The Battle of Big Bend concluded the Rogue River Wars, ending organized armed resistance by Native American bands in southwestern Oregon.
Key Facts
- Start date
- May 27, 1856
- End date
- May 28, 1856
- Union commanding officer
- Captain Andrew Jackson Smith
- Native leader
- Chief John, Dakubetede band
- US Army total enlisted
- 150 (approx.) men
- Location
- Rogue River, 8 miles upriver from Agness, Oregon
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Rogue River Wars arose from escalating tensions between US settlers and the Native American peoples of southwestern Oregon. Conflict over land, broken agreements, and violent incidents on both sides drove various Native bands to armed resistance against US Army forces and settlers throughout the mid-1850s.
On May 27–28, 1856, Captain Andrew Jackson Smith led approximately 150 US Army enlisted men from the 1st Dragoons and 4th Infantry against a large coalition of warriors from multiple Native bands led by Chief John of the Dakubetede along the Rogue River near present-day Agness, Oregon.
The Battle of Big Bend marked the final major engagement of the Rogue River Wars. Following the battle, resistance by the Native bands effectively collapsed, leading to the removal of the Rogue River peoples to the Siletz Reservation and ending sustained armed conflict in southwestern Oregon.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Captain Andrew Jackson Smith.
Side B
1 belligerent
Chief John (Dakubetede).