Second Battle of Pyramid Lake

Truckee River Gorge, site of the battle

Date	June 2–4, 1860
Location	Pyramid Lake, Nevada
Result	U.S. victory

Belligerents

United States

Paiute

Commanders and leaders

John C. Hays
Joseph Stewart

Numaga

Strength

544 volunteers
"Washoe Regiment"
207 Regulars
6th U.S. Infantry
3rd U.S. Artillery

300 Paiute warriors

Casualties and losses

3 killed
5 wounded

25 killed
20 wounded

The Second Battle of Pyramid Lake (a.k.a. Battle of Truckee River) took place in response to the U.S. defeat at the First Battle of Pyramid Lake. A well-organized force of militia and regulars, under the capable leadership of famed Texas Ranger Col. John C. “Jack” Hays, defeated the Paiute warriors under Chief Numaga. This was the final engagement of the Pyramid Lake War of 1860.

On May 6, 1860 a band of Paiutes raided Williams Station along the Carson River, near present-day Silver Springs, Nevada, killing three white settlers at the station. In response to this Maj. William Ormsby led a group of vigilantes from Carson City and Virginia City against the Paiutes near Pyramid Lake. The vigilante force was ingloriously defeated and Ormsby killed. This defeat prompted local settlers to send a call for help to nearby California.

Colonel John C. Hays responded to the call and traveled to Carson City to organize a regiment of 500 volunteers which he dubbed the “Washoe Regiment”. Another 165 volunteers came from the nearby California communities of Placerville, Sacramento and Nevada City. Hays then marched his regiment to Virginia City.

The U.S. Army also responded to the call. Captain Joseph Stewart left Fort Alcatraz with 144 Regulars from the 3rd U.S. Artillery and 6th U.S. Infantry regiments. Stewart arrived in Carson City to await further developments. In the meantime, Hays had marched out of Virginia City to Williams Station where he skirmished with 150 Paiutes before the warriors pulled back to Pyramid Lake.

The Paiutes returned to their village at Pyramid Lake near the mouth of the Truckee River. They sent their women and children into the Black Rock Desert as a protective measure.

...
Wikipedia