STEPTOE EXPEDITION
After Gov. Stevens made the treaties with the various Indian tribes white settlers wished to move into Indian territory and have the army subdue any threats by force or show of force. Official army policy was that since the treaties were not ratified they should not be enforced. Commanders of the Department of the Pacific ordered Steptoe to keep the boundary between Ft. Walla Walla and Indian territory closed to all whites. However, some whites acted as if the treaties were ratified.
Members of the Palouse tribe kill two miners headed towards the gold fields around Colville. They also drove away horses and cattle belonging to the whites. Calls for protection, from the miners increased.
May 6, 1858 Steptoe lead 158 troops and about 50 Nez Perce scouts towards Colville with order to arrest those responsible for the murder of the miners. The command brought 2 howitzers and each man had about 40 rounds of ammunition. Rifles were out-dated and short ranged and officers were allowed to leave behind their swords.
Instead of moving directly towards Colville the command took a large detour around the Palouse. While resting on the 15th, at Pine Creek, Steptoe heard of a large number of Indians in front of him. The next day the expedition was blocked by over 600 Indians. The Indians demanded to know what Steptoe was doing.
During the conference Steptoe realized how grave the situation was and the nature of the opposition. The next day they began a fighting retreats with Indians attacking them at every opportunity. When they reached the present town of Rosalia the fought their way to the highest hill. Here officers pleaded for a further retreat. Steptoe, at first, refused by later thought it was the best.
The dead were ordered buried along with the howitzers. Scouts were sent along the escape route and determine how well it was guarded; scouts reported it was clear. Heavy baggage was left in hopes that the sacking of the bags would delay any pursuit.
The retreat started around 10PM and was not noticed by the Indians. Horses, dead men and some wounded (along with anything else that would slow the retreat) were abandoned along the way. The command was helped by Chief Timothy and the Nez Perce as they crossed the Snake River. They arrived at Ft. Walla Walla a few days after their retreat from Rosalia.
The army now suddenly agreed with the settlers that force or at least show of force must be used against the Indians. The army also persuaded the Hudson's Bay Company to stop selling guns and ammunition to the Indians. They also decided that a large force should be used against the Indians.
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