December 6, 1855 (Thursday):

A deserted Walla Walla Village

1: Colonel James Kelly Official Report: “On the 6th we marched to the village and found it entirely deserted, but saw the Indians in considerable force on the distant hills and watching our movements. I sent out a messenger to induce them to come in, but could not do so. And I will here observe that I have since learned from a Nez Perce boy who was taken at the same time with Peo-peu-mox-mox, that instead of sending word to his people to make a treaty of peace, he sent an order for them to remove their women and children and prepare for battle. From all I have since learned, I am well persuaded that he was setting with duplicity, and that he expected to entrap my command in the deep ravine in which his camp was situated, and make his escape from us. We remained at the deserted village until about 1 o’clock PM in the afternoon; and seeing no hope of coming to any terms, we proceeded to the mouth of the Touchet (River) with a view of going from thence to some spot near Whitman’s station, where I had intended to form a permanent camp for the winter.”

2: Colonel James Kelly Official Report: “On the morning of the 6th December, I went up with my command to the Indian village, and found it entirely deserted, and everything removed. The removal had been made during the night, as appeared by the rain and snow that had fallen late in the evening. None of the Indians could be seen except those who were on the distant hills, armed and watching our movements. A flag of truce was passed several times between us, and every effort was made to induce the Indians to conform to the terms of the treaty proposed by their chieftain. All, however, was unavailing. After waiting until about two (2) o’clock PM and seeing no hope of coming to any terms, I marched down to the mouth of the Touchet (River), where Major Chinn had encamped, taking Piu-piu-mox-mox and his five (5) remaining companions with me. That night one of these men attempted to escape, but after running about one hundred yards he fell, was seized, and brought back. To secure them, I ordered all to be tied.”

7: Assistant Surgeon J. R. Bates Official Report: “The next morning (December 6, 1855) we started up the river to the Indian camp, where Pee-Pee-Mox-Mox said his people would remain until he would come. But upon reaching camp, we found the Indians had left camp with all their stock. Quite a number of Indians were on the hills near by, but would not talk. Colonel Kelly sent a messenger to them, with a white flag, and requested them to bring it in, if they did not wish to fight. They would not do it, but showed signs of fight. The same message was sent to them repeatedly, but no satisfaction. We then started to the mouth of the Touchet to meet Major Chinn’s division, a number of Indians following some distance behind. We reached camp just at dark, where we remained over night. During which time one of the prisoners tried to make his escape but was caught and tied.”

8: Captain Alfred V. Wilson (Company A) Official Report: “On the morning of the 6th (December 6, 1855), he (Colonel Kelly) sent one of his (Peupeumoxmox’s) men out to bring in the other Indians that they might settle the difficulties. He returned not. We then moved up the river to his second encampment. On approaching it, the Indians withdrew to the adjoining hills. Another messenger was sent out to them requesting them to come in. They again refused. Entreaties were in vain. The command then marched down to the mouth of the Touchet River to join Major Chinn. Here one of the prisoners attempted to escape, when they were all secured for the night.”

4: Captain A. V. Wilson (Company A) Account: “The next morning, the 6th, according to agreement, we repaired to the Indian camp and found it deserted. The Indians were on the hills near by, and no persuasion could induce them to come in and enter into peaceful arrangements. Retaining Pee-Peu-Mox-Mox and his men as hostages, the command returned to the general encampment at the mouth of the Touchet River, fifteen (15) miles distant, where the Indian hostages attempted to escape.”

6: Lieutenant Charles B. Pillow (Company A) Official Report: “The next morning (December 6, 1855) the chief Pee-pee-mox-mox, wished to send one of his men to his camp above to tell his people that he was safe and not to move camp; that he was coming up with the Bostons, and to have a beef killed for them. The Indian was permitted to go, and in a short time, probably one hour, after the Indian departed, the command moved. On arrival of the command at Pee-pee-mox-mox’s camp they found it vacated, and that in great haste. Their fires were still burning, some of their lodges still standing, as well as some of their horses. A few Indians were to be seen on the hills. The white flag was sent out to them time and time again for them to come in and have a talk, but to no avail. The men all this time, though, suffering from hunger, having nothing to eat for the past sixty hours, were quiet and orderly, and the time passed on till near evening, when Lieutenant Colonel Kelly, finding that he could not accomplish anything, resolved to return to his camp on the Touchet. The command then moved taking Mox-mox along with his companions, and arrived in camp about two hours after dark. A supper was prepared for the chief and his comrades, the best the camp afforded, and all was quiet. About 10 o’clock PM an alarm was given by the guard that the prisoners were escaping. The men were up in arms in a moment, and although the night was dark he was re-captured, and then was confined for the first time by having their hands and feet tied.”

37: Sergeant A. B. Roberts (Company A) Account: “As daylight came…the same Indians were hovering about us and our messenger had not returned to report and never did…the old warrior was still hallowing (for someone to come to him).” Continued below…

“At an early hour we moved up the river. We went by the route of the previous evening to the bluff and very cautiously descended that trail leading down into the valley of the Touchet (River) and there many officers and men went and examined the evidence of what we were cautioned by Nathan Olney.” Continued below…

“We found at the edge of the big timber surrounding one side of the valley was a very dense growth of berries or tall rose bushes and wild currant of from 6 to 8 feet in height, and immediately behind this strip or border was a space of several feet, from 3 to 10, which was flattened or trampled down, and the tracks and other evidence having been concealed behind this border or shield at least 1000 warriors ready to (attack) us.” Continued below…

“Passing out by a narrow trail between the timber and the rock bluff, we came into a wide and more open valley and a mile farther on we came to the camp of (Peopeomoxmox). This was a camp of desolation. Lodge poles and camp fires under which much valuable plunder was cashed, buried or hidden, was all that was left. Horses and cattle had moved out across the plains towards the upper valley of the Walla Walla during the night, making a trail as they went of about ¾ mile wide. We waited…until late in the afternoon when we started across the plains and soon joined Major Chinn at the appointed place at the crossing of the Touchet (River).” Continued below…

“Our officers counseled during the night and it was decided that as the Indians would neither talk or fight, we would on the next day move up into the valley and secure a place and go into winter quarters.”

41, 45: Corporal Amos Underwood (Company B) Account: “When we got up in the morning there was about three inches of snow on the ground and our horses were standing by our sides shivering. We had to build fires in the sage brush to take the kinks out of our blankets and ropes before we could saddle them.” Continued below…

“It was a fine sun shining morning. Some of the company went to the canon (canyon) and crossed the creek (Touchet River), where they found nests in the brush where the Indians had hidden. We started on our march; instead of following the trail through the (canyon), we went around the bluff. We found tons of rock piled upon the bluff ready to be rolled down upon us if we had followed the trial. If we had strung out on that narrow trail for a distance of tow or three miles with no chance to turn back or go forward when attacked, the Indians would have had us completely at their mercy. If we had jumped off and taken to the brush, the brush was alive with Indians ready for us.” Continued below…

“In the first excitement the Chief and his men would have jumped off and run to some place of safety understood by them. I do not believe we could have killed one Indian nor saved a man of our command.” Continued below…

“We went three or four miles around and came to the Indian camp on the creek (Touchet River) above the canyon. There were about the same number of huts and about the same number of fires, but no beef and no Indians, except on the tops of the high points about. Some of the boys from The Dalles could beat the Indians at their own game. Taking a shovel they dug the fire away, then dug down a foot or two and found a cache under every one of the fires, brass kettles and all kinds of utensils and clothing; wheat, peas, camas, couse and all kinds of Indian grub. We fed our horses, ate all we wanted, took what we wanted and threw the rest into the fires and burned it.” Continued below…

“We then started southeast and traveled all day. Indians could be seen on all sides on high points. Some of the company would occasionally try and get a shot, but the old muzzle loaders could not reach them. We reached the Walla Walla road about dark, and could not see that the train had not got that far, so we took the back track. In about an hour’s travel, we found the train, camped on a small stream (Touchet River), and all well. We could smell supper and were not long in getting alongside. The camp was about 500 yards long.” Continued below…

“When bedtime came, I, Corporal Amos Underwood, Company B, was called to take charge of the prisoners. We had six Indians and I had six men, one for each prisoner. Of the guard I can only remember the names of Warren Keith, (Company B), Sam Warfield, (Company H), and Doctor Bates. When we put the Indians to bed, one big Indian, who said his name was Champoeg Jim, complained that there was a stick under him, and he raised up on his hands and knees and asked Bates to remove the stick. As Bates stooped to get the stick, the Indian jumped out by his side and ran, Bates after him. Some of the others started to help Bates and at the same time all the other prisoners tried to make a break. I, (Amos Underwood), jumped out and told the boys to each hold his man. Old man (Private Warren) Keith shoved the muzzle of his gun against the breast of the Chief pushed him over and held him to the ground. The others each did the same with their prisoners; Doc Bates ran his man about 100 yards and caught him. As luck would have it, Bates was the swiftest man for 100 or 200 yards in the whole regiment. All hands turned out and tied the prisoners hand and foot.”

43: ‘55ER (Company F) Account: “The Indians (the prisoners) were brought to our camp on the Touchet, on the evening of the 6th day of December, 1855.”

9: Captain Davis Layton (Company H) Official Report: “On the morning of the 6th (December 6, 1855), he (Colonel Kelly) sent one of his (Peupeumoxmox) men out to bring in the other Indians that they might settle the difficulties. He returned not. We then moved up the river to his second encampment. On approaching it, the Indians withdrew to the adjoining hills. Another messenger was sent out to them requesting them to come in. They again refused. Entreaties were in vain. The command then marched down to the mouth of the Touchet River to join Major Chinn. Here one of the prisoners attempted to escape, when they were all secured for the night.”

33: Sergeant William G. Haley (Company H) Account: “We took the chief and six (6) others prisoner and carried them to camp at the mouth of the Touchet.”

3: Private George Washington Miller (Company H) Account: “Next morning another Indian was captured which took the place of the messenger who failed to return the evening before, and the son of Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox was permitted to come into camp and talk with his father. When the two met, the old chief said he wanted his people to come in and make a treaty of peace, but his son said they were waiting for Five Crows to come back before deciding what to do. This proves another fact related by the your Nez Perce prisoner in his narrative to Colonel Kelly after the battle, when he said Peu-Peu Mox-Mox had sent all his available force of warriors, under command of Five Crows, 60 miles distant to accomplish feat of prowess over Major Chinn’s command at Fort Henrietta. No doubt but the most absorbing thoughts of his mind were that Five Crows would obliterate the little band of volunteers and the soil of Umatilla drink up their blood as it would a shower of rain.” Continued below…

“When the volunteers were ready to start to the Indian camp, his whole purpose was delay, he knew that every moment he could delay Colonel Kelly’s movements, brought Five Crows that much nearer his relief. He was anxious to delay, saying his people needed time to prepare and cook for so many soldiers, and he wanted it ready for them to eat, on their arrival at his village. Thus he delayed our movements until nearly noon, when the volunteers made a forward march toward the Indian camp, with a vague hope of having a sumptuous feast on their arrival there. But note their consternation at finding the camp deserted, and only a few Indians to be seen on the surrounding hills, to watch the movements of the volunteers.” Continued below…

“This was an exact violation of the treaty of peace, concluded between him and Colonel Kelly on the preceding day, and you will note that every act of his from the time he signed the treaty with Isaac I. Stevens, governor of the Territory of Washington, until the day he fell by the hands of his vigilant guard, showed treachery on his part, and had he been dealt with according to the laws of the nations his life would have paid the forfeit.” Continued below…

“The command being overcome with hunger, and knowing they could not get a bite to eat until they reached Major Chinn’s camp at the mouth of the Touchet River, were soon on the march to that place arriving there soon after the dusky hues of night had settled down around them. That night one of the prisoner’s, a large Indian by the name of Wolf Skin, who was very talkative, tried to make his escape by running, but his guard at the time being the fleetest runner in the command, overhauled his prisoner in 100 yards distant and brought him back to camp. After this the prisoners were all tied until morning.”

35: Private George Hunter (Company I) Account: “(This morning) on gaining the top of a bluff we could see that there were no Indians in the canyon; so we proceeded to examine it. It was evident that Olney was correct in his surmises, for everything indicated that a large body of Indians had been there in waiting for us during the night.” Continued below…

“The command moved up, and after passing through the canyon we came to the recent camp of the Indians… There were hundreds of lodge poles standing from the rush mating, skins and other articles then used by the Indians to enclose their wick-i-ups had just been hastily stripped, their fires were still burning and there were hundreds of the warriors to be seen scattered around the adjacent hills. Here we stopped for some time, as the Indians made us know that they wanted to speak with us and their chief. They came up a few at a time under flags of truce, talking with Olney, Kelly and their chief, and finally told us that if we would go back to the mouth of the Touchet, and thence up the Walla Walla (River Valley) to Whitman’s Station, they would come in and make a treaty, for they didn’t want to fight us. So we returned to the supply train (at the mouth of the Touchet River).”

17: Captain Narcisse Cornoyer (Company K) Account: “The dangerous canyon was passed and the village was reached, but no signs of a prepared breakfast, or friendly reception. The hungry, disgusted, disappointed command halted around the smoldering fires of this deserted village, and knew that the timer had passed for parleying. On the surrounding hills stragglers could be seen watching, but every effort to induce them to come in failed.” Continued below…

“A son of Peu-peu-mox-mox, with two others, came to within shouting distance and demanded to see the prisoner. Captain Cornoyer, with John McBean and one other, went out to talk with them, and they seemed to fear that the chief had been killed. They were assured that such was not the case, and finally the son was induced to accompany Captain Cornoyer into camp after exacting a pledge that he should not be harmed and should be permitted top leave when he chose.” Continued below…

“When the two met, the old chief said to his son that he wished his people to come in and make a treaty of peace. He was told that they were waiting the arrival of Five Crows, chief of the Cayuses, before deciding what to do, but Peu-peu-mox-mox said go tell them to make peace. The young Indian went away saying he would do as his father wished, but nothing further was heard from him or the Walla Wallas, that indicated an intention to do as the old warrior had requested.”

Detachment from Major Chinn’s camp to assist Colonel Kelly’s command

5: Private Plympton Kelly (Company A) Account: “A very disagreeable morning (December 6, 1855). We started early for Colonel Kelly’s command. We traveled over a very broken country, past three (3) old Indian encampments. About 1 o’clock PM we came with Colonel Kelly’s command at an Indian encampment where they were engaged in a council with Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox. The terms of peace offered him by Colonel Kelly is that he give up his arms, ammunition and stock that he is not likely to comply with if he were at liberty for himself and five (5) of his warriors are prisoners. His warriors are on the hill around us but refuse to come in and surrender their arms. We started for our camp about 3 o’clock PM. We took a much shorter way to camp than that by which we came. The country through which we returned is covered with a fine growth of bunch grass. We got to camp after dark. After going to bed, one of the prisoners tried to get away by springing out of bed but was caught by the guard after which they were all tied.”

KELLY’S MARCH TO THE WALLA WALLA CAMP AND BACK DOWN THE TOUCHET RIVER

Going to the Indian camp:

7: Assistant Surgeon J. R. Bates Official Report: “The next morning (December 6, 1855) we started up the river to the Indian camp, where Pee-Pee-Mox-Mox said his people would remain until he would come.”;

8: Captain Alfred V. Wilson (Company A) Official Report: “On the morning of the 6th (December 6, 1855), he (Colonel Kelly) sent one of his (Peupeumoxmox’s) men out to bring in the other Indians that they might settle the difficulties. He returned not. We then moved up the river to his second encampment. On approaching it, the Indians withdrew…;

37: Sergeant A. B. Roberts (Company A) Account: “At an early hour we moved up the river. We went by the route of the previous evening to the bluff and very cautiously descended that trail leading down into the valley of the Touchet (River) and there many officers and men went and examined the evidence of what we were cautioned by Nathan Olney.” Continued below…

“We found at the edge of the big timber surrounding one side of the valley was a very dense growth of berries or tall rose bushes and wild currant of from 6 to 8 feet in height, and immediately behind this strip or border was a space of several feet, from 3 to 10, which was flattened or trampled down, and the tracks and other evidence having been concealed behind this border or shield at least 1000 warriors ready to (attack) us.” Continued below…

“Passing out by a narrow trail between the timber and the rock bluff, we came into a wide and more open valley and a mile farther on we came to the camp of (Peopeomoxmox). This was a camp of desolation…”;

9: Captain Davis Layton (Company H) Official Report: “On the morning of the 6th (December 6, 1855), he (Colonel Kelly) sent one of his (Peupeumoxmox) men out to bring in the other Indians that they might settle the difficulties. He returned not. We then moved up the river to his second encampment. On approaching it…”;

35: Private George Hunter (Company I) Account: “(This morning) on gaining the top of a bluff we could see that there were no Indians in the canyon; so we proceeded to examine it. It was evident that Olney was correct in his surmises, for everything indicated that a large body of Indians had been there in waiting for us during the night.” Continued below…

“The command moved up, and after passing through the canyon we came to the recent camp of the Indians…”;

17: Captain Narcisse Cornoyer (Company K) Account: “The dangerous canyon was passed and the village was reached…”;

3: Private George Washington Miller (Company H) Account: “When the volunteers were ready to start to the Indian camp, his whole purpose was delay… Thus he delayed our movements until nearly noon, when the volunteers made a forward march toward the Indian camp,

Kelly’s march back to Major Chinn’s camp:

1: Colonel James Kelly Official Report: “We remained at the deserted village until about 1 o’clock PM in the afternoon; and seeing no hope of coming to any terms, we proceeded to the mouth of the Touchet (River) with a view…”;

2: Colonel James Kelly Official Report: “After waiting until about two (2) o’clock PM and seeing no hope of coming to any terms, I marched down to the mouth of the Touchet (River), where Major Chinn had encamped…”;

7: Assistant Surgeon J. R. Bates Official Report: “We then started to the mouth of the Touchet to meet Major Chinn’s division, a number of Indians following some distance behind. We reached camp just at dark, where we remained over night.”;

8: Captain Alfred V. Wilson (Company A) Official Report: “The command then marched down to the mouth of the Touchet River to join Major Chinn.”;

4: Captain A. V. Wilson (Company A) Account: “Retaining Pee-Peu-Mox-Mox and his men as hostages, the command returned to the general encampment at the mouth of the Touchet River, fifteen (15) miles distant, where the Indian hostages attempted to escape.”

6: Lieutenant Charles B. Pillow (Company A) Official Report: “The command then moved taking Mox-mox along with his companions, and arrived in camp about two hours after dark.”;

37: Sergeant A. B. Roberts (Company A) Account: “We waited…until late in the afternoon when we started across the plains and soon joined Major Chinn at the appointed place at the crossing of the Touchet (River).”;

9: Captain Davis Layton (Company H) Official Report: “The command then marched down to the mouth of the Touchet River to join Major Chinn.”;

3: Private George Washington Miller (Company H) Account: “The command being overcome with hunger, and knowing they could not get a bite to eat until they reached Major Chinn’s camp at the mouth of the Touchet River, were soon on the march to that place arriving there soon after the dusky hues of night had settled down around them.”;

In reviewing the Muster Rolls for the 1st Regiment Oregon Mounted Volunteers, the spellings of certain participants may have been spelled wrong in the above narratives.

ABOVE NARRATIVES	MUSTER ROLLS	CORRECT NAME
Narcisse Cornoyer (Co. K)	Narcipe Connoyer

DOCUMENTS USED

The Oregonian, January 5, 1856, “Official Report of Col. Kelly Of The Battle Between The Oregon Mounted Volunteers And The Indians” from Fort Bennett, December 14, 1855, To Wm. H. Farrar, (Adjutant 1st Regt. O. V.) from Lieut. Col. James K. Kelly (December 14, 1855: Kelly to Farrar: Official Report);

#906 HED 3rd Sess., 34th Cong., Vol. 9, Ex. Doc. #76, Indian Affairs On the Pacific, 1856-1857: (Report of Battle of Walla Walla) To George L. Curry (Governor of Oregon) from Lieut. Col. James K. Kelly, January 15, 1856, page 198-201 (January 15, 1856: Kelly to Curry: Official Report);

Walla Walla Daily Union, December 7 and 8, 1905, and Tacoma Tribune, October 28, 1892: an account by Private George Washington Miller, Company H (Linn County, 1st Reg. Oregon Mounted Volunteers);

The Weekly Oregonian, December 29, 1855 “Particulars of the Fight at Walla Walla” from Fort Bennett, December 14, 1855, To T. J. Dryer from Unknown (Captain A. V. Wilson, Company A, a daily account) (December 14, 1855: Wilson to Dryer);

“We Were Not Just Summer Soldiers” a daily account (in diary form) by Plympton Kelly, Oregon Mounted Volunteers, Company A; (Plympton Kelly Daily Diary);

#906 HED 3rd Sess., 34th Cong., Vol. 9, Ex. Doc. #76, Indian Affairs On the Pacific, 1856-1857: (Report of Battle of Walla Walla) To W. H. Farrar (Adjutant First Regiment Oregon Mounted Volunteers) from Charles B. Pillow (2nd Lieut., Company A, First Regiment, O.M.V), June 18, 1856, page 201-203 (June 18, 1856: Pillow to Farrar: Official Report);

#906 HED 3rd Sess., 34th Cong., Vol. 9, Ex. Doc. #76, Indian Affairs On the Pacific, 1856-1857: (Report of Battle of Walla Walla) To W. H. Farrar (Adjutant First Regiment Oregon Mounted Volunteers) from J. R. Bates (Assistant Surgeon First Regiment Oregon Mounted Volunteers), June 19, 1856, page 196-198 (June 19, 1856: Bates to Farrar: Official Report);

#906 HED 3rd Sess., 34th Cong., Vol. 9, Ex. Doc. #76, Indian Affairs On the Pacific, 1856-1857: (Report of Battle of Walla Walla) To W. H. Farrar (Adjutant First Regiment Oregon Mounted Volunteers) from H. V. Wilson (Captain, Company A, First Regiment, O.M.V), June 15, 1856, page 203-204 (June 15, 1856: Wilson to Farrar: Official Report);

#906 HED 3rd Sess., 34th Cong., Vol. 9, Ex. Doc. #76, Indian Affairs On the Pacific, 1856-1857: (Report of Battle of Walla Walla) To W. H. Farrar (Adjutant First Regiment Oregon Mounted Volunteers) from Davis Layton (Captain, Company H, First Regiment, O.M.V.), June 18, 1856, page 204-206 (June 18, 1856: Layton to Farrar: Official Report);

Data 8 and 9 are almost identical reports!

17. “Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman and Garfield Counties” by Frank Gilbert, 1882 (Includes some first hand accounts as told by battle participants);

The Oregon Statesman, January 1, 1856: December 15, 1855 letter, W. G. H. (1st Sergeant William G. Haley, Company H, Linn County) to Bush (Editor of the Oregon Statesman);

“Reminiscences of an Old Timer” by George Hunter, Company I (Benton County), First Regiment, Oregon Mounted Volunteers, 1887 (FHA);

“The Yakima War of 1855: The Campaign to Walla Walla: The Capture of the Most Noted War Chief of the Pacific Coast” by (Sergeant) Alvin Brown (A. B.) Roberts (Oregon Mounted Volunteers, Company A, Multnomah County), Clark County History, 1967, (FHA);

“The Slaying of Pio-Pio-Mox-Mox (Corporal Amos Underwood’s (Company B) Account” by J. F. Santee, Washington Historical Quarterly, 1934, (FHA);

“The Cayuse War” by ‘55ER (Company F), The Morning Oregonian, March 1, 1897 (Also 23-B) (FHA);

“Mr. Amos Underwood’s Story of the Capture and Death of Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox” by Amos Underwood (Company B), Ladd and Bush Quarterly, 1914, pgs. 4-7 (Corporal Amos Underwood, Company B, Account (FHA);