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

Hungry Hill Battle

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

Who Fought

Defeated
US Army/militia
Forces
dragoons, militiamen and volunteers
VS
Victor
Takelma/Shasta
Forces
Native Americans
Outcome
U.S. troops and militiamen retreated from the mountains after being repelled by the Native Americans' superior defensive position and marksmanship. The Native Americans successfully held their ground against a numerically comparable or larger force.
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: approximately 36 dead, missing, or severely wounded; Native American forces: fewer than 20

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Hungry Hill Battle take place?
Hungry Hill Battle took place in 1856. Single day engagement (October 31, 1855).
Where was Hungry Hill Battle fought?
Hungry Hill Battle was fought in Oregon, United States.
What was the outcome of Hungry Hill Battle?
U.S. troops and militiamen retreated from the mountains after being repelled by the Native Americans' superior defensive position and marksmanship. The Native Americans successfully held their ground against a numerically comparable or larger force.
What was the significance of Hungry Hill Battle?
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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