Battle of Fort Pitt (North West Rebellion)

Shortly after the outbreak of the Métis led North West Rebellion, Cree forces also started an uprising with attacks on colonial officials, clergy, and settlers on April 2nd. The Cree forces involved were mostly Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear) band, however it is important to note that Mistahimaskwa was against the uprising and the resisters were led in the resistance by Kapapamahchakwayo (Wandering Spirit), the war leader of the band. On April 15th, they attacked Fort Pitt. They intercepted a small police scouting party, killing a constable, wounding another, and captured a third. Garrison commander Francis Dickens (son of famed novelist Charles Dickens) capitulated and agreed to negotiate with the attackers. Although generally considered a part of the North West Rebellion, this Cree uprising led by war leader Kapapamahchakwew (Wandering Spirit) was separate from the Métis, Riel and Dumont led forces. The conditions for Native people in the area were desperate with many starving. Included in the reasons for the poor conditions were the purposeful extinction of buffalo for the intent of genocide against Plains Indigenous peoples including the Cree and Métis, as well as a bad smallpox outbreak associated with Fort Pitt 1869-1870. The 100 dead Cree was the second-highest death toll due to smallpox of any recorded Cree population during this time. While these are recorded numbers some estimates are provided that the smallpox virus may have claimed the lives of half of all Cree. This occurred at a time when the smallpox vaccine already existed, an example of medical genocide where needed vaccines are not distributed to Indigenous peoples. This fact is important to note, as the dominant narrative that Native people simply didn't have natural immunity to European diseases contributed to the massive deaths, does not truthfully explain the fact that genocide by these diseases was a purposeful act by colonial governments. And the fact that Europeans also die when infected with smallpox without a vaccine. Capturing Fort Pitt was a major win in the Cree resistance, with important food and supplies seized as well as hostages.
(Not to be confused with Pontiac's 1763 seige of Fort Pitt near what is now Pittsburgh PA.)