Steptoe Battle-linked relics recovered in Rosalian's backyard

Jana Mathia, Whitman County Gazette | Aug 20, 20200

ROSALIA—The Rosalia Museum has some new displays after a homeowner’s improvement project unearthed items believed to connect to the Steptoe Tohotonimme Battle in 1858.

While digging a hole for a drain pipe, a Rosalia family discovered a rust-covered bayonet and horseshoe about one foot below the surface.

Rosalia Historical Commission member Diane Nebel heard about the discovered and met with the family who wanted to donate the items to the local library.

The home is positioned at the foot of the hill where Steptoe Battlefield State is located. The property is not part of the battlefield or the route taken by Col. Edward Steptoe in May 1858 to of from the battle.

It is not believed the items are from the actual battle, but rather were at the location because of follow-up to the confrontation.

Nebel reached out to the professors who headed the cultural survey of the battlefield in 2004. She also did her own research into when and where the times may have come from.

The bayonet is believed to be from a Springfield Model 1855. Col. Steptoe and his men were “poorly armed” and with “no sabers,” according to Nebel’s research and the professors she spoke to. Steptoe’s soldiers had older muskets with no saber attachments.

However, the Model 1855 was used in the Pacific Northwest Sept. 1858 at the Battle of Four Lakes. It is likely these guns were in use by Lt. John Mullen and the 2nd Artillery whom Col. George Wright ordered to return to the battlefield to retrieve any bodies and the Howitzer cannon which Steptoe had buried before fleeing the scene. Lt. Mullen’s mission was executed Sept. 22 to 26, 1858.

“At that time, they had the newer rifle,” Nebel said.

As the location the home in which the items were discovered is not part of where the battle was fought or along the route Steptoe took to come or leave the site, it adds further credence to the belief the items were from Lt. Mullen’s recovery mission.

The bayonet and horseshoe are to be added to the display at the Rosalia Museum.

Nebel noted that when the battlefield was inspected by the Northwest Metal Detectors for the cultural study, they only found pulltabs in the designated area.