Again the Americans put the latest new weapons of war to use in this 1858 battle against the
powerful Iron Confederation, which occurred near present day Spokane, Washington. During that
time period, an escalation in the development of new weapons of war was intensifying, and the
powerful Iron Confederation would pay dearly for it, especially during the late 1860s and
1870s. Under the command of Colonel George Wright, around 500 American soldiers and 200 of
their Indian allies battled around 500 warriors from the Iron Confederation near Spokane and
prevailed. Interestingly, at this time, it was historically written that the Nez Perce were the
Indian allies of the white Americans. That’s important for the Anishinabek to know about. The
target of the Americans and their 200 or so Nez Perce allies, was again the Anishinabe, Assiniboine
and Cree who fled north of the Snake River, into northeastern Washington’s mountainous terrain.
On September 1 of 1858, the Americans and their Nez Perce allies, were camped near four lakes
and attacked by the Iron Confederations warriors, who were incapable of defeating their enemies
who had superior weapons.
After a short while, the warriors of the Iron Confederation realized they could not defeat their enemies who had superior weapons, then decided to withdraw from the battle they were losing. The Anishinabek must remember that after their ancestors warriors withdrew, the warriors from the Nez Perce heatedly followed them to attempt to continue the battle. The Indian casualties were reported to be heavy but were unknown. That could be true because of the superior weapons of the Americans. The American and Nez Perce casualties were apparently not one of them being killed. After this battle the Iron Confederation either capitulated or fled into Canada or into Idaho and Montana. The Americans had brought Oregon and Washington under white control, by using Germ Warfare mainly. Although the Americans now controlled Oregon and Washington, those Anishinabe, Assiniboine and Cree who fled into Oregon’s mountainous terrain near Idaho, and into Idaho as well, were yet to be subjugated.
After a short while, the warriors of the Iron Confederation realized they could not defeat their enemies who had superior weapons, then decided to withdraw from the battle they were losing. The Anishinabek must remember that after their ancestors warriors withdrew, the warriors from the Nez Perce heatedly followed them to attempt to continue the battle. The Indian casualties were reported to be heavy but were unknown. That could be true because of the superior weapons of the Americans. The American and Nez Perce casualties were apparently not one of them being killed. After this battle the Iron Confederation either capitulated or fled into Canada or into Idaho and Montana. The Americans had brought Oregon and Washington under white control, by using Germ Warfare mainly. Although the Americans now controlled Oregon and Washington, those Anishinabe, Assiniboine and Cree who fled into Oregon’s mountainous terrain near Idaho, and into Idaho as well, were yet to be subjugated.
