Battle at Battle Ground, Washington
Posted by: Rose Red
N 45° 46.835 W 122° 32.584
10T E 535520 N 5069770
This area was named for a battle that settlers at Fort Vancouver expected to happen in 1855 between U.S. Army and some Klickitat Indians. Their leader, Chief Umtuch, was accidently killed either by a soldier, or by an gunshot from his own men.
Waymark Code: WM1J8B
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 05/17/2007
Views: 106
This area was named for a battle that settlers at Fort Vancouver expected to happen in 1855 between U.S. Army soldiers and some Klickitat Indians. Many of the soldiers were away fighting an uprising by the Yakama Indian tribe. Nervous settlers organized a company of volunteers to guard the undermanned fort.
Fearing that the friendly Klickitat Tribe on the Lewis River would join the uprising, the volunteers ordered them into the Vancouver Barracks near the fort. Somehow during this episode the Klickitat leader, Chief Umtuch, was accidently killed either by a soldier, or by an gunshot from his own men.
Captain Strong, the post commander, allowed some Indians to leave on the promise that they would return after burying their chief. Most fort residents believed a battle would ensue to get the Indians to return, and therefore dubbed the spot "Strong's Battle Ground." The Indians, true to their word, returned peacefully, but the name took hold. Later the area was simply referred to as "Battle Ground."
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