WRIGHT TAKES OVER
In January 1856 Col. George Wright was assigned to command the Columbia River district. Wright's orders were to establish headquarters at The Dalles and assemble all troops which were needed to fight in the Yakima war; set up a posts at Walla Walla, on the Yakima River and midway between The Dalles and Yakima River posts. Starting in early March Wright began to move his troops to The Dalles.
By late April Wright's forces were camped about 25 miles east of The Dalles. By May 6 the command found an Indian camp seven miles north of the Ahtanum Mission. Seeing only a few Indians the camp was attacked and the prairie burned. The next day the troops overtook a party of Yakimas under Chief Skloom. The chief made no promises of peace without first consulting Kamiakin.
Wright waited all day on the 8th and on the morning of the 9th moved north. While this was taking place various Indian chiefs were holding their own council and with the exception of Chiefs Skloom and Showwawy all wanted war. When Wright heard of this he sent a messenger, on the 11th, to Lt. Col. Edward Steptoe asking for the joining of both forces on the Columbia River.
On May 27 Wright 's and Steptoe's forces were combined giving and effective combat strength of about 500 soldiers. Five days later, leaving Steptoe in command of the fortifications on the Natches River Wright marched about 200 miles gathering a number of Indian women and children and sending them to a reservation in Oregon.
Units of Washington volunteers, under Col. B F Shaw, crossed the Cascade Mountains to join Wright's forces on the Natches. Wright declined this offer and Shaw marched to the Walla Walla valley to join forces with the Oregon Rangers under Maj. Davis Layton. On July 17 Shaw's volunteers attacked a large force of Indians in Grand Ronde country. The outcome was that the Indians were defeated, their food supply was destroyed and many horses and some ammunition was captured. Forces under Layton operated in the Snake River area attacking small bands of Indians where ever they were found.
In August Oregon volunteers ended their service and the next month Washington volunteers ended theirs; this marked the end of active participation of volunteers in this war. During this time Wright notified Gov. Stevens that troops under Lt. Col. Steptoe would be sent to occupy the Walla Walla Country.
By November 20 Wright had established Ft. Walla Walla with Steptoe in charge. Wright also strengthened the defenses of The Dalles, re-distributed his forces and spent a quiet winter without troubles from the Indians.
The actions of Wright, Shaw, Layton and others gradually deprived the Indians of their means of livelihood. This they did by taking of their horses which minimized the chances of hostile action by horseback.
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