In 1855, the Americans had signed treaties with the Indian Kingdoms of south central
Washington and north central Oregon, who had probably originally lived in western
Montana, which ceded their lands to the United States, and created Reservations for
them. However, the Americans were unsuccessful at negotiating with the leaders of the
huge Pembina Empire. In other words, after the Americans attempted to negotiate with
the leaders of the Pembina Empire and met with dismal failure, they made their decision
to ignore them. On October 5, 1855 some 300 warriors from the Iron Confederation and
possibly some of their allies, attacked an regiment of some 84 American soldiers under
the command of Major Granville O. Haller, which forced the American soldiers to retreat
away from the heavy Indian assault upon them. They refer to this battle as the first
battle of the Yakama War. The Yakama, Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes legally
ceded away some six million acres of their land to the Americans a few months before the
war erupted. Total American casualties in this battle was 22 with 5 killed. Casualties
of the Iron Confederation were six with two killed. It was an important victory for the
Iron Confederation whose larger military force easily defeated the smaller American
military force. The goal of the Americans was to force these defiant Iron Confederation
Indians out of the war.
