In 1854 he was sent by the War Department to Utah to investigate the recent massacre of John W. Gunnison and his survey party. In particular he was to determine the truth of rumors that Mormons had colluded with the Indians in the ambush. Steptoe charged eight Paiute Indians for the attack and three were convicted of manslaughter. He did not uncover evidence of Mormon involvement.[5]
Late in 1854, President Franklin Pierce offered Steptoe the governorship of the Utah Territory to replace Brigham Young. Steptoe did not receive the actual letter from Pierce until March 1855. By that time he had already decided to turn down the offer.[4] Instead, he was promoted to Major of the newly formed 9th Infantry Regiment.
Marker at the Steptoe Battlefield near Rosalia, Washington
Steptoe was sent on sick leave after the battle, during which he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and resigned due to ill health in November 1861. He died four years later in his home state of Virginia. He is buried in Lynchburg, Virginia, where his tombstone is marked: "Edward J. Steptoe, Lieut. Col., Army of the United States."
^Meany, Edmond S. (1923). Origin of Washington geographic names. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 289.
^"Creek". The Spokesman-Review. September 7, 2007. pp. A10. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
Referencesedit
Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the United States. During its first century; from original and official sources. By Charles Lanman. Washington, DC: James Anglim, 1876.
Drake's Dictionary of American Biography. Including men of the time, containing nearly 10,000 notices of persons of both sexes, of native and foreign birth, who have been remarkable, or prominently connected with the arts, sciences, literature, politics, or history, of the American continent. By Francis S. Drake. Boston: James R. Osgood & Co., 1872.
Encyclopedia of American Indian Wars, 1492-1890. By Jerry Keenan. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1997.
Bailey, Lynn R. (1965). "Lt. Sylvester Mowry's Report on His March in 1855 from Salt Lake City to Fort Tejon". Arizona and the West. 7 (4). Journal of the Southwest: 329–346.
edward, steptoe, edward, jenner, steptoe, november, 1815, april, 1865, officer, united, states, army, served, mexican, american, indian, wars, primarily, remembered, defeat, battle, pine, creek, during, spokane, coeur, alene, paloos, pine, creek, where, stepto. Edward Jenner Steptoe November 7 1815 April 1 1865 was an officer in the United States Army who served in the Mexican American War and the Indian Wars He is primarily remembered for his defeat at the Battle of Pine Creek during the Spokane Coeur d Alene Paloos War It was at Pine Creek where Steptoe and 164 men were ambushed by over 1 000 Indian warriors 1 2 The battle and the subsequent successful retreat is also known as the Steptoe Disaster 3 Edward Jenner SteptoeLt Col Edward Jenner SteptoeBorn 1815 11 07 November 7 1815Bedford County VirginiaDiedApril 1 1865 1865 04 01 aged 49 Lynchburg VirginiaBuriedPresbyterian Cemetery Lynchburg VA 37 24 08 N 79 08 21 W 37 402320 N 79 139244 W 37 402320 79 139244Allegiance United States of AmericaService wbr branch United States ArmyYears of service1837 1861RankLieutenant ColonelBattles warsMexican American War Siege of Vera Cruz Battle of Cerro Gordo Battle of San Antonio Garita Battle of Buena Vista Battle of Chapultepec Indian Wars Spokane Coeur d Alene Paloos War Battle of Pine Creek Contents 1 History 2 Geographic features named after Steptoe 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory editSteptoe was born in Virginia and graduated from West Point on July 1 1837 He first saw action in Florida fighting against the Seminoles 3 4 From 1838 to 1842 Steptoe fought extensively in the Seminole War During the Mexican American War he participated in the Siege of Vera Cruz and fought in the Battles of Cerro Gordo San Antonio Garita Buena Vista and Chapultepec After Cerro Gordo he was promoted to brevet major and following Chapultepec he was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel 4 In 1854 he was sent by the War Department to Utah to investigate the recent massacre of John W Gunnison and his survey party In particular he was to determine the truth of rumors that Mormons had colluded with the Indians in the ambush Steptoe charged eight Paiute Indians for the attack and three were convicted of manslaughter He did not uncover evidence of Mormon involvement 5 Late in 1854 President Franklin Pierce offered Steptoe the governorship of the Utah Territory to replace Brigham Young Steptoe did not receive the actual letter from Pierce until March 1855 By that time he had already decided to turn down the offer 4 Instead he was promoted to Major of the newly formed 9th Infantry Regiment In May 1858 during the Spokane Coeur d Alene Paloos War a combined force of about 1 000 Coeur d Alenes Spokanes and Palouses attacked and defeated a force of 164 US troops under Steptoe at the Battle of Pine Creek 1 nbsp Marker at the Steptoe Battlefield near Rosalia Washington Steptoe was sent on sick leave after the battle during which he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and resigned due to ill health in November 1861 He died four years later in his home state of Virginia He is buried in Lynchburg Virginia where his tombstone is marked Edward J Steptoe Lieut Col Army of the United States Geographic features named after Steptoe editSteptoe Washington 6 Steptoe Butte 7 Steptoe ValleySee also editGeorge Armstrong Custer George Wright Indian Wars Battle of Pine CreekNotes edit a b Oregon volunteers battle the Walla Wallas and other tribes beginning on December 7 1855 HistoryLink April 20 2008 Johnson Randall A May 17 1858 The Ordeal of the Steptoe Command HistoryLink org essay No 8123 a b Keenan Jerry Steptoe Col Edward Jenner Encyclopedia of American Indian Wars 1492 1890 Santa Barbara CA ABC CLIO c1997 p 223 a b c Biography of Edward Steptoe Archived 2008 05 08 at the Wayback Machine University of Utah Utah History Encyclopedia Bailey 1965 Meany Edmond S 1923 Origin of Washington geographic names Seattle University of Washington Press p 289 Creek The Spokesman Review September 7 2007 pp A10 Retrieved 29 April 2015 References editBiographical Annals of the Civil Government of the United States During its first century from original and official sources By Charles Lanman Washington DC James Anglim 1876 Drake s Dictionary of American Biography Including men of the time containing nearly 10 000 notices of persons of both sexes of native and foreign birth who have been remarkable or prominently connected with the arts sciences literature politics or history of the American continent By Francis S Drake Boston James R Osgood amp Co 1872 Encyclopedia of American Indian Wars 1492 1890 By Jerry Keenan Santa Barbara CA ABC CLIO 1997 Bailey Lynn R 1965 Lt Sylvester Mowry s Report on His March in 1855 from Salt Lake City to Fort Tejon Arizona and the West 7 4 Journal of the Southwest 329 346 External links editBiography of Edward Steptoe University of Utah Utah History Encyclopedia Johnson Randall A May 17 1858 The Ordeal of the Steptoe Command HistoryLink org essay No 8123 Saturday is 150th anniversary of Battle of Steptoe By NICHOLAS K GERANIOS AP Posted 2008 05 17 17 35 15 Edward Steptoe at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Steptoe amp oldid 1182438753, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
