Battle of Walla Walla
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| Battle of Walla Walla | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Yakima War | |||||||
.jpg) Depiction "First Charge at the Battle of Walla Walla 1855" | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States | Walla Walla | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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James K. Kelly Lt. J.M. Burrows | Peo-Peo-Mox-Mox † | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
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| Strength | |||||||
| 476 Volunteers | 600–800 fighters | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
6 killed 17 wounded[1] |
75–100 killed (est.) Unknown wounded 4 hostages killed | ||||||
The Battle of Walla Walla was the longest battle fought during the Yakima War. The battle began on December 7, 1855, and ended on December 11, 1855. The battle was fought between six companies of the Oregon Mounted Volunteers and the Walla Walla. Fighting alongside the Walla Walla were members of several different tribes, such as the Cayuse, Palouse and Yakama.[2]
Following a Walla Walla raid on the Fort Walla Walla trading post and reports that Chief Peopeomoxmox had vowed to kill Washington Territory Governor Isaac Stevens, troops from the Oregon Mounted Volunteers were dispatched to the Umatilla River and later to the Touchet River.[3]
The Chief and four others met the troops at the Touchet and, willingly, became their hostages in order to prevent an attack on his village. The volunteers and the five hostages began to march down the Touchet in order to establish a winter camp.[3]