The Shoshones mostly lived quietly at the Fort Hall Reservation in eastern Idaho. They received their regular allotments from the federal government. On the other hand, the Bannocks, who lived at their old stomping grounds of Camas Prairie, southwest of Boise, were constantly away whenever the Indian agent showed up with their allotments. Not realizing he was causing his own problems, Chief Buffalo Horn of the Bannocks thought the government was showing favoritism to the Shoshones.
The Bannocks were also angered by some white settlers. These settlers brought their hogs to the Camas Prairie and allowed them to graze. The hogs were destructive to the land. Chief Buffalo Horn and some others visited the herder's camp and injured one man and threatened the others. Afterward the Bannocks met to discuss a course of action. About 200 Indians joined with him, while the rest rode to Fort Hall, where they would not participate in the hostilities.
This was the first of many attacks. Buffalo Horn led an attack on Glenn's Ferry on the Snake River, where they cut loose the ferry boat. They attacked the King Hill stage station and destroyed everything they couldn't use themselves. Next they looted a wagon train. All over eastern Oregon they killed families in isolated areas, burned down their farms, and killed their livestock. In the Silver City, Idaho, area the Indians were harassing some miners when a small contingent of soldiers found them there. Buffalo Horn was seriously wounded in the skirmish.
Colonel Reuben F. Bernard led a detachment from Boise to take care of the problem. They followed the Bruneau River to its confluence with the Snake River. The trail led to the southeastern corner of Oregon, where the Bannocks joined with the Paiutes living near Steens Mountain. There were also some Cayuse and Umatilla braves who joined them. By then Buffalo Horn died, and the Paiute chief Egan led the hostiles. The Paiutes burned down the Crowley cabin and the buildings at the Anderson Ranch. George Smyth and his son and son-in-law lost their homes and lives when Paiutes burned down their house and shot them while trying to escape. They also killed Tom Dixon and a man named Harrison who were fishing in the Blitzen River. Pete French put a small dent in their operation, however, when he stood off a gang of Indians and killed several, while his men made their escape.
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