Near Springville in Tulare County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Battle Mountain
Photographed By Lester J Letson, August 20, 2005
1. Battle Mountain Marker
Inscription.
Battle Mountain. . A long period of unrest between the settlers and Indians of Tulare County erupted in war during the Spring of 1856. Untrue reports that five hundred head of cattle had been stolen in Frazier Valley and the burning of Orson K. Smith's sawmill aroused the local settlers. A group of volunteers under the command of Foster DeMasters located a party of over seven hundred Indians in fortified positions on the cone shaped mountain in the valley below. Unable to breach the Indian defenses on their own, the volunteers sent for help. A second company of Tulare County Volunteers under Sheriff W. G. Poindexter, miners from Keysville on the Kern River, settlers from as far north as Merced and Mariposa and Army detachments from Fort Tejon and Fort Miller responded. Captain Livingston of Fort Miller assumed overall command of a combined force estimated at three to four hundred men. Unable to withstand assault by this combined force and their Army howitzer, the Indians disappeared into the pine forest above you. Reports indicate three settlers were wounded and several Indians killed. Dedicated October 20, 1990 Dr Samuel Gregg George Chapter 1855 of E Clampus Vitus
A long period of unrest between the settlers and Indians of Tulare County erupted in war during the Spring of 1856. Untrue reports that five hundred head of cattle had been stolen in Frazier Valley and the burning of Orson K. Smith's sawmill aroused the local settlers. A group of volunteers under the command of Foster DeMasters located a party of over seven hundred Indians in fortified positions on the cone shaped mountain in the valley below. Unable
to breach the Indian defenses on their own, the volunteers sent for help. A second company of Tulare County Volunteers under Sheriff W. G. Poindexter, miners from Keysville on the Kern River, settlers from as far north as Merced and Mariposa and Army detachments from Fort Tejon and Fort Miller responded. Captain Livingston of Fort Miller assumed overall command of a combined force estimated at three to four hundred men. Unable to withstand assault by
this combined force and their Army howitzer, the Indians disappeared into the pine forest above you. Reports indicate three settlers were wounded and several Indians killed.
Dedicated October 20, 1990 Dr Samuel Gregg George Chapter 1855 of E Clampus Vitus
Erected 1990 by Dr. Samuel Gregg George Chapter 1855, E Clampus Vitus.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic
Location. 36° 15.71′ N, 118° 45.483′ W. Marker is near Springville, California, in Tulare County. Marker is on Balch Park Road, 12 miles east of CA-190 (California Highway 190), on the right when traveling east. From the junction of CA Hwy 190 and Balch Park (Springville-Milo) Road:
Head north on Balch Park Road 6.1 miles to the junction with Mountain 296 (Yokuhl Valley Dr). Bear right to stay on Balch Park Road 4.5 miles (pass Battle Mountain Dr. on the left) to the junction with Mountain Rd 276 (Blue Ridge Drive). Stay straight on Balch Park Road 1.6 miles to find the Battle Mountain marker on the right shoulder heading east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45200 Balch Park Road, Springville CA 93265, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Daunt (approx. 10.3 miles away); Camp Nelson (approx. 11.7 miles away); Treaty of 1851 (approx. 13.6 miles away); Citrus South Tule School (approx. 14.4 miles away).
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Photographed By Lester J Letson, August 20, 2005
2. Battle Mountain Marker
marker. [T]he cone shaped mountain in the valley below" is no longer visible from the site of the marker itself due to vegetation growth in the years since it was placed. For a good view of Battle Mountain (36.252338, -118.789597) proceed back down Balch Park Road about 0.2 miles to a point where the downhill shoulder is clear.
Regarding Battle Mountain. [T]he cone shaped mountain in the valley below" is no longer visible from the site of the marker itself due to vegetation growth in the years since the marker was placed. For a good view of Battle Mountain, proceed back down Balch Park Road about 0.2 miles to a point where the brush is much lighter on the downhill shoulder.
Photographed By Lester J Letson, August 14, 2010
3. Battle Mountain Marker
Picture taken from across the road. Three members of E Clampus Vitus walking up to view the marker.
Photographed By Blair Smith, April 21, 2021
4. Battle Mountain Marker
Battle Mountain, "the cone shaped mountain in the valley below", as seen from the downhill shoulder about 0.2 miles back on Balch Park Road from the Marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 4,274 times since then and 87 times this year. Last updated on May 11, 2021, by Blair Smith of Riverside, California. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 15, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 4. submitted on May 11, 2021, by Blair Smith of Riverside, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
