Winnas Expedition facts for kids

The Winnas Expedition was a military action by the United States Army against a group of Snake Indians in 1855. It took place between May 24 and September 8, as part of a larger conflict known as the Snake War. An officer named Granville O. Haller kept records of the expedition.

Why the Expedition Happened

The Winnas Expedition was launched because of an earlier event called the Ward Massacre. On August 20, 1854, a group of settlers was traveling along the Boise River. They were attacked by a band of Shoshone people, sometimes called the Winnas band.

The Winnas band tried to take the settlers' horses. When one of the Native Americans was shot, the situation became violent. Sadly, nearly all the settlers were killed, and the few who survived were captured.

People in Western Oregon were very upset and wanted action to be taken. The Governor of Oregon, George Law Curry, gathered a group of volunteer soldiers. However, winter was coming, so the plan for an expedition had to be put on hold.

In January, Isaac Stevens and Joel Palmer tried to make peace. They signed agreements with several Native American tribes in the Willamette Valley. But the United States government did not officially approve these agreements. This made many Native Americans even more unhappy. Also, no agreement was reached with the Shoshone tribe, which included the Winnas band.

Because of these events, Granville O. Haller decided to lead the expedition. His goal was to find the members of the Winnas band who were believed responsible for the attack on the settlers. Haller brought 56 soldiers from Fort Dalles. They were joined by 39 volunteer settlers and a few people from the Nez Perce and Umatilla tribes.