Fort Walla Walla (Site) (Walla Walla, Washington)

USA / Washington / College Place / Walla Walla, Washington
 historic site, historic ruins
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First Site - Established in 23 Sep 1856 by Maj. Edward J. Steptoe and 9th U.S. Infantry troops as a stockaded blockhouse at a temporary site west of the city.
Second Site - Located in November 1856 at another temporary site at 1st and Main in present day Walla Walla. Built as a blockhouse surrounded by temporary huts.
Third Site - Located at a site now occupied by the VA Hospital. Intermittently garrisoned after 1864, the fort was finally garrisoned and built out as a permanent six company fort. The facilities included the commanding officer's quarters, five sets of duplex officer's quarters, two large barracks and other supporting buildings.
The fort was the headquarters for Maj. Edward J. Steptoe and the 9th U.S. Infantry operations against local Indian tribes in May 1858 when Maj. Steptoe's 159 man command engaged in a running battle with the hostile Indians. Maj. Steptoe was forced to retreat with his command back to Fort Walla Walla on the night of 17 May 1858. The defeat caused the Army to mount a full scale campaign later that year that successfully subjugated the hostile Indians.
The site was abandoned by the Army on 11 Mar 1911.
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Coordinates:   46°3'9"N   118°21'28"W
This article was last modified 11 years ago