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Discovery of the Yosemite, and the Indian War of 1851, which Led to that Event
About the author: Lafayette Houghton Bunnell was an American physician, explorer, author, and explorer. He is most well known for his involvement with the Mariposa Battalion, the first non-Indians to enter Yosemite Valley. Bunnell led the battalion members in a vote to name the valley, and for this reason he is often credited as the person who named Yosemite.
The California Gold Rush in the mid-19th century dramatically increased travel by European-Americans in the area, causing competition for resources between the regional Paiute and Miwok and the miners and hangers on. In 1851 as part of the Mariposa Wars intended to suppress Native American resistance, United States Army Major Jim Savage led the Mariposa Battalion into the west end of Yosemite Valley. He was pursuing forces of around 200 Ahwahneechee led by Chief Tenaya.
Accounts from this battalion were the first well-documented reports of ethnic Europeans entering Yosemite Valley. Attached to Savage's unit was Dr. Lafayette Bunnell, the company physician, who later wrote about his awestruck impressions of the valley in The Discovery of the Yosemite. Bunnell is credited with naming Yosemite Valley, based on his interviews with Chief Tenaya. Bunnell wrote that Chief Tenaya was the founder of the Pai-Ute Colony of Ah-wah-nee. The Miwok, a neighboring tribe, and most white settlers considered the Ahwahneechee to be especially violent because of their frequent territorial disputes. The Miwok term for the Pai-Ute band was yohhe'meti, meaning "they are killers".Correspondence and articles written by members of the battalion helped to popularize the natural wonders of the Yosemite Valley and the surrounding area.
This pre-1923 publication has been converted from its original format for the Kindle and may contain an occasional defect from the original publication or from the conversion.
The California Gold Rush in the mid-19th century dramatically increased travel by European-Americans in the area, causing competition for resources between the regional Paiute and Miwok and the miners and hangers on. In 1851 as part of the Mariposa Wars intended to suppress Native American resistance, United States Army Major Jim Savage led the Mariposa Battalion into the west end of Yosemite Valley. He was pursuing forces of around 200 Ahwahneechee led by Chief Tenaya.
Accounts from this battalion were the first well-documented reports of ethnic Europeans entering Yosemite Valley. Attached to Savage's unit was Dr. Lafayette Bunnell, the company physician, who later wrote about his awestruck impressions of the valley in The Discovery of the Yosemite. Bunnell is credited with naming Yosemite Valley, based on his interviews with Chief Tenaya. Bunnell wrote that Chief Tenaya was the founder of the Pai-Ute Colony of Ah-wah-nee. The Miwok, a neighboring tribe, and most white settlers considered the Ahwahneechee to be especially violent because of their frequent territorial disputes. The Miwok term for the Pai-Ute band was yohhe'meti, meaning "they are killers".Correspondence and articles written by members of the battalion helped to popularize the natural wonders of the Yosemite Valley and the surrounding area.
This pre-1923 publication has been converted from its original format for the Kindle and may contain an occasional defect from the original publication or from the conversion.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 13, 2015
If you want to know how Yosemite came to be what it is, begin with this book, then move on to Muir and others. It's written by the doctor of the first group of white people to enter the Valley - a first-hand account of both the chain of events that went down that spring of 1851 and of Yosemite's Native American population, of which little is known.
October 25, 2024
I found most of the book fascinating as someone who likes to imagine what our National Parks were like before mass tourism.
The author provides a first-hand narrative of Yosemite’s early exploration, the conflicts with native tribes, and stories behind the names of Yosemite’s unique features, along with their proper pronunciations.
I bought the book online but later realized that you can read it for free on the Library of Congress website.
The author provides a first-hand narrative of Yosemite’s early exploration, the conflicts with native tribes, and stories behind the names of Yosemite’s unique features, along with their proper pronunciations.
I bought the book online but later realized that you can read it for free on the Library of Congress website.
February 11, 2022
Yosemite
This offers insight into the awe felt by white settlers upon first explorations of Yosemite. First gathered as a posse out searching for a tribe of Native Americans that were to be removed to a reservation, these white men very nearly forgot their mission when surrounded by the unique beauty of Yosemite.
This offers insight into the awe felt by white settlers upon first explorations of Yosemite. First gathered as a posse out searching for a tribe of Native Americans that were to be removed to a reservation, these white men very nearly forgot their mission when surrounded by the unique beauty of Yosemite.
March 3, 2022
Clearly written over a century ago. However, the narrative that he presents is captivating and makes for a good read, especially considering the descriptions he offers of seeing the Yosemite Valley for the first time.
April 26, 2016
A very useful historical view of the CA situation in 1851. This is a great source of info for researchers and authors. And it is written by one of the main actors in the drama that occurred when white miners invaded the Mountain tribes areas in California.
The narrative exposes cultural conditions that thankfully are less common in today's world . The book may be shocking to many readers because of what was considered normal in those days of Old.
For example, the Indians stole livestock from the miners and settlers instead of working. When the militia defeated a rancheria or village they found large amounts of smoked meat and jerky stored there. All of this stored meat was made of stolen horses and mules.
The white miners were just as greedy and unjust as these incidents of Indian reprisal againsts invaders to their lands. I enjoyed most of the narrative except for periods of argument about what date something was discovered or who was the first to accomplish this or that. Good source of historical information.
The narrative exposes cultural conditions that thankfully are less common in today's world . The book may be shocking to many readers because of what was considered normal in those days of Old.
For example, the Indians stole livestock from the miners and settlers instead of working. When the militia defeated a rancheria or village they found large amounts of smoked meat and jerky stored there. All of this stored meat was made of stolen horses and mules.
The white miners were just as greedy and unjust as these incidents of Indian reprisal againsts invaders to their lands. I enjoyed most of the narrative except for periods of argument about what date something was discovered or who was the first to accomplish this or that. Good source of historical information.
December 29, 2021
Fascinating. The first 1/3 to 1/2 was super interesting. Then my interest flagged about 2/3 way through. I put the book down for awhile...
BUT after a recent visit to Yosemite I became fascinated all over again.
If someone with no editorial point of view would edit his book and then re-issue it, it would be a five-star book. Dr. Bunnell's observations, curiosity, detail, insight, conclusions, and records of the very earliest American explorations and settlements in California is an invaluable contribution to our country's history.
Yosemite is truly the jewel of the USA National Park system. This book marvelously documents its discovery.
BUT after a recent visit to Yosemite I became fascinated all over again.
If someone with no editorial point of view would edit his book and then re-issue it, it would be a five-star book. Dr. Bunnell's observations, curiosity, detail, insight, conclusions, and records of the very earliest American explorations and settlements in California is an invaluable contribution to our country's history.
Yosemite is truly the jewel of the USA National Park system. This book marvelously documents its discovery.
November 18, 2017
An interesting read covering the Indian War of 1851, as well as the first entry of Westerners into Yosemite, the naming of the various sites in Yosemite, the Sequoia and description of both the area and the natives. Although very comprehensive and striking me as balanced, the writing style can be tedious.
January 6, 2024
Unique source witnesses Yosemite. A bit difficult to read for Native Americans, aka "savages," etc. Wildlife also fares poorly. An honest account. Names names.
Author divides chapters into themes including glaciation, geologic theories of the day and flora.
Author divides chapters into themes including glaciation, geologic theories of the day and flora.
May 28, 2016
Interesting
Gives insight to how people viewed other races, economic privilege and westward expansion in the mid 19th century upsetting but accurate.
Gives insight to how people viewed other races, economic privilege and westward expansion in the mid 19th century upsetting but accurate.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews