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Paulina, Shoshone Chief

© Elizabeth Gibson

Chief Paulina led a small band of Shoshone (Snake), Paiute, and Modoc raiders. He roamed the territory east of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, especially the Paulina Valley and upper Beaver Creek Valley. Paulina loved to fight and even killed members of his own tribe to enforce law. His people thought him egotistical and scheming, but they trusted him. He was smart and tough and honest.

Paulina used tactics that stymied disciplined fighting soldiers. They never stayed together, never rode in single file, changed direction, and didn't reunite for miles. They snuck into a camp at night and stampeded the enemy's horses. They carried mirrors for signaling. They made arrows from obsidian at Glass Butte. They didn't need a supply train since they knew what food to eat in the wild.

In March of 1859, he attacked the Warm Springs reservation. Paulina and his confederates hated the Warm Springs and other tribes that lived on the reservation by The Dalles because they occupied territory he felt belonged to his people. They drove off the livestock and took it to their mountain hideout. By the time soldiers came after him he was long gone. Another time, Captain Alfred Pleasanton surprised Paulina and Wolf Dog and captured them. It the only time Paulina would be captured.

On August 2, 1859, near Prineville, Paulina, Has No Horse, Wolf Dog, and others attacked a party of miners heading for the Colville gold fields in Washington state. This event resulted brought more soldiers to the area. Paulina harassed the soldiers and trade routes all winter long in 1859-60.

Paulina was loyal and protective of all the affiliated Snake tribes. In the spring of 1860, Paulina joined the Paiute conflict near Pyramid Lake in northwest Nevada. The Paiutes and their Shoshone allies killed 46 soldiers in the skirmish.

Pack trains left Fort Dalles and crossed the Oregon desert to supply gold camps in Idaho. These pack trains were not large, were not well guarded, and moved slowly. Paulina did not need a large party to successfully attack these pack trains. He and his men chased away the livestock and helped themselves to whatever they desired.

In May 1864, soldiers camped at the Crooked River at a spot later known as Camp Maury. Paulina was crossing the river when the soldiers attacked. Paulina took a stand behind a fortification of rocks ten feet. When soldiers were about a hundred yards from the camp, Paulina gave a signal. The Indians killed several soldiers and scouts in the first volley. The soldiers retreated downstream. Paulina's raiders robbed and mutilated the bodies of the Warm Springs scouts they killed. Paulina took the rifles and ammunition of the dead and wounded. This skirmish became known as the Battle of Watson Springs.