Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-06-15

of the red men and the council was a
I failure Governor Stevens started down
the river, but another battle must needs
be fought. For a time it looked bad
I for the whites, but at a critical mo
ment Colonel SteptOe, for whom Step
toe Butte was named, came to the res
cue, and carried tae day. This ended
hostilities for a time, but the savage
spirit of restlessness still smouldered in
the hearts of the aborigines.
Resulting from the discovery of gold
in Eastern Washington and the great
influx of settlers to the pleasant wales
of Umatilla, Walla Walla and the Pa.
lOuse, conditions soon arose precipitat
ing the third Indian war of 1858.
/ Three campaigns marked this strug-
gle. Colonel SteptOe was ordered to g
with 200 dragons to the Spokane
region, and conquer the Indians gather
ing there. Their mission migat have
been successful had not a quartermas-
ter who had partaken rather freely of
Intoxicating beverages, taken the re-
sponsibility of tightening the load by
leaving out most of the ammunition
The plan worked very well until Step
toe s command came upon a large force
of Spokane, Colville, Okanogans, Occur
d 'Alenes and Pend Orilles.
Steptoe thought best to enter into a
parley before going to battle. The In
dians informed him that if he turned
back he would not be molestel but if
he pressed forward the way would be
disputed at every point. SteptOe turned
back, and the Indians, forgetting their
promise, pressed on in hot pursuit
After n desperate fight in going
through a canyon to Pine creek, near
Rosalia, and at the expense of losing
the rear guard, the weary dragons
reached Steptoe Butte. The hostile
forces, sure Of their prey, waited till
morning BEFORE making an attack, but
Timothy, a Nez Pcrce guide, showed
i the white men trail through rough
canyon, and they escaped mt midnight
Galloping night and day with the In
dams at their rear, the Snake river
was finally reached. Here the cross
ing was guarded by Nez Perces, and
the command reached Fort Walla
Walla. After Steptoes defeat the In
dians felt that they held the country
and were very confident. They were
soon to learn that Major Garnett, in
the Yakima valley, had delivered q
section.
Colonel Wright in command at
Walla Walla, took up the trail covered
by Steptoe, met tne Indians at -Four
Lakes and Spokane Plains and com
| pIetely crushed them. Treaties were
now established and the Indians gath
cred on the reservations.
Campaign Against Joseph
With the country open to settlement
development began IN earnest, aud
settlers rapidly occupied the lands
Until 1877 there were no more Indian
wars, but in that year there broke
ont what is known as the JOSEPH
War Eagle Wing, or IlallakSllakcen
or Joseph, who had represented the
faction Of the Nez Perces opposed tC
entering into treaty with the whites
at the two great Walla Wala conven
tions, maintained the government had
violated a pledge in not giving his
people possession of the Wallowa
courtry-and it is said his contention
was right
However, it must not be inferred
that all of the Nez Perces entered into
this conflict. Lawyer and his faction
remained ever true to the whites. In
7 a fiereely contested battle at White
Bird canyon Joseph defeated detach
mcnt under command of Colonel Per
ry, capturing arms, ammunition and
supplies. General Howard, in command
Of the Department of tne Columbia
now began an elaborate campaign
against Joseph, which was a series of
rapid marches, counter-marches and
hardtought battles. Joseph, realizing
resistance was hopeless, resolved tc
escape into Canada, and began mas
terly retreat Encountered with wo
men and baggage, harassed by the
enemy, and obliged to hunt and forage
for food along the way, his task was
extremely difficult, and showed mark,
cd military skill. Joseph crossed the
Bitter Root mountains by the LolC
trail, preparing to descend the Mis-
i souri,. Cooper, Gibbon and Miles had
been sent up the river to meet him
while Howard only pressed in the
rear. The brave old warrior was Fl
nally captured at Bear Paw mountain
on the Milk river in Montana, after
chase lasting from July 27 to Octo
Der TO- involving march of 1922 miles
on the part of Howard y command, and
even greater for the old chief s. Joseph
and his followers were sent to Okla
homa, but the "Wild Eagle of the Wal
Iowa pleaded so earnestly to return
to his beloved country that permission
was finally granted, but on account OF
the intense feeling of the settlers
against this faction of the Nez Perces
they were transported to the ColvillC
reservation in Northern Washington
where the stalwart leader pined away
and died
Only one other conflict occurred with
the Indians after Joseph S war Thi,
was known as the Baunoek War,
taking place for the greater part il
Umatilla county. Ii was of short dura
ton and resulted in the complete sup
preston of the Indians.
Thus closed the days of the toma
hawk and fircbrand, and the thrilling
cras of terror inspired by the war
whoop, which shall be heard no NOR,
along the vast eXpanses of the Colum
bia river valley.