weak Articles of Confederation to the federal Constitution ratified in 1788, with the Bill of Rights added in 1791. George Washington served two terms as president (1789–1797), establishing precedents for executive authority, and the federal capital moved permanently to Washington D.C. in 1800. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled the nation's territory for roughly $15 million, opening vast trans-Mississippi lands to American expansion. The War of 1812 against Britain ended inconclusively but produced a surge of American national identity and eliminated most British support for Indigenous resistance east of the Mississippi. The Northwest Indian Wars (1785–1795) and the Creek War (1813–1814) broke Indigenous confederacies that had resisted US expansion. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 temporarily balanced slave and free states as the nation expanded westward, but embedded the contradiction of slavery in every subsequent territorial debate.

Casualties & Losses

U.S. forces: as many as 36 dead, missing, or severely wounded; Native American casualties: fewer than 20

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Battle of Hungry Hill take place?
Battle of Hungry Hill took place in 1856. Single day engagement (October 31, 1855).
Where was Battle of Hungry Hill fought?
Battle of Hungry Hill was fought in Oregon, United States.
What was the outcome of Battle of Hungry Hill?
U.S. troops and militiamen retreated out of the mountains after failing to dislodge the Native Americans from their defensive position on the hilltop. The Native American forces successfully held their ground despite being outnumbered.
What was the significance of Battle of Hungry Hill?
The Battle of Hungry Hill, also known as the Battle of Grave Creek Hills or Battle of Bloody Springs, was the largest battle of the Rogue River Wars. It occurred on October 31, 1855. The Native Americans were camped on the top of a hill, with the soldiers located across a narrow ravine about 1,500 f
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All battles in Oregon
Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Wikipedia source.

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All Early Republic and War of 1812 Battles