Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-03-14
THE srEPron FIGHT.
EDITOR TELLER: I have seen

EDITOR TELLER: i nave becu I'll
article, published 10 the Seattle Post
Intelligencer, and taken from the
Palouse Gazette, in regard to the
Steptoe fight. 1t reads thus: Cash
Up" Davis has disposed Of his mercan-
tile business, ono of the Oldest stores in
NE country, to an oakesdals man, and
will devote his time and means towards
fitting up bis butte in an attractive
manner. He expects many visitors the
coming summer. Mr.. Davis has en-
gagged the services Of several old Indian
chiefs to rendezvous the ground and
survey the scene OF the fight. By this
means he hopes to compile a more
accurate account of tho fight than has
ever yet been attempted. The Indians
affirm that several soldiers, some mu'kets
and cannons were buried in various
places, and they think they can point
out the exact spots. Now what l want
to say is that the party or parties that
have informed Mr.. Davis in regard to
the Steptoc battle ground have lied as to
it, locality, and did not know anything
aboutit. l was chief pack master under
Col. E. J. Steptoe, on that expedition,
and will give you true account Of the
whole affair as far rs I recolect, as
follows: The expedition left Walla
Walla on the Bird Of May 1853, the
object Was to establish a military post
near the 49th parallel. The command
consisted Of about 1875 soldiers and
twenty Eve civilians. The officers were
E. J. Step.oe Brevit LieDt, COL, com.
manding; Capt. Charles Winder, Of the
Ninth infantry, aftcrward confederate
general. Lieut.. H. B. Fleming, Of the
same regiment, acting quartermaster,
Capt. 0. II. P. Tayler, Of G troup,
Lieut.. William Castor, commanding
detachment OF E troup, Lieut.. Sregg, Of
H troup, VIM. Fender, lieutenant com
manding G troup, and your humble
self, pack master. CASTOR and Taylor
we're killed in the battle. It was not
anticipated that there would be trouble
and tho cavalry with exceptions Of the
officers, and non commissioned officers
left their sabers, and were armed with
an inferior arm called musket.toon, as
the saying is, you could not hit dock
Of barns, one hundred yards distant,
with one Of them hence wc did not do
much execution, If any. Before Steptoe
started on this expedition he was warned
BY Col. VIM. Craig, and told to 60 well
armed and with plenty OF ammunition
y he would certainly have to Sight the
indians north Of Snake river. Craig
was acting as sub-agent for the Nes
Perces, and, being an old mountaineer,
he knew tho character of the Indians
living in the country that Steptoe iu-
tended to travel through. The sequel
will show that he, Craig, was right.
Our route laid on the old trail leading
!. from Walla Walia to Lewiston. At
the mouth Of Alpowai creek, eight miles
below Lewiston, ws crossed the river,
with the assistance Of the Nee Perces
with their canoes. At this point old
Timothy and Levi, now dead, and an
Indian called Shin to chits. kin Joined
the command as guides. We travelled
down the Snake river to point or
canyon, three miles below the mouth Of
Alpowai. This canyon is called by the
1odians Col lisone-i.ni ma, but by the
whites it is called Steptoe canyon. In
going north We crossed the Palouse at
point Two miles above Palouse City, 90
we'll known by old timers as Palouse
bridge. We passed east Of Steptoo butte
then known as Pyramid butte, I think
about two miles, and on oar retreat, the
same distance west of the butte, if not
more, cannot tell a. We retreated in the
night. This was our nearest approach
to Steptoe butte. In this article it is
not necessary to give the full particulars
of the expedition. l only want to show
the place, or particular ground where
the Steptoe battle occurred, and to prove
that Steptoe was not nearer the butte
than above stated. The point We turned
back from, on the day of the battle, is a
little west Of Spangle. on the S. & P.
r. r. l do not know how far. 1t was
near the line Of the old Mullan road.
which was built afterwards, in 1859.
The evening before the battle, while
going into camp, chief of the Spokanes,
called Po lot kin, told Col. Steptoe that
he must not 60 any further. The
colonel saw at once that be was greatly
out numbered, and to proceed he would
- ae;6no ~. ,,an o.. ~ ....l.ll a.