This Site Honors the Great Walla Walla Treaty
Council of 1855, as well as the little known Second Walla Walla Treaty Council
of 1856, and the 1856 Stevens Skirmish
Considerable attention has been given the Walla Walla Treaty
Council of 1855, in which Governor Isaac Stevens signed three treaties with
inland tribes, creating the Yakama, Nez Perce, and Umatilla Indian
reservations. Click on the 1855 Council link above to read key portions of the
official transcript of that Council.
Some attention has also been given to the ensuing Battle of
Walla Walla, the four-day struggle from December 7-10, 1855 in the Frenchtown
area west of Walla Walla, between Indian forces and several hundred Oregon
Mounted Volunteers, while Governor Stevens had gone on to negotiate treaties in
the Blackfoot country and was planning to return through the Walla Walla Valley
where Indian leaders had vowed to intercept and kill him.
There has been little note, however, of the fact that from
September 11-17, 1856, Governor Stevens held a Second Walla Walla Treaty
Council involving a number of tribes hostile to the treaties as well as some
friendly Nez Perce. Early on the afternoon
of September 19, 1856 after the failure of the Second Treaty Council, an attack
was made on Stevens and his party, leading to fighting in the Mill Creek area
throughout the afternoon, night, and into the following day.
For a detailed account of the Second Walla Walla Treaty
Council of 1856 and the Stevens Skirmish, including first person accounts and a
map of probable skirmish points, click here.
For additional information and details on these events,
click News/Articles above.
To be put on a mailing list for further local events
relating to the 1855 and 1856 treaty councils, send an email to
clarkdn@charter.net.
