The Spokane-Coeur d’Alene-Paloos War (also known as the Coeur d’Alene War, and the second phase of the Yakima War) was a series of encounters between the Coeur d’Alene, Spokanes, Palouse and Northern Paiute tribes and United States Army forces in the Washington and Idaho areas during 1858.
In May 1858 a combined force of about 1,000 Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, and Palouse attacked and defeated a force of 164 US troops under Colonel Edward Steptoe at the Battle of Pine Creek.
A larger force of 600 men under Colonel George Wright was sent to subdue the tribes. On September 1, 1858 Wright’s troops defeated the allied tribes at the Battle of Four Lakes.
After the battle, the Army hanged 17 Palouse along Latah Creek. It was later called Hangman Creek as a result. Among the Palouse hanged was Qualchan, a chief.