He was placed in command of the Department of the Columbia in 1874, went west to Washington Territory's Fort Vancouver, where he fought in the Indian Wars, particularly against the Nez Perce, with the resultant surrender of Chief Joseph.
Han fik kommandoen over militærområdet ’’Department of the Columbia’’ i 1874, tog vestpå til Fort Vancouver i Washington Territoriet, hvor han kæmpede i indianerkrigene, fortrinsvis mod Nez Perce med den efterfølgende overgivelse af Chief Joseph.