Grant, Umatilla, Baker, and Malheur counties in Oregon and reaching into the Weiser Valley in Idaho. General O. O. Howard, who was commander of the Military Department of the Columbia, stationed at Vancouver, at once went to the scene of hostilities and Governor Chadwick went to Pendleton and remained there during the period of danger in Umatilla county. On July 6, a battle occurred on the headwaters of Birch Creek sixty miles south of Pendleton; and on July 12, George Coggan, a prominent pioneer of La Grande, was murdered a few miles from Cayuse station, while several other men were wounded. In all, about fifteen citizens of Umatilla County were murdered.
Courtesy, Oregon Historical Society
BATTLE OF WILLOW CREEK
A detachment under Capt. J. C. Sperry was attacked by Indians at Willow Creek, forty miles south of Pendleton, July 6, 1878. After a battle of six hours the Indians were driven back with loss unknown.
The people of the other counties named were fearful of similar experience and moved in large numbers to the nearby towns and erected stockades for defense. It was thought that the Indians intended to cross into Washington and Idaho by the way of the Grand Ronde and Wallowa valleys, but the hot pursuit of the forces of General Howard evidently changed their plans, and they sought escape
