The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1907-05-24
STEPT0E BATTLE FIELD
Account of Battle From Pen of
Colonel E. ]. Steptoe.
Plans Laid to Erect Monument on
Historic Site Next Year, the
5Oth Anniversary.

Plans are maturing for the erection OF
a monument on the Steptoe battle field
near Rosalia, the dedicatory services to
take place on the 18th of May next year,
the 5Oth anniversary Of this historic
event. This will be an event Of national
Importance, one that our citizens should
not for a moment lose sight of. AS time
rolls by this will be a mecca for visitors
from all parts of our common country,
one that we should be as proud to show
as our great wheat fields, our abundant
orchards. our rich soils and many beau
tiful homes. Everything connected with
it should be preserved. Below we give
the vivid description of the battle written
by Colonel S eptoe, bearing date Fort
Walla Walla, May %, 1858, few days
after the battle was fought. 1t was di-
rected to Major W. W. Mackall, assist
ant adjutant general, U. s. A., San Fran
cisco. Colonel SteptOe wrote;
Hearing that the hostile Palouses
were near ALpon on We, in the Nez
Perces land, | moved to that point, and
was ferried across Snake river by
Timothy, Nez Perce chief The enemy
fled toward the north, and | followed
leisurely on the road to COlville. On
Sunday morning, May Is, when near the
Tie hOte- nim-ma, in the Spokane country,
we found ourselves suddenly in the pres
ence of 1000 to 1900 Indians of various
tribes-Spokanes, Palouses, Yakimas,
Occur d'Alenes and some Others-all
armed, painted and defiant. l moved
slowly until just about to enter a ravine
that wound along the bases Of several
hills, which were all crowned by the ex-
cited savages.
''Perceiving that it was their purpose
to attack US in this dangerous place |
turned aside and encamped, the whole
wild, frenzied mass moving parallel to
US, and by yells, taunts and menaces
apparently trying to drive US to some
initiatOry act Of violence. Toward night
q number Of chiefs rode up to talk to me,
and inquired what were our motives in
this intrusion upon them. | answered
that we we're passing on to COlville, and
had no hostile intention toward the
Spokanes, who always had been our
friends, nor toward any other tribes who
we're friendly that my chief aim in com
ing 80 far was to see the Indians and the
white people at Colville, and by friendly
discussion with both endeavor to
their good feelings for each
other.
They expressed themselves satisfied,
but would not consent to let me have
canoes, without which it would be i'm
possible to cross the Spokane river. |
concluded, for this reason, to retrace my
steps at once, and the next morning,
May II, turned back toward this post.
"We had not marched three miles
when the Indians, who had gathered on
the hills adjoining the line of march. be-
gan an attack upon the rear guard, and
Immediately the fight became general
We labOred under the great disadvant-
age OF having to defend the pack train
while in motion and in a rolling country
peculiarly favorable to the Indian mode
of warfare. We only had a small guam
tity of ammunition, but in their excite
ment the soldiers could not be restrained
from firing it in the widest manner.
They did, however, under the leading Of
their respective commanders, sustain
well the reputation of the army for some
hours, charging the enemy repeatedly
with gallantry and success.
"The fight continued here with un-
abated activity the Indians occupying
neighboring heights and working them
selves along to pick off our men. The
wounded increased in number continual
ly. Twice the enemy gave unmistak able
evidence of a design to carry our posi-
tion by assault, and their number and
desperate courage caused me to fear the
most serious consequences to us from
such an attempt on their part. 1t was
manifest UHdU Tue iOsS vi Uu6lT OuC6TS
and comrades began to tell upon the
spirit of the soldiers; but they we're be-
coming discouraged and not to be relied
upon with confidence. Some of them
were recruits but recently joined two of
the company had musketoons, which
were utterly worthless in our present
condition; and what was more alarm
ing, only two or three rounds OF cart
ridges remained to some of the men and
but few to any OF them.
"It was plain that the enemy would
give the troops no rest during the night
and they would be still further disquali-
fed for stout resistance on the morrow,
while the number of enemies would GER
tainly be increased. | determined for
these reasons to make forced march to
Snake river, S5 miles distant, and secure
the canoes in advance OF the Indians,
who had already threatened to do the