Lt. Colonel William Hoffman
Lt. Colonel William Hoffman, 6th U.S. Infantry, led the military expedition against the Mojave Indians in the spring of 1859, resulting in the establishment of Fort Mojave.Lt. Colonel William Hoffman, at the head of a column of six companies of infantry, two of dragoons, and some artillery, struggled up the Colorado River from Fort Yuma. On April 23, 1859, Colonel Hoffman dictated a peace to the overawed Mojave chiefs, threatening annihilation to the tribe if they did not cease hostilities, make no opposition to the establishment of posts and roads through their country, and allow travel free from their harassment. Hoffman also took some of their leading men or family members hostage. Afterward he left for San Bernardino, taking most of his force with him; others went down river by steamboat or overland to Fort Tejon.
Captain Armistead was left with two infantry companies and the column's artillery to garrison Hoffman's encampment at Beale's Crossing on the east bank of the Colorado River, Camp Colorado. Armistead renamed the post Fort Mojave. In late June 1859 the Mojave hostages escaped from Fort Yuma. Trouble broke out with the Mojave a few weeks later when they stole stock from a mail station that had been established two miles south of Fort Mojave, and attacked it. Mojaves tore up melons planted by the soldiers near the fort, and the soldiers shot a Mojave who was working in a garden. Eventually after a few weeks of aggressive patrolling and skirmishes, Armistead was able to fight the Mojave in a battle between about 50 soldiers and 200 Mojave, resulting in three soldiers wounded. Twenty-three Mojave bodies were found but more were killed and wounded and removed by the Mojave. Following this defeat, the Mojave made a peace, which they kept from then on.
"The Native Americans of Joshua Tree National Park: An Ethnographic Overview and Assessment Study/" Cultural Systems Research, Inc., August 22, 2002, VII. Mojave.
History in the Mojave Preserve
Major William Hoffman led a unit of over 600 men to the Colorado River, ... Prudently, the Mojave complied, and Hoffman set up a military post on the ...
Hoffman Establishes Fort Mojave
Hoffman reported that the route he had taken across the Mojave Desert was too difficult to send troops through in larger numbers. ...
Rose-Bailey Wagon Train
For example, Hoffman's party, although its members interacted with the Paiutes and Mojaves ... The Mojaves in turn shot four arrows into Hoffman's camp, ...
Fort Mojave
Prudently, the Mojave complied, and Hoffman set up a military post on the ... Hoffman Establishes Fort Mojave- 1859. Hoffman reported that the route he had ...
Military & Pioneer Period - Mojave Indians
Hoffman reported that the route he had taken across the Mojave Desert was too ... Hoffman, whose report of his encounter at Beaver Lake was interpreted by . ...
History of the Eastern Mojave
Major William Hoffman led a unit of over 600 men to the Colorado River, ... Prudently, the Mojave complied, and Hoffman set up a military post on the ...
Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe - Mojave Desert
William Hoffman were sent in 1859 from San Francisco. ... Hoffman on April 24 threatened to take the Great Chief Homoseh awahot to Yuma Prison as a hostage ...
Fort Piute, Fort Beale, Fort Piute Hill
Colonel William Hoffman passed through the site and probably watered at its spring in 1859. It was not far from Piute that he was harassed by the Indians ...
INDIANS RAID THE SETTLEMENT
It was in May 1859, less than a month after Colonel Hoffman made his ineffective truce with the Mojaves, that news was received of the raid at Lane's ...
LANE'S CROSSING
Some days afterwards, as he admits, and as can be proved by Col Hoffman, Lieut Corley, and other officers, he was arrested by the Civil Authorities of San ...
Timeline of History of the Mojave Desert
1859 - Hoffman Establishes Ft. Mojave 1860-70 Mining strikes in and near the desert; grazing starts in the eastern Mojave to support miners ...
