US ResearchConflictsEarly Republic and War of 1812Battle of Walla Walla River
Early Republic and War of 1812

Battle of Walla Walla River

1848
Oregon
Era
Early Republic and War of 1812
Year
1848
Location
Oregon
Status
Verified engagement
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Walla Walla
VS
Victor
Contested
Forces
Oregon Mounted Volunteers
Outcome
Inconclusive; Cayuse avoided decisive engagement
The Battle

History & Significance

The Battle of Walla Walla was the longest battle fought during the Yakima War. The battle began on December 7, 1855, and ended on December 11, 1855. The battle was fought between six companies of the Oregon Mounted Volunteers and the Walla Walla.

Duration
5 days (December 7, 1855 – December 11, 1855)
Historical context

The early republic period saw the United States move from the weak Articles of Confederation to the federal Constitution ratified in 1788, with the Bill of Rights added in 1791. George Washington served two terms as president (1789–1797), establishing precedents for executive authority, and the federal capital moved permanently to Washington D.C. in 1800. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled the nation's territory for roughly $15 million, opening vast trans-Mississippi lands to American expansion. The War of 1812 against Britain ended inconclusively but produced a surge of American national identity and eliminated most British support for Indigenous resistance east of the Mississippi. The Northwest Indian Wars (1785–1795) and the Creek War (1813–1814) broke Indigenous confederacies that had resisted US expansion. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 temporarily balanced slave and free states as the nation expanded westward, but embedded the contradiction of slavery in every subsequent territorial debate.

Casualties & Losses

Light on both sides

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Battle of Walla Walla River take place?
Battle of Walla Walla River took place in 1848. 5 days (December 7, 1855 – December 11, 1855).
Where was Battle of Walla Walla River fought?
Battle of Walla Walla River was fought in Oregon, United States.
What was the outcome of Battle of Walla Walla River?
Inconclusive; Cayuse avoided decisive engagement
What was the significance of Battle of Walla Walla River?
The Battle of Walla Walla was the longest battle fought during the Yakima War. The battle began on December 7, 1855, and ended on December 11, 1855. The battle was fought between six companies of the Oregon Mounted Volunteers and the Walla Walla.
More from this era

Other Early Republic and War of 1812 Engagements

Death of Colonel Gilliam
1848
Oregon
Cayuse War — Battle of Sand Hollows
1848
Oregon
Battle of Sand Hollow
1848
Oregon
Cayuse War – Great Emigrant Road Battle 1848
1848
Oregon
Battle of Grande Ronde Valley (Cayuse pursuit)
1848
Oregon
Battle of Sand Hollow (Cayuse War)
1848
Oregon
Cayuse War – Battle of Sand Hollow
1848
Oregon
Battle of Evans Creek (Rogue River War)
1853
Oregon
Battle of Hungry Hill (Rogue River)
1855
Oregon
Rogue River War – Battle at Grave Creek Hills
1856
Oregon
Battle at Fort Lane
1856
Oregon
Battle of Hungry Hill (Rogue River Wars)
1856
Oregon
Hungry Hill Battle
1856
Oregon
Applegate Trail – Grave Creek Hills Skirmish
1856
Oregon
Rogue River War — Battle of Hungry Hill
1856
Oregon
Battle of Big Bend — Rogue River
1856
Oregon
Battle of Big Bend (Rogue River)
1856
Oregon
All battles in Oregon
Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Wikipedia source.

Aubrey Research

Explore the history around Oregon

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in the US, drawing on NRHP records, battlefield archives, census history and geological data to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near OregonView a free sample report
All Early Republic and War of 1812 Battles