Edward Jenner Steptoe
Lt. Col. Edward Jenner Steptoe
Born(1815-11-07)November 7, 1815
Bedford County, Virginia
DiedApril 1, 1865(1865-04-01) (aged 49)
Lynchburg, Virginia
Buried
Presbyterian Cemetery, Lynchburg, VA
37°24′08″N 79°08′21″W / 37.402320°N 79.139244°W / 37.402320; -79.139244
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1837 – 1861
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/warsMexican-American War

Indian Wars (Spokane – Coeur d'Alene – Paloos War)

Edward Jenner Steptoe (November 7, 1815 – April 1, 1865) was an officer in the United States Army who served in the Mexican-American War and the Indian Wars. He is primarily remembered for his defeat at the Battle of Pine Creek during the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War. It was at Pine Creek where Steptoe and 164 men were ambushed by over 1,000 Indian warriors.[1][2] The battle, and the subsequent (successful) retreat, is also known as "the Steptoe Disaster."[3]

History

Steptoe was born in Virginia and graduated from West Point on July 1, 1837. He first saw action in Florida fighting against the Seminoles.[3][4]

From 1838 to 1842, Steptoe fought extensively in the Seminole War. During the Mexican-American War, he participated in the Siege of Vera Cruz, and fought in the Battles of Cerro Gordo, San Antonio Garita, Buena Vista, and Chapultepec. After Cerro Gordo he was promoted to brevet major, and following Chapultepec he was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel.[4]

In 1854 he was sent by the War Department to Utah to investigate the recent massacre of John W. Gunnison and his survey party. In particular he was to determine the truth of rumors that Mormons had colluded with the Indians in the ambush. Steptoe charged eight Paiute Indians for the attack and three were convicted of manslaughter. He did not uncover evidence of Mormon involvement.[5]

Late in 1854, President Franklin Pierce offered Steptoe the governorship of the Utah Territory to replace Brigham Young. Steptoe did not receive the actual letter from Pierce until March 1855. By that time he had already decided to turn down the offer.[4] Instead, he was promoted to Major of the newly formed 9th Infantry Regiment.

In May 1858, during the Spokane–Coeur d'Alene–Paloos War, a combined force of about 1,000 Coeur d’Alenes, Spokanes, and Palouses attacked and defeated a force of 164 US troops under Steptoe at the Battle of Pine Creek.[1]

Marker at the Steptoe Battlefield near Rosalia, Washington

Steptoe was sent on sick leave after the battle, during which he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and resigned due to ill health in November 1861. He died four years later in his home state of Virginia. He is buried in Lynchburg, Virginia, where his tombstone is marked: "Edward J. Steptoe, Lieut. Col., Army of the United States."

Geographic features named after Steptoe

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Oregon volunteers battle the Walla Wallas and other tribes beginning on December 7, 1855, HistoryLink, April 20, 2008
  2. ↑ Johnson, Randall A., May 17, 1858. The Ordeal of the Steptoe Command (HistoryLink.org essay No. 8123)
  3. 1 2 Keenan, Jerry. "Steptoe, Col. Edward Jenner." Encyclopedia of American Indian Wars 1492-1890 Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO, c1997 p. 223.
  4. 1 2 3 Biography of Edward Steptoe Archived 2008-05-08 at the Wayback Machine (University of Utah — Utah History Encyclopedia)
  5. ↑ Bailey (1965)
  6. ↑ Meany, Edmond S. (1923). Origin of Washington geographic names. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 289.
  7. ↑ "Creek". The Spokesman-Review. September 7, 2007. pp. A10. Retrieved 29 April 2015.

References

  • Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the United States. During its first century; from original and official sources. By Charles Lanman. Washington, DC: James Anglim, 1876.
  • Drake's Dictionary of American Biography. Including men of the time, containing nearly 10,000 notices of persons of both sexes, of native and foreign birth, who have been remarkable, or prominently connected with the arts, sciences, literature, politics, or history, of the American continent. By Francis S. Drake. Boston: James R. Osgood & Co., 1872.
  • Encyclopedia of American Indian Wars, 1492-1890. By Jerry Keenan. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1997.
  • Bailey, Lynn R. (1965). "Lt. Sylvester Mowry's Report on His March in 1855 from Salt Lake City to Fort Tejon". Arizona and the West. Journal of the Southwest. 7 (4): 329–346.
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