The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-05-15
GREAT BATTLE
OF EARLY DAYS
PLANS LAID TO ERECT MONU.
MENT ON BATTLEFIELD.
las BELLIGERENT
YAKIMAS
Vivid Description of the Battle BY
:, Colonel Steptoe, Written in
1858,

LHlpNe hlstOFlcdl ASSOCIATION, an
nounces that plans are making to
erect monument on the Indian bat
tlefield near Rosalia, WASH, south
of Spokane, to commemorate the ex-
petition in which Col. E. ]. Steptoe
and five officers and 152 United
States soldiers, First Dragons and
Ninth Infantry, made a stand
against 1920 Occur d'Alene, Pa
louise, Yakima and Spokane Indians
The monument will be unveiled May
II, 1908, the 50th anniversary of the
battle, when it is expected to have
as special guests Major ]. G. Trim
BILE, of Berkeley, CAL, Thomas ].
Beall, Of Julett,a Ida, and Michael
Kenney, of Waitsburg, Wash, sur.
vivors of the engagement, in which
eight soldiers, including Brevet Cap
tain o. H. Taylor and Second Lieu
tenant William CASTOR fell, and
nearly 100 reds were left dead and
woundede on the field.
Describing the operations in his
official report, dated Fort Walla
Walla. Wash. May 90, 1858, to Ma
jor ". ". Mackall, assistant adju-
tsnt general, U. S. A., San Fran
cisco, Colonel Steptoe said:
Hearing that the hostile Palouses
were near Al-pon- on-we, in the Nez
Perces land, moved to that point,
and was ferried across Snake river
BY Timothy, a Nez Perez chief. The
enemy fled toward the north, and
followed leisuely ON the road to Co..
vile. On Sunday morning, May 16.
when near the Te-hote-nim-ma. in
the Spokane country we found our
selves suddenly in the presence of
1000 to 1900 Indians of various
tribes-Spokans, Palouses, Occur
d'Alenes. Yakimas, and some others
all armed, painted and defiant.
moved slowly until just about to
enter ravine that wound along the
bases of several hills, which were all
crowned by the excited savages.
"Perceiving that it was their pur-
pose to attack us in this dangerous
place, l turned aside and encamped,
the whole wild, frenzied mass NOV
ing parallel to us, and by yells,
taunts and menaces, apparently try
ing to drive us to some initiatory act
of violence. Toward night num-
Der of chiefs rode up to talk to me,
and inquired what were our motives
in this intrusion upon them. l an
swered that we were passing on TO
Colville, and had no hostile inten-
ton toward the Spokanes, who al
ways had been our friends, nor to-
ward any other tribes who were
friendly; that my chief aim in CON-
ing so far was to see the Indians
and the white people at Colville, and
by friendly discussion with both
endeavor to strengthen their good
feelings for each other.
"They expressed themselves salts
fed, but would not consent to let me
have canoes. without which it would
be impossible to cross the Spokane
river. l concluded, for this reason,
TO trace my steps at once, and the
next morning. May II, turned back
toward this post.
1--WE had not marched three mi}es
when the Indians, who had gathered
on the hills adjoining the line Of
march, began an attack upon the
rear guard, and Immediately fight
became general. We labored under
the great disadvantage of having TO
defend the pack train while in mo-
ton and in a rolling country pecu-
liarly favorable to the Indian mode
of warfare. We only had a small
quantity of ammunition, but in their
excitement the soldiers could not be
restrained from firing it in the Wild
est manner. They did, however, I'M
der the leading of their respective
commanders, sustain well the repu-
tation of the army for some hours.
charging the enemy repeatedly with
eallantry and success.
"The fight continued here with
undated activity; the Indians oc-
cupying neighboring heights and
working themselves along to pick
off our men. The wounded increased
in number continually. Twice the
enemy gave unmistakable evidence
of design to cary our position by
assault, and their number and des
perate courage caused me to fear
the most serious consequences to us
from such an attempt on their part
II was manifest that the loss OF their