Battle of Pierre’s Hole, Idaho
The Battle of Pierre’s Hole stands as a significant, albeit often overlooked, event in the history of the American West, a clash that epitomizes the tumultuous era of the fur trade and the complex relationships between mountain men and Native American tribes. Taking place in 1832 within the verdant valley of what was then known as Pierre’s Hole (now Teton Basin) in present-day Idaho, this battle was a confluence of commercial ambition, intertribal rivalries, and personal vendettas, leaving a lasting mark on the landscape and the narratives of the frontier.
Pierre’s Hole, now more commonly referred to as Teton Basin, is an expansive valley that offered a respite from the harsh, rugged mountains surrounding it. Situated in eastern Idaho, the valley is dominated by the majestic Grand Teton range looming to the east in Wyoming. The valley itself stretches approximately 30 miles in length from southeast to northwest, and varies in width from 5 to 15 miles. Its landscape is characterized by a broad, relatively flat expanse, largely devoid of dense tree cover except for the riparian zones along the main river and its tributaries. This geographical setting would serve as the stage for the dramatic events that unfolded in the summer of 1832.
The summer of 1832 saw Pierre’s Hole transformed into a bustling hub of activity as it hosted the annual rendezvous of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and the American Fur Company. These gatherings were vital for the fur trade, offering a place for trappers to sell their accumulated pelts, resupply for the coming year, and socialize. William L. Sublette, a prominent figure in the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, arrived with a contingent of about 60 men on July 6th, securing an early advantage over his rivals. Accompanying Sublette was Nathaniel Wyeth, an entrepreneur venturing into the fur trade, as well as remnants of parties led by Jefferson Blackwell and John Gannt, who had encountered difficulties the previous year. Representatives from the American Fur Company, including William Vanderburgh and Andrew Drips, were also present, eager to participate in the trade and secure their share of the valuable furs. Notably absent were Lucien Fontenelle, who was en route from Fort Union in North Dakota with supplies, and Captain Benjamin Bonneville, who was still making his way from the Platte River Valley.
Beyond the fur companies and their employees, Pierre’s Hole was also a significant gathering place for various Native American tribes. Hundreds of individuals from the Salish and Nez Perce tribes converged on the valley, drawn by the opportunities for trade and interaction with the fur trappers. However, tensions were also simmering beneath the surface. The Gros Ventre, known for their hostility towards white settlers, were particularly active in the region, causing unrest around the headwaters of the Snake and Green Rivers. Furthermore, the Blackfeet, despite the recent establishment of Fort Piegan in their territory, remained a formidable and unpredictable presence. Sublette himself had encountered them on his way to the rendezvous, and Thomas Fitzpatrick, who had scouted ahead, was forced to flee into the mountains after being unhorsed, barely surviving for five days without food. The volatile mix of fur traders, diverse Native American tribes, and underlying tensions created a powder keg that would soon ignite.
The events leading directly to the Battle of Pierre’s Hole began as the rendezvous neared its conclusion. On July 17th, a group of trappers under the command of Milton G. Sublette departed the valley, heading southeast towards the main Snake River. Nathaniel Wyeth, seeking safe passage out of Blackfeet territory for his remaining men, joined the party. They traveled only a short distance, six to eight miles, before making camp for the night. The following morning, as they prepared to resume their journey, they spotted a large party of horsemen approaching. Initial uncertainty about the identity of the approaching riders soon gave way to alarm as it became clear that they were a band of Gros Ventre warriors, numbering approximately 150 men. According to accounts from the time, the Gros Ventre carried a British flag, a trophy seized from a defeated party of Hudson’s Bay Company trappers. The sudden and aggressive approach of the Gros Ventre left the trappers in a precarious position. Amidst the confusion, Wyeth utilized his looking glass to discern that Blackfeet warriors were also present among the approaching force. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Milton Sublette dispatched two men back to the rendezvous to request immediate assistance.
While awaiting reinforcements, a fateful act of revenge ignited the conflict. The Blackfeet, realizing the strength of the opposing force, initially made gestures of peace, reportedly displaying a white flag. However, their reputation for treachery was well-known, and two men in the trapper camp harbored deep-seated animosity towards the Blackfeet. One was Antoine Godin, whose father had been murdered by the Blackfeet on Godin Creek. The other was a Salish chief whose people had suffered greatly at the hands of the tribe. In a prearranged act of retribution, Godin and the Salish chief approached the Blackfeet under the guise of peace. As Godin grasped the hand of a Blackfeet chief in a gesture of friendship, the Salish chief shot the Blackfeet leader dead. Godin seized the chief’s scarlet robe, and the two men retreated to their lines.
Following this act, the Native Americans retreated into a nearby stand of timber surrounded by dense willows. There, they quickly fortified their position, digging rifle pits and constructing a breastwork of timber. While some of the trappers maintained a skirmish line to keep the Native Americans pinned down, Wyeth ordered his men to fortify their camp and remain on the defensive.
News of the attack reached the rendezvous, prompting a swift response. William Sublette and Robert Campbell, along with a large contingent of white trappers and their Native American allies, immediately set out for the scene of the conflict. Upon arrival, Sublette assumed command of the situation. Recognizing the inexperience of Wyeth’s men and other recent recruits, he restricted their involvement in the fighting, relying instead on seasoned trappers and allied Native American warriors. Despite this, Wyeth himself participated in the engagement for a portion of the time. Faced with the overwhelming size of the approaching force, the Blackfeet and Gros Ventre warriors withdrew further into their entrenchments.
The initial assault by the trappers and allied Native Americans consisted largely of random gunfire into the thicket, proving ineffective against the well-protected Native American position. Realizing that a more decisive action was necessary, William Sublette proposed a direct assault on the breastworks. Despite the perceived danger, a group of approximately 30 white trappers and numerous allied Native Americans joined Sublette in the charge. As they cautiously advanced through the dense willows, Sublette, Campbell, and Alexander Sinclair of Arkansas led the way towards the Native American "fort." Aware of the potential consequences, Sublette and Campbell reportedly made their wills to each other in anticipation of the battle. Emerging into the open ground near the fortification, the attackers came under heavy fire from the Native American defenders. Sinclair was killed instantly, and Sublette was severely wounded. Meanwhile, Wyeth and a group of Native Americans had managed to gain a position on the opposite side of the fort, where one of his Native American companions was killed by friendly fire from Sublette’s party. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the defenders remained well-protected and inflicted casualties on the attackers.
The attack continued for much of the day without significant progress, largely due to the strength of the Native American position and the reluctance of the attackers to press the assault. Frustrated by the stalemate, Sublette proposed setting fire to the thicket, a tactic opposed by the allied Native Americans who hoped to plunder the fort. As preparations were underway to ignite the fire, an unexpected incident occurred. A Native American ally who understood the Blackfeet language overheard a conversation between the besieged warriors. The Blackfeet claimed that they were expecting reinforcements of 600-800 warriors who would soon arrive and overwhelm the attackers. In the process of translation, it was mistakenly conveyed that this force was attacking the main rendezvous. Fearing a devastating attack on the undefended rendezvous, the trappers and their allies hastily abandoned the siege and rushed back to the valley, leaving the Native American warriors to escape under the cover of darkness.
The following morning, the fort was found abandoned. The Battle of Pierre’s Hole resulted in five white trappers killed, including Alexander Sinclair, and six wounded, including William Sublette. The allied Native Americans suffered seven killed and six wounded. The exact losses of the Blackfeet and Gros Ventre are unknown, but they left behind nine dead warriors in the fort, along with 25 horses and most of their baggage. Later accounts suggested that the Native American force may have lost as many as 26 warriors.
The Battle of Pierre’s Hole had further consequences. On July 25th, a party of seven men from Wyeth’s group, intending to return east, were attacked in Jackson’s Hole by a band of approximately 20 Blackfeet warriors. Two men were killed, and another, Alfred K. Stephens, was wounded. Stephens returned to the rendezvous, where he died shortly after departing for St. Louis with William Sublette on July 30th. On August 4th, Sublette’s party, consisting of about 60 men and a large quantity of furs, passed the large band of Blackfeet that had been expected during the battle. The Native Americans, wary after their experience at Battle of Pierre’s Hole, did not attack Sublette’s well-armed group. This band was later attacked and routed by Crow warriors in the Wind River Valley, suffering significant losses.
The story of the Battle of Pierre’s Hole also includes a final act of revenge. Antoine Godin, who had killed the Blackfeet chief at the start of the battle, was later killed by a Blackfeet war party led by James Bird, a former Hudson’s Bay Company employee who had become a Blackfeet chieftain. Bird ambushed Godin near Fort Hall, killing him and defacing his forehead with Wyeth’s initials, thus avenging the death of the Blackfeet chief and bringing a violent conclusion to the events of Pierre’s Hole.
The Battle of Pierre’s Hole, while perhaps not as widely recognized as other events of the American West, stands as a testament to the complex dynamics of the fur trade era. It highlights the economic ambitions that drove exploration and exploitation of the frontier, the volatile relationships between trappers and Native American tribes, and the cycle of violence and revenge that characterized this period of American history.