First battle of Pyramid Lake War

May 12, 1860

First battle of Pyramid Lake War Historical Marker 148, "The Two Battles of Pyramid Lake,"
After the attack on Williams Station in which warriors led by Mogoannoga, a militia of ~100 settlers forms and marches up the Truckee River to attack the Pyramid Lake Paiute. Approximately 5 miles outside of Pyramid Lake, they are attacked by Paiute forces led by Chief Numaga and routed. The leader of the militia, Major William Ormsby died as did 75 of the settler militia. Paiute reports that not a single Paiute died with only three reported injured. In the aftermath, settlers called for a new force to be raised, and they encountered the Paiute warriors in the same location several weeks later but with 800 men. Although the US Military refers to it as a win, the outgunned Paiute withdrew to the north and had no casualties. A ceasefire was eventually called and no treaty signed. The war caused a major distruption to the Pony Express with service being cancelled from Carson City and Salt Lake City. Some Paiute's also went on to fight in the Bannock war of 1878.