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The Marias Massacre is a now little-known massacre that took place in Montana during the late- 19th century Indian Wars between the United States government and the American Indians.Relations between the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Blackfoot, Blood, and Piegan tribes) and whites had been largely hostile for years. Amidst low-level hostilities, sometime in 1869, a rogue Piegan band murdered a white trader . This led to General Philip Sheridan sending out a band of cavalry led by Major Eugene Baker to track down and punish the offending party.
On January 23, 1870, they received a scouting report that the group of Piegans, led by Mountain Chief, was camped along the Marias River. They attacked the site, but Mountain Chief had received warning and left the area, so Baker's men instead ended up attacking the camp of Chief Heavy Runner, who had enjoyed friendly relations with the white men. As the men of the camp were mostly out hunting, the raid was a massacre, killing around 200 women and children. Mountain Chief's band, in the meantime, escaped to Canada.
Responsibility for the massacre and failure to capture Mountain Chief's men was placed by many on Major Baker's well-known alcoholismAlcoholism is an addictive dependency on alcohol characterised by craving (a strong need to drink); loss of control (being unable to stop); physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms; and tolerance (increasing difficulty of becoming drunk). 1820 Alcoholi, though in the subsequent controversy General Sheridan expressed his confidence in Baker's leadership, and managed to prevent an official investigation into the incident.
Native American wars
