Posey War

Posey War
Part of the Ute Wars, American Indian Wars
A group of Ute and Paiute Native Americans who were involved in the Posey War of 1923. Chief Posey is standing second from left.
Date March 20–23, 1923[1] Location San Juan County, Utah Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Ute Paiute
Commanders and leaders
Charles Mabey	Posey  †
Casualties and losses
none[1]	2 killed[2]

The Posey War was a small, brief conflict with Native Americans in Utah. Though it was a minor conflict, it involved a mass exodus of Ute and Paiute native Americans from their land around Bluff, Utah to the deserts of Navajo Mountain. The natives were led by a chief named Posey, who took his people into the mountains to try to escape his pursuers. Unlike previous conflicts, posses played a major role while the United States Army played a minor one. The war ended after a skirmish at Comb Ridge. Posey was badly wounded and his band was taken to a prisoner-of-war camp in Blanding. When Posey's death was confirmed by the authorities, the prisoners were released and given land allotments to farm and raise livestock.^[3][4] According to the Utah Encyclopedia, "for the Indians it was not a war and never was intended to be such ... a few shots fired as a delaying action, and a very rapid surrender do not justify elevating an exodus to a war."^[5]