Battle of Pine Creek

Overview

The Battle of Pine Creek, also known as the Battle of Tohotonimme and the Steptoe Disaster, was a conflict between United States Army forces under Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Edward Steptoe and members of the Coeur d'Alene, Palouse and Spokane Native American tribes. It took place on May 17, 1858, near what is present-day Rosalia, Washington. The Native Americans were victorious.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Pine Creek, also known as the Battle of Tohotonimme or the Steptoe Disaster, resulted in a Native American victory over U.S. Army forces under Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Edward Steptoe. Fought near present-day Rosalia, Washington, the engagement involved warriors from the Coeur d'Alene, Palouse, and Spokane tribes, with the opposing force numbering approximately 1,000. The defeat of Steptoe's column marked a significant reversal for U.S. military operations in the interior Pacific Northwest during the Yakima War, demonstrating that tribal forces could coordinate across multiple nations to resist Army incursions. The outcome, widely referred to as the Steptoe Disaster, prompted the U.S. Army to mount a more substantial retaliatory campaign in the region.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)