December 15, 1855
The volunteers having nothing to do this morning began to fight amongst themselves. Major Chinn having found a clean camping spot ordered the men to mount up and move out. They made camp several miles above at the mouth of Yellowhawk Creek, called Camp Curry after the governor. Another group camped on the right side of Mill Creek, some camped 6 miles up on the westside of Yellowhawk.

Other companies settled at different places, along the creek.

December 16
Stayed in Camp Curry and paraded about. Major Chinn congratulated them on their victory over the Indians. French settlers and 100 or so friendly Cayuse were camped together at the upper Indian camp(perhaps Pashkapu Camp on upper Mill Creek).
Co. K was ordered to protect both French and Indians as they were very afraid of the volunteers who told them to give them food or they'd be shot. Volunteers were told to respect French property, no more stolen caches, hogs, cayuses, or cattle.

December 18
French settlers went back to their farms accompanied by friendly Indians. The volunteers brought in a large herd of cayuses.

December 19
Col. Kelly, a politican was to return for legislature duty. The sick and wounded soldiers headed back to The Dalles. Col. Cornelius was put in command. A H Sales had duty of taking the body of Bennett back to The Dalles for return to Salem.
Food was scarce and much grumbling.

December 20
Gov. Stevens arrived in camp with 50 whites and 100 of his friendly Nez Perce. The Nez Perce boy Billy (who later got killed) had delivered the message to him about the battle.
The volunteers had parade and welcome for Stevens and Nez Perce who had protected Stevens. Nez Perce told Stevens they would help punish those "bad Indians" who had fought for their land.
Stevens told that hostiles were in disarray along the Snake River to mouth of Tucannon, some were on the northside and some on the southside of the Snake and their cattle was scattered about. It was thought 800 warriors were still milling about the country side.

December 21
Cornelius was elected Colonel of Regiment and Capt. Cornoyer succeeded Maj. Chinn.
Still at Camp Curry, clear cold 19 below, 8 inches snow, Wallawalla river frozen 8 inches deep, bitter cold. Horses poorly from freezing cold, lost many. Blazing fires were kept going at all times.
Horses worn out, jaded and starving. Volunteers badly off with scant clothing and poorly armed. Had no shoes, made moccasins, ate bread, frozen beef, cache vegetables of camas, corn and drank river water.
The Indians people were also bad off as they had left their winter caches behind.
December 26
Camps changed occasionally to different spots because of filthy sanitation and need of horse feed. Co. D & E moved their camp to tributary of Wallawalla River, other companies on Mill Creek.

December 31
Olney and his bunch of 40 Dalles Indian thieves brought in 300 cayuses. Friendly Cayuse Indians said they were theirs and Chinn ordered Olney to give them back.

January 1, 1856
Stevens left for The Dalles and the Nez Perce went home. The Nez Perce Indians had suffered little.
Volunteers had to keep blazing fires going at all times to keep from freezing. Herds of Indian cattle brought in to camp and killed as needed. Living on potatoes and lots of prairie chickens.
Volunteers mettling with cayuse ponies again and again they were ordered to leave them alone.

January 2
Pack train from The Dalles came in bringing flour, shirts, pants, tobacco, coffee.

January 6
All companies moved to Mill Creek Camp, all together in one place. They were encamped on Mill Creek above where the Indian trail crosses Mill Creek at the shallow rocky ford going to the Snake River (Lyons Ferry).
Their new camp was on an island 1/2 mile long with plenty of wood and grass. The commissary came up from Camp Curry.
Reports now of the Indians on the north side of Snake River. Brought in wild cayuses.

January 14
Had lots of fun breaking the wild cayuses, a regular rodeo, much to the amusement of the camp. This lasted several days, as it was a good way to pass time and lightened the spirit.

In February
Troops crossed the Snake River and more Indians were killed. The Indians were paying a high price.
Indians and volunteers engaged in several skirmishes that cold miserable winter.

Hostile Indians were active around the valley. 3 different camps of Indians in the area, mostly Cayuse along with some Wallawalla, Umatilla, DesChutes. The hostiles were very much against the Nez Perce for their continual aiding of the white enemy and Lawyer's bunch for reporting Indian camps locations to the soldiers, wanting more harm to come to the fighting hostiles. Of course, the Nez Perce had come out ahead with their big reservation that had been originally for 4 tribes together.
Peupeumoxmox Son and his followers were causing trouble on the Wild Horse Creek and Umatilla River as pay back for the murder of his father. They were running off volunteers horses and cattle.
Indians were roaming about the whole Wallawalla Valley. The Cayuse were under 5 Crows and Weahtenatemany. William Craig was hard on the Cayuse. The Cayuse said they were not tired of fighting for their lands. They were no longer just fighting for their land and running whites out of their valley, but they were holding deep grudges against Stevens, Craig, Volunteers and especially the Nez Perce scouts who had dishonored themselves by their harsh treatment of their fellow Indians. There was little love lost between the Wallawalla, Cayuse and Lawyer's bunch of Nez Perce.

The friendly Cayuse Indians were moved from the upper Indian camp to near the mouth of Tu'shay (Touchet)River. Named Camp Cayuse it was guarded by Co. K which was made up of Willamette Frenchmen.
The Friendly Cayuse and Frenchmen Camp Cayuse was having alot of trouble with the volunteers. The volunteers came each day to the Cayuse camp and took whatever they wanted. Robbing them of their winter food, stealing their cayuses, cattle, provisions. If Frenchmen or Indians objected or if they objected to the giving of their women they could be shot. Cayuse were very moral and felt highly about their women being protected and this was very hard on them. The Cayuse camp was very afraid of the volunteers, a rough bunch.
The volunteers found and destroyed much food provisions to get back at the Indians, even if volunteers starved themselves they destroyed caches.
Major Chinn ordered Olney to stop, but Olney didn't take orders kindly and considered himself of a higher rank and was openly defiant of taking any orders given him.

February 7
Moved to new camp at bend of Mill Creek. Seeing Indian fires on above hill, the volunteers camped at high creek banks with timber at their rear. Cayuse Indian groups were milling about thru out the valley.

February 11
Volunteers sawing lumber to make boats for crossing Snake River. Going up Mill Creek to sawmill they went 4 miles, and returned.

February 16
3 Indian prisoners were brought into camp and they had a trial and found all guilty of fighting in the battle. One got 33 lashes on his bare back, one got hung, one got his hair all cut off and was much effected. He put up quite a noice and was effected more then the Indian who got hung said nothing.

In March
General Wright came into the valley. He was to establish a post in the valley to protect the Indians from the volunteers, and to let no settlers into the valley.
General Wool's (Ft. Vancouver) orders to Wright (Ft. Dalles) was to maintain the peace and to stay away from Stevens and his antics. Wool wanted the regulars to have nothing to do with Stevens renegades, for the renegades were difficult to handle and were always firing on or fighting the Indians.
Stevens felt as Governor he had more authority and wanted no interference from anyone with his ideas nor his volunteers.
Wool thought Stevens kept the Indians worked up deliberately, that was his intentions.
Stevens blamed Wright for interfering.
Wool thought someone should stand up for the Indians.
Stevens wanted all hostile Indians hung, Stevens thought Wool was pampering Indians and hampering his control of the valley and Wool and Wright were to have no say about the valley. Wool thought Indians should be protected from Stevens and so the squabbling between them went on.
Stevens caused so much trouble that the army wanted nothing to do with him. Most thought Stevens, a bad penny, that could do alot of harm. Was considered as an opinionated bully and made bad enemies. He had convinced Congress he was the authoritative of the whole Northwest.
Chief Justice Lander later had Stevens arrested, but Stevens thinking he was higher then the Judge, pardoned himself and went unpunished.

In April
Volunteer camps were at different places along the streams thru out the valley as they moved about to new spots.

Cayuse War Chief 5 Crows and Cayuse Head Chief Weahtenatemany headed several bands of Cayuse, Wallawalla, Umatilla, and DesChutes warriors. The largest group of warriors was made up of Cayuse and Wallawalla with other smaller groups scattered about the valley.

In May - June - July
The Wallawalla and Cayuse continued attacks trying to drive the whites and volunteers out of the Wallawalla valley.

General Wright set up a camp of 9th Infantry at The Dalles.

As the spring wore on 5 Crows and Weahtenatemany became weary of war and wanted a peaceful solution in order to return home. However, Stevens continued to make trouble and he wanted no Cayuse Indians returning to the valley. Both Wool and Wright wanted peace, but Stevens wanted out and out war and all hostiles hung.

Even the Wallowas were beginning to question Stevens harsh treatment of their Cayuse brothers and they were afraid Stevens would turn his wrath on them. William Craig told the Wallowa to stay away from the Cayuse, which only made them angrier.

A soldier told the Indians they might as well fight, because Wright was to wipe out all Indians from the entire territory and they might as well go down fighting because they were all going to be exterminated anyway. This way the whites were going to take their lands.

Soldiers were also checking out the Palouse and Yakama areas as fighting was going on there.

Bands of Cayuse, Wallawalla, Umatillas, DesChutes were encamped in the Grand Rond (Gran Roan) and working thru out the Umatilla and Wallawalla valleys. The hostiles were more defiant then before. There were many killings that summer, both red and white.

Stevens now saw that the situation in the valley had reached a desperate stage and conditions were worsening and becoming very bad. Things had to change and a council had to be held. Things had to be discussed with the Indians and a solution to the treaty had to be reached for everyone concerned. But Stevens only seemed to see his side to the treaties not the Indians side.

However, a council couldn't be called as Indians had gone to fishing and root grounds. The volunteers wanted action now. The Nez Perce scouts working for Stevens reported sighting a Cayuse camp in the Grand Rond.

Stevens ordered Lt.Col. Benjamin Shaw, guided by Nez Perce scouts and Capt. John, a compadre of Lawyer's over to the Grand Rond to attack the camp.

July 17, 1856
Having spotted the Cayuse camp, the volunteers opened fire on a camp of women, children,and elders, murdering them or badly wounding them as they ran for cover. Firing on them and mowing them down, killing 40 in all. It was considered by many, a deliberate massacre. They left the fallen victims laying where they fell. A nearby camp of Wallawalla and Cayuse came to their rescue too late to save the attacked camp from the onslaught of the volunteers. .

After the attack the volunteers burnt their food supplies and took 200 cayuses which were later sold to help pay for the war.

The volunteers and Nez Perce scouts were very pleased with what they had done. Stevens got off a glowing report to Washington.

Gen. Wool was outraged by the volunteer behavior, that the volunteers were far worse then the savages. He thought volunteers murdering way had gotten out of hand and regulars would have to take command. ((However I didn't think the regulars were all that much different))

Stevens didn't want the regulars because volunteers could strike the Indians unmercifully and if placed under the Army they would have to take army orders and be placed in garrison.
Stevens wanted to take things into his own hands, he didn't think treaty or himself was the cause for the war going on. Stevens didn't think he was the cause of anything.

General Wool said whites were more to blame then the Indians. The whites called Wool an Indian lover.

"The whites may not like to hear of their fiendish ways, for they feel they are god-like and have been sent by God, but they were a bad bunch of hombres. Not much God like in their barbarous ways, their cruel cold-blooded deliberate killings. There is nothing the Americans have to be proud of in their taking of this country " quote from an observer. Nor what they did to the Indians after.

In August
There is a war going on in the Walla Walla valley and ablaze with fire and killings.
Summer went from really bad to even worse. The war was on with a vengeance and no whites nor no settlers were allowed into the valley.
The Indians were fighting for their land.

Stevens planned a 2nd council and as volunteers were disbanding he asked for army protection, but request was denied Stevens. General Wool regarded Stevens as insane, guilty of harassing the Indians into war and bent on stirring up more trouble or killing all Indians.

The Cayuse warriors completely fed up with Stevens, had cut off all incoming volunteers supply trains. No supplies at all were being allowed into the valley, which caused Stevens to reconsider the outcome.

Another council was called for September 11

September l, 1856
General Wool ordered General Wright himself to meet with all Indian Tribes in the area. However, Wright delegated this to Lt.Col. Steptoe who was already in the area to establish a new post in the valley to protect Indians from the whites. Steptoe was under strict orders not to become involved in any way with Stevens.

September 5
Steptoe reached the valley and camped 4-5 miles below the original council grounds that was on the southside of Mill Creek.

The Oregon Mounted Volunteers their term of duty finished, left for The Dalles.

September 6
Lawyer and his Nez Perce once again arrived first into the council area, then camped 4 miles above council grounds on Mill Creek by a small stream. The Wallowas camped above the Nez Perce.
Stevens held a conference with them.

The Spokanee Indians and Looking Glass Nez Perce both far from friendly did not attend. Spokane Garry not outwardly hostile did not want soldiers coming north, had already talked to Stevens about giving Cayuse more land and considered Stevens deliberately not listening to a war solution.

Old Looking Glass and Wallowa Old Joseph were also becoming hostile as they didn't like what was being done to the Cayuse, or Stevens and Nez Perce hatred of them.

Stevens spread the word he was not at fault with the treaties and the Indians were lying.

Wallawalla Homely/Ho-me-le, a feisty little war Chieftain along with 10 of his best Wallawalla warriors and a few Cayuse, took revenge for the massacre of the defenceless Cayuse camp by attacking and taking the volunteer pack train, leaving the volunteers to walk back to camp.

September 7 - 10
In the morning Lt.Col.Steptoe moved his camp, and stopping by council grounds told Stevens not to have a council of angry Indians, then continued 8 miles up Mill Creek and camped above Wallowas.

The Wallawalla, Cayuse, Umatilla, DesChutes came into council in a large force, advanced well mounted within a short distance of Stevens camp without any form of welcome.
Then they wheeled about and going into Wallowa camp circled 3 times around as was Indians form of greeting, and went in for welcome feast. Afterwards they camped above the Wallowas.

Stevens asked Steptoe for a regular force as the Cayuse had come in and he needed to show that he bore the President's commissions
Steptoe told Stevens he had not been authorized by General Wool and could not get involved.
Therefore, Stevens kept 69 volunteers for his own protection.

September 11
An arbor was set up for the council and Stevens had got himself well fortified with bourbon.

The council was duly opened.

Chiefs of Nez Perce, Cayuse, Umatilla, John Day and DesChutes being present. The Walla Walla were represented by Peeupeeumoxmox Son.
500 or more Indians attended.

Indian Chiefs and Leaders attending 1856 Council
Walla Walla
Peeupeeumoxmox Son, with 50 warriors

Cayuse
Weahtenatemany, 5 Crows, Old Camaspello, Tatkim, Stahowee McKay, Homely, Wiekt(Wild Cat) with 75 warriors

Umatilla
Whelachey, Winampsnoots

Friendly Cayuse
Old Owlishwampu, Tintinmetze, Stickus, Athenspepa

Kittitash
Owhi, son Qualchen, Telco

Yakama
Kamiahkun, brother Skloom

Columbia River, John Day, The Dalles
Welaptoleek

Tygh, DesChutes
StockWhitley

Palouse
Seeloweeya, Quillatus

Upper Nez Perce
Lawyer, James, Timothy

Lower Nez Perce
Old Joseph, Red Wolf, Kay Kay, Eagle from the Light

Kamiakun mostly was a leading spirit behind the hostiles, having lost their strong leader Peupeumoxmox his true friend.

There were extremely harsh feelings toward Stevens and they accused him of lying with forked tongue, talking out of both sides of his mouth and deliberately cheating them out of their land and even their reservation lands.
The Indians opened up on Stevens and there was no doubt this time Stevens knew exactly where he stood.
Stevens said they had signed their treaties and that took care of it. He wanted them to stop fighting and to come to terms with it.
Stevens went on yelling and bringing attention to the fact that the Indians willingly (?) signed their treaties and afterwards betrayed their word by fighting. As if Stevens had nothing to do with it.
Although he gave a feeble excuse that they should have said at the time if they were unhappy with their treaties.(???)
The Indians were astonished, as if Stevens had even listened to what Indians had said at the Walla Walla Council or that he not they had decided on their reservation land or that he had bodily threatened them or that more land was not given for all their individual needs or if treaties were signed, they could be renegotiated.
The Indians now wanted the treaties taken back and done away with, as Indians did not trust Stevens to do right by them.

This angry council wasn't much more then yelling and fighting with Stevens or amongst themselves.

September 12
The council continued next morning.
Stevens said he had given his views and now he wanted Indians to speak.
The Indians had now quieted themselves, were not speaking or were reluctant to speak. They were waiting for Kamiahkin.
The Indians were determined to hold their own land. Stevens was hoping Spokane Garry, a quieter head, would attend.

September 13
The council reopened.

5 Crows and Weahtenatemany again complained bitterly of the volunteers harsh brutality and the Cayuse massacre they placed firmly on Stevens doorstep. They were infuriated at the horrible violent treatment dealt Peupeumoxmox, their Great Chief Leader and they were filled with hatred and revenge. Even some of Lawyer's group were shocked by the Indian treatment by Stevens and his Volunteers.
There was extreme hatred toward Lawyer and his cohorts for their continual support of Stevens and their part in the massacre.

Indians asked "Will you give back our lands?"

Stevens told Lawyer to explain the treaties.

The Indians didn't want to hear Lawyer, they wanted to hear Stevens. Afterall the Nez Perce had gotten a huge reservation and did not feel the same as the Indians who had gotten less.
Old Joseph said Lawyer had sold his land unfairly and without their consent at the Treaty Council. Old Joseph wanted a new Chief chosen, not Lawyer. (He said that about Lawyer selling his Wallowa land. "If I had a horse and you wanted to buy it and I said no and you went to another man and he sold my horse to you, would that be right? That is what you have done. You have sold my land that did not belong to you".)
Some Nez Perce and Old Joseph denied they understood the treaty or even did they intend to give away their lands and openly declared that Lawyer had sold it unfairly and without their consent. That Lawyer had taken the Chieftain from Looking Glass and Old Joseph was against Lawyer being Head Chief and he wanted a new Chief chosen as did other Nez Perce.

Indians wanted annulling all their treaties.

Stevens again told Lawyer to explain, but Old Joseph said loud and extremely angry "they had not understood the treaties" and then more forcefully "they would not give away their lands".
This statement brought such a sudden violent hostilities in the Indians, that Stevens was very afraid for his own safety and sent Steptoe a dispatch. Steptoe sent a return "That Stevens should move the council to the vicinty of Steptoe camp".

September 14
Stevens moved his whole party and established a new council grounds 1/4 mile below Steptoe camp. Volunteer Miller said they returned to their January campsite 7 miles above present Walla Walla town. The Cayuse were camped below Stevens camp which made him rather nervous. The Cayuse had a definite effect on Stevens.

During the move Stevens was met by Kamiahkun, Owhi and his son Qualcheen, along with the Palouse and Yakama. The incoming Indians made no action against Stevens, but hostilely verbally attacked the Nez Perce riding with Stevens. These Indians definitely did not like the actions of Lawyer.

September 15
The Indians being notified of the change moved to the new location. With the Walla Walla and Cayuse above the Wallowas, Stevens was between Steptoe and the Cayuse.
The Yakama and Palouse camped 1/4 mile on opposite side of Mill Creek from the new council grounds.

September 16
The council continued the next 2 days.
Lawyer and his followers were determined to keep the treaties and their friendship to whites and greatly approved of everything Stevens did, regardless what the other Indians felt about them, which was certainly not good. The other Indians wanted treaties done away with.

Stevens should have worked with these Indians with their likes and dislikes in understanding their treaties, to achieve a better feeling towards reservations, for times were changing and reservations were coming with the influx of whites unto their lands. But all Stevens could see was the taking of the land, not the working with the Indians in harmony or understanding.
The night of the 16th there was great excitement at the night Indian councils and arguments were very heated and hostile. The Wallawalla and Waylet/Wailet Cayuse, the most warlike of the Cayuse, would not give up their land and again and again voiced their violent hostilites about Peupeumoxmox brutal death and the massacre of the Cayuse women and children and the white invaders unto their lands. Old Joseph, a neutral, also turned to the side of his Cayuse brothers, and this left Lawyer and his bunch standing alone.
Once again, Lawyer told Stevens he would protect him from the Cayuse.

September 17
The council continued

Kamiakun came into council with 350 warriors and put on quite a show. Riding all abreast and heavily painted up in vivid war designs, including their ponies in fine array, put on a demonstration as they rode into council yelling "Do away with all treaties give us back our land or we will fight".
5 Crows yelling "Do away with all treaties, give us back our land" as others chimed in. "Let no white man come into our country and there will be peace, give us back our land".

Stevens told them it was now in the hands of the President and could only be set aside by him. Stevens had taken himself out. Now the Indians would have to deal with the U S government.

The hostile Indians kept yelling, "give back our land or we will fight" and they would not be quieted.

This time the council was definitely over!

Stevens could see nothing had been accomplished and the council unsuccessful that he decided to return to The Dalles.

September 18
The next day Stevens was occupied with establishing William Craig Indian agency in the vicinty of Steptoe Camp, with some 50 Nez Perce guarding.

September 19
The Volunteers with Stevens started out for The Dalles with a wagon train on the main wagon road.

The Indians did not come to talk with Steptoe as he asked, to establish peace. The angry Indians didn't want peace. The Indians set fire to his grass to show him disrespect, then followed the wagon train out.

Within 3 miles out of Steptoe camp, the Indians rode at full out speed and attacked the wagon train. Stevens moved on underfire to a small stream, forming a corral of wagons with the animals inside and holding the adjacent hills and brush on the creek with the pickets. Stevens defended these positions to fight the Indians in a low, open basin some 600 yards across, and with the aid of the corral they could defend themselves against the vastly superior force of Indians.

The fighting continued till late at night. The Nez Perce camp about one mile away on a stream, the hostile Indians yelled at the Nez Perce "Go back to your camp or we will wipe it out". Stevens told the Nez Perce to return to their camp as they were not needed and they could not tell one Indian from the other.
Stevens notified Steptoe that he was fighting Indians and could Steptoe come to his aid? Steptoe sent a detachment of 2 dragoons with a howlitzer.

The Indians were greatly surprised at Steptoe sending a force, causing them to back off. The Indians now turned on Steptoe for interfering. The larger hulk of the attacking Indians were the Cayuse, Walla Walla, Yakama, Palouse, DesChutes. The principle leaders were Kittitash Qualcheen and Isle de Pere Chief Quiltumee.

The entire wagon train returned to Steptoe camp. When they returned to camp, Stevens told Steptoe to build a blockhouse.

September 20
Soon after dawn the Indians attacked Steptoe camp, but was dislodged by the howlitzer and a charge of Steptoe command.

A blockhouse and stockade were built with an Indian storeroom in one corner. Stevens wanted Steptoe to wage a vigorous winter campaign against the Cayuse and beat them into submission.
This blockhouse was of little use, as the hostiles were down in the valley.

September 23
Stevens and the wagon train left for The Dalles. This time he was allowed to peacefully leave the valley.

September 27
Steptoe wrote Wright "we are reduced to the necessity of waging war against the hostiles".

In October
Wright was also angry with the volunteers on their wanton attacks on the Indians. General Wool told Wright to establish a post in the valley to protect the Indians from volunteers and whites and to exclude settlers. Wright brought Steptoe camp down from upper Mill Creek camp and chose an old volunteer camp at the bend of Mill Creek with high banks and timber at their rear. Wright told Steptoe to stay there to protect the Indians and keep out all settlers. That settlers were not allowed into the valley.

The fighting hostiles had left the valley and gone to winter grounds, and Wright only talked to the friendly Cayuse, but hoped the word would spread. That the valley was still theirs and he hoped treaties would not be ratified and that they could return to their valley in the spring.

November 20
A blockhouse was finished at Steptoe Encampment.
Steptoe didn't think the valley should be left to Indians and wanted settlers. Wool said "No"!
However with the soldiers there, soon came merchants, whiskey drummers and the likes, with soldiers already laying out land claims.

The Cayuse were to return in the spring of 1857 only to find their valley had been taken over by Steptoe and white settlement, and Steptoe and white settlement had definitely come to stay.