regiment
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.
In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...
recruited in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
during the
Yakima War
The Yakima War (1855–1858), also referred to as the Yakima Native American War of 1855 or the Plateau War, was a conflict between the United States and the Yakama, a Sahaptian-speaking people of the Northwest Plateau, then part of Washington T ...
. In November 1855, Major Mark Chinn left
The Dalles
The Dalles is the largest city of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The population was 16,010 at the 2020 census, and it is the largest city on the Oregon side of the Columbia River between the Portland Metropolitan Area, and Hermiston ...
and assembled 6 companies of Mounted Volunteers to turn against the
Walla Walla people
Walla Walla (), Walawalałáma ("People of Walula region along Walla Walla River"), sometimes Walúulapam, are a Sahaptin indigenous people of the Northwest Plateau. The duplication in their name expresses the diminutive form. The name ''Walla Wa ...
. Major Chinn and the Mounted Volunteers set base in
Fort Henrietta
Fort Henrietta Historic Park is a public urban park, located in the city of Echo, Oregon, United States. The park is located on the North bank of the Umatilla River and was the home to a Native American Agency and later an Oregon Militia Fort. The ...
where they built a stockade. Control of the Mounted Volunteers was given to Lieutenant Colonel James Kelly.
Listings
Gabriel J. Rains, who had just 350 federal troops under his immediate command, urgently appealed to Acting Governor
Charles Mason
Charles Mason (April 1728
The first company of the regiment was mustered under the command of Colonel James W. Nesmith in October 1855 and included Company "F", "H", and "A". In December 1855 a regiment was mustered under the command of Colonel James E. Kelly and included Company "E" and Company "G". Company "C" was later recruited and commanded by Colonel Thomas R. Cornelius in January 1856.
Gear
The Oregon Mountain Volunteers were expected to furnish their own horse, arms, and equipment, if possible. There has been no official data describing the uniform that the command wore: clothes of everyday usage or if they were supplied with old US Army regular uniforms. One volunteer identified as 55ER wrote that
Battle of Walla Walla
Six companies of the Oregon Mounted Volunteers, under Lt. Col. James Kelley, crossed into Frenchtown in the
Walla Walla Valley
The Walla Walla River is a tributary of the Columbia River, joining the Columbia just above Wallula Gap in southeastern Washington (state), Washington in the United States. The river flows through Umatilla County, Oregon, and Walla Walla County, ...
December 7, 1855, skirmishing with the tribes for three days ending on December 11, 1855, and, eventually, capturing Piupiumaksmaks and several other chiefs. It turned out to be the longest battle fought during the
Yakima War
The Yakima War (1855–1858), also referred to as the Yakima Native American War of 1855 or the Plateau War, was a conflict between the United States and the Yakama, a Sahaptian-speaking people of the Northwest Plateau, then part of Washington T ...
. Fighting alongside the
Walla Walla Walla Walla can refer to:
* Walla Walla people, a Native American tribe after which the county and city of Walla Walla, Washington, are named
* Place of many rocks in the Australian Aboriginal Wiradjuri language, the origin of the name of the town ...
were members of several different tribes, such as the Cayuse,
Palouse
The Palouse ( ) is a distinct geographic region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of north central Idaho, southeastern Washington, and, by some definitions, parts of northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primaril ...
and
Yakima
Yakima ( or ) is a city in and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, and the state's 11th-largest city by population. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 96,968 and a metropolitan population of 256,728. The uninco ...
. The eastern tribes which had been mostly non-participant in the war were now firmly involved in the conflict.