The Battle of Steptoe Butte, a relatively obscure yet pivotal encounter, marks a significant turning point in the history of the Inland Northwest, specifically concerning the encroachment and eventual dominance of white settlers. This clash stands out as a rare instance within Washington Territory where the United States Army engaged in a direct, conventional battle against a coalition of Native American warriors. The Battle of Steptoe Butte offers a stark glimpse into the escalating tensions and the brutal realities of westward expansion during the mid-19th century.
The events that unfolded on May 17, 1858, painted a grim picture for Lieutenant Colonel Edward Steptoe and his contingent of soldiers. Facing dwindling ammunition reserves after a grueling day of combat against a formidable force of Native American warriors drawn from numerous tribes, their situation was dire. The warriors, defending their ancestral lands, relentlessly pressed their advantage.
However, the veil of darkness offered Steptoe and his men a reprieve. Under the cover of night, they managed a daring escape, bringing an end to a battle that, though a tactical defeat for the U.S. Army, ultimately paved the way for the forceful subjugation of the Native American tribes inhabiting the Inland Northwest. The Battle of Steptoe Butte remains a testament to the resilience and resistance of these tribes in the face of overwhelming odds.
While Steptoe faced criticism and even scorn during his lifetime for his perceived failure at the Battle of Steptoe Butte, historical perspective offers a more nuanced understanding. It is argued that his military acumen and strategic decisions were instrumental in preventing a complete annihilation of his command, a fate that befell Custer’s 7th Cavalry at the Battle of Little Bighorn eighteen years later.
As historian David Nicandri observed, "It was the classic iconic configuration of the Army fighting the Indians. The Indians won more of these perhaps than might be commonly thought." This highlights the frequency with which Native American forces, often underestimated and outgunned, achieved tactical victories in these conflicts.
Indians refer to it as the Battle of Tohotonimme.
From the perspective of the Native American tribes involved, the battle is often referred to as the Battle of Tohotonimme, emphasizing their connection to the land and their own historical narrative. Frank SiJohn, a member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe and a descendant of Victor, a warrior who perished in the battle, has dedicated himself to preserving the story of the battle within his community. SiJohn emphasizes that the encounter was provoked by Steptoe’s deliberate incursion into tribal territories.
"They scolded him and told him he was not supposed to be there," SiJohn explained, highlighting the Native American perspective that Steptoe’s presence was a violation of their sovereignty.
The Pacific Northwest, in general, experienced relatively limited armed conflict between Native Americans and white settlers compared to other regions of the American West. The Yakama Wars of 1855-58, a series of conflicts that encompassed the Battle of Steptoe Butte, stand out as a notable exception to this trend.
Edward Steptoe, at the time of the battle, was a 43-year-old West Point graduate with a distinguished military record. He had earned accolades and promotions for his bravery during the Mexican War, which concluded twelve years prior.
Interestingly, Steptoe initially held a degree of sympathy for the Native American population, believing that white settlers should be restricted from entering the "great rectangle," a term used to describe the expansive region north of the Snake River and east of the Columbia River. This suggests a complex and perhaps conflicted perspective on the part of Steptoe, torn between his duty to the U.S. government and a sense of fairness towards the indigenous inhabitants.
On May 6, Steptoe, accompanied by 160 members of the 9th Infantry, departed from Fort Walla Walla. Their mission was twofold: to respond to reported tribal unrest in the vicinity of a white settlement and to investigate allegations of white prospectors being killed en route to the Colville area.
Because they did not expect battle, the soldiers carried light weapons and only about 40 rounds of ammunition each.
A critical factor contributing to the U.S. Army’s vulnerability in the Battle of Steptoe Butte was their inadequate preparation for a major engagement. Expecting a relatively peaceful mission of investigation and peacekeeping, the soldiers were equipped with light weapons and a limited supply of ammunition, approximately 40 rounds per man. This lack of preparedness would prove to be a significant disadvantage when they encountered a large and determined force of Native American warriors.
Upon reaching the area that is now the town of Rosalia on May 16, Steptoe and his men were confronted by a formidable assembly of Native American warriors. Steptoe estimated their numbers to be between 800 and 1,000, representing a coalition of tribes including the Spokane, Palouse, Coeur d’Alene, Yakima, and others. For the remainder of the day, the warriors engaged in a campaign of harassment, subjecting the soldiers to "yells, taunts, and menaces," as Steptoe later recounted in his official report.
As dusk approached, the soldiers established a camp. Several chiefs approached Steptoe to inquire about the purpose of his expedition. Steptoe stated that he was en route to Colville with the intention of restoring peace.
However, the chiefs pointed out that the soldiers were significantly off the established trail to Fort Colville. They also refused Steptoe’s request for canoes to facilitate the crossing of the Spokane River. This denial effectively rendered the continuation of the mission impossible, prompting Steptoe to make the decision to retreat back to Fort Walla Walla.
The night that followed was far from restful. The soldiers were kept awake by the relentless sounds of Native American drumming, dancing, and shouting, creating an atmosphere of tension and anticipation.
At daybreak, Steptoe initiated the march back towards the Snake River. The Native American warriors, well-armed and determined to defend their territory, launched a full-scale attack, igniting a day-long battle that raged across the rolling hills of the Palouse region.
Despite being significantly outnumbered and facing a well-armed adversary, Steptoe skillfully maneuvered his troops to higher ground, establishing a defensive position. He selected a strategic location for a last stand, and the soldiers dug in, repelling several determined charges led by the prominent Yakama chief Kamiakin.
The Indians broke off their attacks as darkness fell, not knowing the soldiers were down to about three rounds each.
As darkness descended, the Native American warriors ceased their attacks, unaware that the U.S. soldiers were on the verge of exhaustion and their ammunition reserves were critically low, with only approximately three rounds remaining per soldier.
Steptoe’s surviving officers, recognizing the dire situation, persuaded him to attempt a clandestine escape under the cover of darkness. The soldiers, shedding most of their equipment to lighten their load, stealthily slipped through a gap in the Native American lines and made a desperate gallop southwards.
At dawn, the Native American warriors charged the hill, only to discover that it had been abandoned. The U.S. soldiers had vanished.
The reasons behind the Native American decision to allow Steptoe and his men to escape have been subject to speculation. Some historians suggest that the Native Americans, fearing potential retaliation from the U.S. Army and guided by their Catholic faith, chose to show mercy.
"Outright killing like that is not a good solution," SiJohn stated, reflecting the belief that a more peaceful resolution was preferable.
Steptoe’s battered and exhausted command limped into Fort Walla Walla on May 22, having suffered seven fatalities. Estimates of Native American casualties ranged as high as nine dead and 40 to 50 wounded.
One U.S. soldier, Sergeant Edward Ball, was unaccounted for. Ball had been tasked with maintaining the campfires while the main force executed its escape.
One of his additional responsibilities was to prevent the surgeon’s supply of medicinal whiskey from falling into Native American hands. Ball was so successful in this task that he became intoxicated and passed out in a thicket of bushes sometime during the night of May 18. He awoke to find himself alone and subsequently made his way to Fort Walla Walla. He later became a major in the Union Army and, remarkably, survived the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Steptoe’s defeat at the Battle of Steptoe Butte prompted his superior officer, Colonel George Wright, to lead a well-equipped force of 600 soldiers against the Native American tribes.
On September 1, Wright decisively defeated a large contingent of Spokane, Palouse, and Coeur d’Alene warriors in the vicinity of the Four Lakes area, near present-day Medical Lake. On September 5, Wright secured another victory against the Native American forces at the Battle of Spokane Plains.
Senseless slaughter of 800 indian horses
Wright’s campaign took a brutal turn as he marched towards the Cataldo Mission in Idaho, systematically destroying Native American homes, food supplies, and livestock. The soldiers captured over 800 horses near present-day Liberty Lake and spent two days slaughtering the majority of them in an attempt to demoralize the Native Americans and cripple their ability to wage war.
From the Native American perspective, Wright’s campaign was a "search and destroy" mission aimed at dismantling their way of life, according to SiJohn. The destruction of their winter provisions and the slaughter of their horses, which were essential for hunting and transportation, had devastating consequences for the tribes.
"Wright came up and destroyed everything," SiJohn emphasized, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the campaign and the suffering it inflicted upon the women, children, and elders of the tribes. "That is not an honorable way of fighting war."
A peace meeting was convened on September 22 at Latah Creek near Spokane. During the meeting, Wright ordered the summary execution of Yakama Chief Qualchan and several other Native Americans for their alleged roles in the fighting. This act further solidified the Native American perception of Wright’s campaign as one of retribution and oppression.