Kamiakin and the Yakima Indian War of 1855

Kamiakin's father was a Palouse Indian and his mother was a Yakima. Before he was born, it was predicted by an Indian shaman that Kamiakin would be a leader for his people, a leader against the whites. As a young man, Kamiakin's father was an outcast from his tribe. He stayed with the Yakamas, where he fell in love with an Indian maiden there. After awhile, they grew impatient with the delays and excuses why they could not get married, so they ran away together to his home near Asotin, Washington. At the end of the first year, Kamiakin was born. They had two more sons, Skloom and Show-a-way. One night, his mother ran away with Kamiakin and Skloom back to her people.

From his father he inherited a love of adventure and travel. He was good friends with Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox, a famous Indian chief of the Walla Wallas and Looking Glass of the Nez Perce. He was as much at ease with his father's people and his mothers. He went on buffalo hunts with the Nez Perce. At an early age, he collected many horses, the symbol of wealth.

His main home was on the upper Ahtanum ridge, later known as the A.D. Eglin ranch in Tampico. Here he planted one of the first gardens of Yakima. He had status since his mother was a princess, daughter of the chief. But also his daring, good judgment, and generosity earned him respect. He married Sal-kow daughter of one of his mother's brothers. The four sons of the chief were weak personalities and did nothing to curb their nephew's popularity. As early as 1840, the Yakamas recognized him as their leader. Their territory was from Naches to Prosser (Tap-tat). Yakamas were away from the main immigrant roads so they were not bothered by them. In fact, they were glad to trade furs for trade goods and they welcomed the missionaries. It was only the settlers they didn't want. There had been prophecies that white people would come and take their land away.

In 1853, Lt. George B. McClellan came to Fort Vancouver to explore the Cascades for the Northern Pacific Railroad to look for a pass. He was under the command of Governor Stevens. Indian runners were sent to the Klickitats and Yakimas to tell them of McClellan's arrival. Kamiakin met the runner at the mission with Father Pandosy. He learned of Steven's intensions to make treaties. He was determined to defeat any treaty Stevens might try to make.

In 1854, Stevens came and talked with Ow-hi, chief of the Upper Yakamas. He told Ow-hi about his desire to buy the land. Ow-hi said he wasn't interested. Stevens told him they'd take it anyway without paying the tribe. Then he threatened to send soldiers to wipe them out of they didn't move. Ow-hi passed this on to the tribes. Kamiakin refused to go down without a fight. He talked to Quil-ten-e-nock and Sulk-talth-scos-um (Moses) and Looking Glass and Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox, all chiefs. They banded all the tribes from British Columbia to the southern boundary of Oregon to resist. A council would be held with representatives from all the tribal councils. The meeting would be in the Grande Ronde valley because it was remote. Also, they hoped to get the Snake tribes to join them. The meeting lasted five days. Only Hal-halt-los-sot, better known as Lawyer, of the Nez Perce, Stic-cas of the Cayuse, and Garry of the Spokanes wanted to sign treaties. The Shoshoni also promised to fight if war was in their territory. Boundaries were established for territories and leaders who had authority in each one. Tribes represented at the council were theYakamas, Klickitats, Wick-rams, So-kulks, Wenatchas, Chelans, Okanogans, Colvilles, Spokane, Coeur D'Alenes, Nez Perce, Cayuse, Warm Springs, Des Chutes, Wasco-pams, and Iy-hes. Kamiakin kept their passions stirred up. But secretly Lawyer was telling the whites of the Indians' plans, hoping to gain advantage for himself.

The Indians arrived on May 24-28, 1855 to meet with Stevens, and Indian Superintendent Palmer of Oregon. Forty dragoons were also on site. The Nez Perce alone brought 2,500 people, including women and chidlren. The Cayuses brought 300, considered the fiercest fighters of all the tribes. They were constantly at war with the Snakes so there were fewer of them. The Yakama and Walla Walla tribes brought about 1,000. The Yakimas knew something was up with such a large showing of Nez Perce.

At first Stevens asked for only two reservations, one in Nez Perce country for the Nez Perce, Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes. The other would be in the Yakima Valley for Yakama, Palouse, and others. While others were deliberating, Lawyer told the whites that the Cayuses were planning to start war and kill all the whites at the conference. There is no evidence this was true but Lawyer needed to get protection for the Nez Perce.

On June 7, they finally got down to busines. Stic-Cas of the Cayuse said he only wanted to be at the Grand Ronde, Touchet, or Tucanon. Everyone else but Lawyer wanted another meeting. But the whites insisted on action now. To pacify them, Stevens offered a third reservation for the Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Cayuse. All were ready to accept except Kamiakin. Finally, on June 9, Kamiakin and Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox signed the treaties. All others signed too.

The Yakamas had to give up 29,000 square miles of Chelan, Yakima, Kittitas, Franklin, Douglas, Klickitat, and Adams counties for the 1,200,000 acres they have today. The Nez Perce gave up Whitman, Garfield, Columbia, Asotin, Union, Wallowa, and Nez Perce counties, but did get a sizeable piece, including part of Wallowa, upon the insistence by old Chief Joseph. It was the surrender of that land in 1863 against the wishes of young Chief Joseph that lead to the Nez Perce War of 1877. The Walla Wallas, Cayuse, and Umatillas lost Walla Walla, Umatilla, Morrow, Union, and Gilliam counties and got the small Umatilla Reservation. Compensation for the Yakamas was $650,000, salaries for head chiefs, and tools, houses, etc. Others were given a similar deal. It was a pittance really. The chiefs were far from happy and agreed to band in war if soldiers were sent in.

Up to this time, travellers through these Indian lands had been largely left alone. After the treaty, murders started happening. A month after the treaty, Kamiakin was ready to go to war to prevent them from settling on their land. Not all the chiefs were unanimous. But they deferred to Kamiakin's decision. They would start war if whites attempted to travel through their land. They sent warriors to Naches and Snoqualmie passes to warn whites about going east. Many miners were going east to the Colville mines, so few obeyed. Kamiakin also talked to Leschi, a chief of the Puget Sound tribes and got them to join them. Almost immediately, a group went out and killed six white men. News spread among the Indians and Qual-chan, the group's leader, became a hero. Two others were killed shortly afterwards. But the killing that started the war was that of Indian agent A.J. Bolon, known as an honest man.

It is not known who killed him or who, but it was generally blamed on Kamiakin or Qual-chan, though neither knew about the murder until after the fact. Bolon had left The Dalles on September 20, 1855 on his way to Ahtanum to talk to Kamiakin about the murders by Qual-chan. He met Kamiakin's brother near Ft. Simcoe, who warned him to go back or he would be killed. Ma-cheil, Kamiakin's nephew, and some friends came upon Bolon. They killed him, supposedly because he knew too much about Qual-chan. Kamiakin's brother was distressed when he heard his own son was responsible. At council, they decided what to do in case of white retaliation. He voted to give them up to the soldiers.

Another contributing factor was the Mormons. A Bannock Indian was sent by them to arm the Yakima tribes against the whites. Many guns and powder balls later found among the Walla Wallas and Cayuse had Mormon brands on them. This arming of them contributed, since the Indians were now armed. Nathan Olney, sub-Indian agent of The Dalles discovered the murder. Major Rains ordered Major Haller at The Dalles to send 84 men to Yakima County with a force sent from Ft. Steilacoom under Lt. Slaughter. Kamiakin had a large force waiting for them of over 300 warriors.

Kamiakin was waiting at the Toppenish river when the soldiers come. A battle started on October 5, 1855. At first the soldiers were winning and had just about cornered them when reinforcements came. At night, the Indians stopped to eat and sleep. The battle with Haller continued, until nightfall, when Haller escaped. About 250 Indians were sent in pursuit. Two Indians were killed and four wounded, one was captured. Haller lost 8 killed, 17 wounded. By this time, the whites got reinforcements. Several mounted companies formed in Oregon and Washington came and by October 30, 1855, Rains had over 350 troops. Then the William Strong company volunteers from Clark County, Washington, and Robert Newel's 35 men from Champoeg, Oregon, were volunteer companies. Another 400 volunteers came from Oregon, commanded by Colonel J. W. Nesmith, for a total of over 700. The Indians had about 300 men.

The battle took place at Union Gap. Kamiakin and several other chiefs were there. Phil Sheridan, later a civil war hero, was on the white man's side. This was the first time the Indians had seen the howitzers and they were sure it was an evil spirit. The battle did not go well for the Indians, though they didn't lose many men. After dark of the second day, they retreated to the other side of the Columbia, near Beverly, White Bluffs, and Priest Rapids. Many old women and men died on the retreat. A rear guard was left to guard their retreat. After withdrawing, the whites destroyed the mission and Kamiakin's house on Ahtanum.

Kamiakin spent that winter at White Bluffs. Qual-chan led about 30 graves, over Naches Pass to the west side to assist Leschi in a battle. Seven were killed and about 20 wounded. Qual-chan convinced them it was hopeless to continue and to retreat to the Yakima Valley. They did so, but lost many old people and children in the harsh winter.

May 1, 1856, Stevens called for a meeting to agree to a treaty. E-ne-as represented the Yakamas and was insulted when whites tried to offer him monetary awards for certan leaders. The Yakamas moved to the northeast corner of the Kittitas valley. They began to stock up supplies for the next battle. During the next opportunity, the Indians advanced toward Colonel Wright's army coming from Fort Simcoe. The Indians began to fight amongst themselves. Ow-hi and others wanted peace. Kamiakin wanted war. Finally Kamiakin left in disgust and went to the Palouse country. Over half the warriors were loyal and went with him. Only about 200 warriors plus the chiefs were left to surrender and not all of them wanted peace. Kamiakin never returned to Yakima country. Since the Priest Rapids Indians were not part of the war, they were allowed to remain in their homeland.

On April 9, 1856, Colonel Cornelius had taken five companies to Satus Creek. While there they heard a large Indian force was seen near The Dalles. They found a large mass that attacked them while basically unprepared. This became known as the Battle of the Satus. Kamiakin was the leader of the Indians. By a miracle, only one white men was killed, and only one killed and three wounded on the Indian side. The whites regrouped at Five Mile Creek near The Dalles. Here Yellow-Wash, a Klickitat, drove off almost all the white's horses. Later Colonel Wright camped on the Naches, several chiefs came to him looking for peace. But Kamiakin refused to join the talks. Governor Stevens was attacked shortly after this, ordered by Kamiakin. The Yakamas threatened the Nez Perce that were fighting with the whites, that they would harm their women and children. Since their camp was nearby, the Nez Perce took the threat seriously.

In 1858, Quil-ten-e-nock, son of chief Ow-hi, decided he was tired of the broken promises and went on the warpath. This was due largely to a perceived loss of several horses. He was killed, shot in the saddle, while three whites ambushed him. Qual-chan, his brother resolved to avenge his death. He led the charge against a group of soldiers who had failed to return the horses. The battle lasted several hours but no one was killed. Meanwhile, Kamiakin was firm about keeping whites out. He met with the Spokanes and Coeur d'Alenes who agreed that any trespassing through their country would be killed. It was the only way they would stay out. He dispatched Til-cosx a noted Palouse horse thief and raider, to steal the army's stock. This raid hastened Steptoe's departure to Colville.

In May 6, he led 136 men to Colville. Kamiakin knew about it. On May 18, while Steptoe withdrew his troops back toward Walla Walla, Kamiakin's forces attacked. Steptoe did not let his troops return the fire unless someone was hit. By the time that actually happened, the force was overwhelmed and many lives were lost. The whites retreated during the night. They had lost about 25, one-fifth of their group. Kamiakin wasn't going to let them retreat, however. Steptoe was attacked again and his incompetence was once more proven to his men. They almost had them all except that at night, the braves wanted to rest. Kamiakin knew if they did this, the whites would sneak off in the night. And this is exactly what happened. Kamiakin was very upset by it.

After hearing of the battle, Colonel Wright marched to Walla Walla to fight the Spokanes, Palouses, and Coeur d'Alenes. He made an alliance with the Nez Perce where they would join the whites in battle, and the whites would furnish them with arms and supplies. It made the Nez Perce the most powerful tribe in the Northwest. In August 1858, Captain Keyes built a fort at the junction of the Tucanon and Snake rivers. From there they supplied a battle that became known as the Battle of Four Lakes. With their howitzers, the whites were able to kill a large number of Indians without sustaining any casualties themselves. Several small skirmishes followed.

Colonel Wright talked with Chief Garry and Chief Po-lat-kin of the Spokanes. Garry was ready to quit but his people weren't. Po-lat-kin surrendered. Big Star also surrendered. That September, Wright's troops went to Lake Coeur d'Alene since that tribe had shown signs of surrendering too. They did, though they were much humiliated. The agreement stated that not only would they leave the whites alone, but the Coeur d'Alenes and Nez Perce must stop warring with each other. They must also return all stolen goods and give up the men that had started the Steptoe battle.

Chief Moses and some other leaders retreated to the Big Bend country near present day Wilbur. But soon they were called upon to join Kamiakin to fight whites near Spokane. Qual-chan was killed; he had been implicated in the murder of the Indian agent Bolon. It was later discovered to be false. His father Ow-hi, a Yakima chief, was also killed while trying to escape his captors. Kamiakin fled to Kootenai, British Columbia, for about a year. Then he moved east of the Rockies and lived with the Crow for two years. Then he came back and started a farm in the Palouse country. He never took any money due him by the treaties. He died about 15 years later and was buried at Nespelem.

In 1859, Congress ratified the treaty of 1855. This opened the area for settlement. Almost immediately, men moved into eastern Washington.

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Last updated: 9/09/01