Near Pilot Rock in Umatilla County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Battle Mountain

Oregon History

Photographed by Don Morfe, June 24, 1997

1. Oregon History Marker

Inscription. The decisive engagement of the Bannock War was fought on the foothills of Battle Mountain, July 8, 1878. The war - a protest against white encroachment, and the last major uprising in the Pacific Northwest-was started by Bannock Indians, but Egan, a Piute, inherited command. Wounded, he led the Bannocks, Piutes, and Snakes on a wide sweep out of Idaho, through eastern Oregon and into the Blue Mountains. His hope was to win the Umatillas. Troops of the 1st Cavalry, 4th Artillery, and 21st Infantry Regiments-under the command of Gen. Oliver O. Howard defeated him here, and a few days later he was betrayed and his scalp was delivered at camp. His followers scattered.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian.

Location. 45° 17.022′ N, 118° 58.075′ W. Memorial is near Pilot Rock, Oregon, in Umatilla County. It is on Pendleton-John Day Highway (U.S. 395), on the right when traveling south. The marker is located in Battle Mountain Forest State Park, north of the summit. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Pilot Rock OR 97868, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Eastern Oregon.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Battle Mountain

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(approx. 1.2 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Bannock War. (Submitted on January 4, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. War with the Snake, Bannock and Paiute, Umatilla County, Oregon. (Submitted on August 17, 2016.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,313 times since then and 94 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on August 14, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide area view of the marker and it's surroundings. • Can you help?