PROSTRATION.--THE RESCUE
When Governor Stevens, after his midwinter forced march across the
mountains, reached Olympia, he found the whole country utterly
prostrated, overwhelmed. The settlers in dismay had abandoned their
farms and fled for refuge to the few small villages. They were all poor,
having no reserves of money, food, or supplies, and starvation stared
them in the face if prevented from planting and raising a crop. The only
military post on Puget Sound, Fort Steilacoom, could muster less than a
hundred soldiers, and was so far from protecting the settlers that it
had called for and received the reinforcement of a company of volunteers
for its own protection. The post at Vancouver was also but a handful in
strength, and had also been reinforced by two companies of volunteers.
But even this pitiful force was not to be used against the savage enemy;
for Wool had just gone back to San Francisco after a flying visit to the
Columbia River, during which he had disbanded the volunteer companies,
refused to take any active measures to protect the people, and loudly
proclaimed, both in official reports and through the press, that the war
had been forced upon the Indians by the greed and brutality of the
whites, and that the former would be peaceful if only let alone and not
treated with injustice.
There was a deficiency of arms, and still more of ammunition, in the
country. Six weeks were required to send a letter to Washington City,
and three months before an answer to the most urgent demand or entreaty
could be received. It was no wonder that the pioneers were universally
discouraged, and that nothing kept many of them from abandoning the
country but their absolute inability to get away.[10]
A brief review of the outbreak and course of the war will make clearer
the situation at this juncture.
Scarcely was the ink dry upon his signature to the Walla Walla treaty,
when Kam-i-ah-kan, the leading and most potent spirit, and his Yakimas
were hard at work inciting an outbreak against the whites. They with the
Cuyuse and Walla Walla chiefs assembled the disaffected Indians, and
many of the others, at a council north of Snake River in the summer, and
made every effort to gain over the Spokanes, Coeur d'Alenes, and even
some of the Nez Perces, who had intermarried with the Cuyuses, and not
without success among the young braves. Their emissaries stirred up the
tribes on the eastern shore of the Sound, too, the Nisquallies,
Puyallups, and Duwhamish, who had intermarried to some extent with the
Yakimas, and penetrated even to Gray's Harbor and Shoalwater Bay on the
coast, and to southern Oregon. Every falsehood that Indian ingenuity
could invent, or credulity swallow, was employed to fire the Indian
heart. The conspiracy was in full train, but not yet ripe, when the
outbreak was prematurely begun by the murder of the miners in the Yakima
valley in September, by Kam-i-ah-kan's warriors, who could no longer be
held back; and when agent Bolon visited the tribe to investigate the
matter, he was treacherously shot in the back, seized and his throat
cut, and with his horse burned to ashes, September 23. Qualchen, the son
of Ou-hi and nephew of Kam-i-ah-kan, was the chief actor in this
tragedy. Major Haller marched with a hundred men from the Dalles into
the Yakima valley to demand the surrender of or to punish the
murderers; and Lieutenant W.A. Slaughter, with a small force of forty
men, moved from Steilacoom across the Nahchess Pass to the Yakima to
coöperate with Haller. But the Yakimas attacked the latter October 6,
and compelled him to retreat with the loss of twenty-two killed and
wounded, his howitzer, and baggage. Pu-pu-mox-mox then seized and
plundered old Fort Walla Walla, which had no garrison, and distributed
the goods found there, including a considerable supply of Indian goods,
among his followers, who danced the war-dance in front of his lodge
around a fresh white scalp. These Indians, with the Cuyuses and
Umatillas, then drove the settlers out of the Walla Walla valley,
destroyed their houses and improvements, and killed or ran off the
stock. Lieutenant Slaughter, after crossing the summit of the Cascades,
being unable to learn anything of Haller, hastily but wisely fell back
to the western side. Here Captain M. Maloney joined him with seventy
regulars and a company of volunteers, under Captain Gilmore Hays, and
again advanced across the mountains, but in turn retreated, fearing to
leave the settlements on Puget Sound wholly unprotected; but his
messengers were waylaid and slain by the Sound Indians, and the settlers
on White or Duwhamish River, near Seattle, were massacred with
unspeakable atrocity, the bodies of the women and children being thrown
into the wells. These settlers had taken refuge in Seattle, but were
induced to go back to their farms by the friendly professions and
assurances of the very savages who fell upon and butchered them the
night after their return. And settlers on the Nisqually and at other
points met a similar fate.
At Major Rains's request, Acting-Governor Mason called out two companies
of volunteers, which were mustered into the United States service, one
being used to reinforce Fort Steilacoom, and one the Vancouver post. A
company was also raised at Vancouver for the express purpose of going to
the assistance of Governor Stevens, in case he attempted to force his
way through the hostiles.
In November an engagement took place on White River, in which some loss
was inflicted upon the Indians, but they soon reappeared in undiminished
strength, surrounded the troops at night, and captured a number of
baggage animals, and on December 5 killed Lieutenant Slaughter and two
men, and wounded six others. Several more companies of volunteers were
raised for home defense, and efforts were made to separate the friendly
Indians from the hostiles. Acting-Governor Mason did all that was
possible to meet the crisis, and he was ably seconded by Major Tilton,
whom he appointed adjutant-general, and by Colonel Simmons, but the
storm was too great for their efforts. Moreover, they depended upon the
regular officers to conduct the war, which made Wool's action doubly
paralyzing.
The whole region about the Sound, with the exception of the prairies
scattered about the head of it, was covered with the primeval evergreen
forest and a dense and tangled undergrowth, so thick and matted, and
obstructed by immense fallen giants and downfalls of every kind, that
the most energetic hunter or woodsman could traverse through it only
five or six miles a day. There were also numerous river-bottoms and
swamps, even more impenetrable. Only seventy miles back to the eastward
stretched north and south the great Cascade Range, affording innumerable
safe and hidden retreats; and many trails across it, well known to the
Indians, but unknown to the whites, gave access to the Yakima emissaries
and reinforcements to join the hostiles on the Sound, and furnished the
latter the ready means of retreat to the Yakima country when hard
pressed. In the dense forests and swamps the savages lurked at the very
doors of the settlements, and no man ventured out, for fear of ambush by
the wily and omnipresent foe.
After Haller's defeat Major G.J. Rains led an expedition from the Dalles
to the Yakima valley with three hundred and fifty regulars and two
companies of Washington volunteers, under Captains William Strong and
Robert Newell, and was supported by four companies of Oregon volunteers,
under Colonel J.W. Nesmith. He reached the Catholic mission on the
Ah-tah-nam branch of the Yakima, which was found deserted, and destroyed
it, and then returned to the Dalles, having accomplished nothing except
the breaking down of his animals. The Yakimas, avoiding battle with so
large a force, managed to run off fifty-four of his mules and horses,
and immediately their young braves rode post-haste to the neighboring
tribes, proclaiming victory over the troops, and proudly showing the
captured animals with the United States brand on their shoulders in
proof of their success.
Another force of about five hundred Oregon volunteers, under Colonel
James K. Kelly, marched to the Walla Walla valley and defeated the
hostiles there congregated, which opened the road to Governor Stevens,
as already related. But the Indians, although punished, simply fled
across Snake River, and were free to continue their efforts to stir up
the friendly tribes, for the volunteers, from lack of supplies and
transportation, were unable to pursue them.
The Oregon volunteers were not mustered into the United States service,
because both they and Governor Curry were anxious to strike the Indians,
and justly feared that if placed under the orders of regular officers,
they would be held back or placed in garrison.
In December General Wool came up from San Francisco to Vancouver,
mustered out the Washington volunteers, placed the regulars at the
Dalles, Vancouver, and Steilacoom strictly on the defensive, and
denounced in unmeasured terms the brave Oregon volunteers, who had
struck the only real blow inflicted upon the enemy. He disbanded even
the company specially raised for Governor Stevens's relief,
notwithstanding the remonstrances of its captain, of Major Rains, and of
his own aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Richard Arnold.
Thus, at the beginning of the year 1856, the Indians of the upper
country held the whole region, except the point occupied in the Walla
Walla valley by the Oregon volunteers; the Yakimas were more hostile,
active, and triumphant than ever; the Cuyuses, Walla Wallas, and
Umatillas were made more embittered and defiant by the punishment they
had received; and all were free to instigate more hostility among the
other tribes, which they were industriously doing. The regulars were on
the defensive by Wool's orders, while the volunteers in the valley were
unable to take the aggressive for lack of supplies.
West of the Cascades the Indians infested and held the whole country
except a few points. The whites were virtually in a state of siege,
deserted and maligned by a veteran officer, whose duty it was to protect
them; not knowing where to find succor, or even food, completely
discouraged and dismayed. The great majority of Indians on the Sound had
not yet taken to the war-path, although much disaffected. Even among the
most hostile, the Nisquallies, Puyallups, and Duwhamish, it is doubtful
if a majority of any tribe took active part in the outbreak; but the war
faction comprised the chiefs and the vigorous young warriors, and they
were constantly stimulated and encouraged, and at times largely
reinforced, by their Yakima kinsmen. The hostile warriors on the Sound
probably varied in numbers from two hundred and fifty to five hundred,
but the swamps and forests, with their knowledge of the country, gave
them every advantage. The great danger was that the other Indians,
already disaffected, and many of whose restless young braves were aiding
the hostiles to an extent which cannot be certainly determined, would
openly join in the outbreak, and this danger was aggravated by every
day's delay on the part of the whites in attacking and striking the
enemy. A defensive policy was sure to throw the whole Indian population
into the arms of the hostiles. An additional and imminent danger was
found in the northern Indians, gangs of whom were prowling about the
Sound, ever ripe for murder and plunder.
The first day after his arrival Governor Stevens delivered in person and
orally a special message to the legislature, then in session. He pointed
out how the Donation Act and the advent of settlers had made it
absolutely necessary to treat with the Indian tribes and extinguish
their title to the soil. He showed how this had been accomplished by the
treaties he had made, and described the care taken to deal with the
Indians justly and understandingly, especially at the Walla Walla
council:--
"The greatest care was taken to explain the treaties, and the
objects of them, and to secure the most faithful interpreters. Three
interpreters were provided for each language. The record of that
council was made up by intelligent and dispassionate men, and the
speeches of all there made are recorded verbatim. The dignity,
humanity, and justice of the national government are there signally
exhibited, and none of the actors therein need fear the criticism of
an intelligent community, nor the supervision of intelligent
superiors. By these treaties, had the Indians been faithful to them,
the question as to whether the Indian tribes of this Territory can
become civilized and Christianized would have been determined
practically. The written record will show that the authorities and
the people of this Territory have nothing to blush for, nothing to
fear in the judgment of impartial men now living, nor the rebuke of
posterity. It was a pleasant feeling that actuated me, on my mission
in making these treaties, to think I was doing something to civilize
and to render the condition of the Indian happier....
"The war has been plotting for two or three years,--a war entered
into by these Indians without a cause; a war having not its origin
in these treaties, nor in the bad conduct of the whites. It
originated in the native intelligence of restless Indians, who,
foreseeing destiny against them,--that the white man was moving upon
them,--determined that it must be met and resisted by arms. We may
sympathize with such a manly feeling, but in view of it we have high
duties.
"The war must be vigorously prosecuted now. Seedtime is coming, and
the farmer should be at his plough in the field. In my judgment, it
would be expedient forthwith to raise a force of three hundred men
from the Sound to push into the Indian country, build a depot, and
vigorously operate against the Indians in this quarter, and nearly
the same force should be raised on the Columbia River to prosecute
the war east of the Cascade Mountains. It would prevent
reinforcements from either side joining the bands of the other side,
and would effectually crush both. But what is more important would
be the influence upon the numerous tribes not yet broken out into
hostility. There is a surprising feeling of uneasiness among all the
tribes who have not broken out, except alone the Nez Perces. These
tribes may be led into war, if delay attends our operations. The
Indians must be struck now. But if we delay, in a few months the
roots and fish will abound, supplying the Indians with food; the
snows will melt; and the mountain passes will allow them
hiding-places. It is my opinion that if operations are deferred till
summer, they must be deferred till winter again.
"What effect would it have on the Sound should nothing be done until
May or June? The whole industrial community would be ruined, the
Sound paralyzed; the husbandman would be kept in a state of suspense
by rumors of wars, and could not adhere to his pursuits; fields
would not be tilled; and the Territory would starve out."
While approving as a general rule the mustering into the United States
service of volunteers, and disclaiming any impugning of Wool's motives,
he advised against mustering them into that service, in consequence of
that officer's "disbanding troops in violation of a positive
understanding," and boldly declared:--
"I am ready to take the responsibility of raising them independent
of that service, and it is due to the Territory and myself that the
reasons for assuming it should go to the President and the
department at Washington.
"The spirit of prosecuting this war should be to accomplish a
lasting peace,--not to make treaties, but to punish their violation.
While justice and mercy should characterize the acts of our
government, there should be no weakness, no imbecility. The tribes
now at war must submit unconditionally to the justice, mercy, and
leniency of our government. The guilty ones should suffer, and the
remainder be placed on reservations under the eye of the military.
By such a decisive, energetic, and firm course the difficulty may be
grappled with, and peace restored.
"Let not our hearts be discouraged. I have an abiding confidence in
the future destiny of our Territory. Gloom must give way to
sunlight. Let us never lose sight of the resources, capacities, and
natural advantages of the Territory of Washington. Gather heart,
then, fellow citizens. Do not now talk of leaving us in our hour of
adversity, but stay till the shade of gloom is lifted, and await
that destiny to be fulfilled. Let us all put hands together and
rescue the Territory from its present difficulties, so that we may
all feel that we have done our whole duty in the present exigency."
To this manly and clear-sighted appeal the legislature made haste to
respond with the alacrity and heartfelt sense of relief, and renewal of
hope and courage, with which men in the extremity of danger ever turn to
a natural leader, and, so far as lay in its power, gave him unlimited
authority to take measures necessary to save the settlements from
extinction.
Forthwith Governor Stevens adopted and put in force, with all the energy
of his determined and vigorous nature, the following measures:--
1. He called upon the people by proclamation, dated January 22, to raise
a thousand volunteers for six months for offensive operations against
the enemy, wherever they might be ordered. He refused to enlist any
troops for local or home defense or short terms, and summarily disbanded
all the companies which were under arms, they having been raised for
such restricted service.
2. He called upon the settlers, wherever three or four families could
join together, to return to their abandoned farms, build blockhouses,
and hold and cultivate the soil.
3. He required all Indians on the eastern side of the Sound to move to,
and remain upon, reservations selected on islands, or on points on the
western shore, under the care and oversight of agents, there to be fed
and protected by the government while the war lasted. Any Indian found
on the eastern side without permission of his agent was to be deemed
hostile.
4. He sent Secretary Mason to Washington to lay the pressing need of
funds to meet the expenses of feeding and caring for the non-hostile
Indians before the government, and to enlighten it as to the war and
general situation.
5. He made effective use of the friendly Indians in scouting operations
against the hostiles, hunting them down in their retreats, and
confirming the fidelity of the doubtful tribes.
6. He sent agents to Portland, San Francisco, and Victoria, B.C., with
urgent appeals for arms, ammunition, and supplies, and published his
appeal in the San Francisco papers.
7. He issued territorial scrip, or certificates of indebtedness, to
defray the pay of volunteers and cost of munitions and supplies.
8. He freely resorted to impressment or seizure of supplies, teams,
etc., whenever necessary.
9. He appealed to the patriotism and good feeling of the volunteers, but
enforced discipline, and punished misconduct by summary and dishonorable
dismissal of the guilty from the service.
It is only by bearing in mind the facts that the entire white population
numbered only four thousand souls, of whom the males fit to bear arms
barely equaled the number of volunteers called for; that they were
destitute of arms, ammunition, supplies, money, and credit; discouraged
and wholly on the defensive; denied protection by the regular troops,
who indeed were too few to afford it; and all hope of support and
sympathy from the government, or from outside, blasted by the
denunciations of Wool,--that one can really appreciate the courage and
self-reliance of Governor Stevens in undertaking the task before him.
The ability and self-devotion with which he successfully accomplished
it, and the remarkable spirit and patriotism of the people, who
sustained their leader, and loyally and patiently submitted to these
stringent measures, furnish one of the brightest pages in the history of
the Republic.
The day after delivering his message, the second after arriving home,
the governor hastened down the Sound to inspect the reservations and
agents, and perfect measures to enforce the removal of the Indians from
the theatre of war. He visited every point of importance on the eastern
side, informed himself thoroughly of the needs and conditions at each,
and returned to Olympia on the 28th. On this trip he secured the aid of
Pat-ka-nim, head chief of the Snohomish, and a force of his warriors,
the first Indian auxiliaries to take the field.
The Indians attacked Seattle on January 26 in force, destroyed the
larger part of the town, driving the whites to one corner of it, and
were only repulsed in the end by the fire of the United States
man-of-war Decatur, Captain G. Gansevoort.
The people responded instantly to the governor's manly appeal, with true
American spirit and patriotism. They made haste to enlist _en masse_ in
the volunteer companies, eager to be led against the savage foe. The
refugee settlers banded together in small squads, returned to the
country, erected blockhouses at or near their farms, and held them with
old men and boys. The merchants of San Francisco refused to be misled by
the libels of Wool, and furnished supplies and munitions. Inside of
three weeks eleven companies were raised, equipped, and taking the
field, besides two bodies of Indian auxiliaries.
A regular and efficient express service was organized throughout the
Territory. An assistant quartermaster and commissary, the two usual
supply departments being united, was stationed in each town and
principal settlement on purpose to collect provisions, transportation,
etc., as well as to provide for the troops. By these skillful measures
the governor so successfully overcame the two great difficulties
attending the prosecution of the war, viz., the vast extent of the
region and the lack of supplies, that the volunteers never had to wait
for orders, nor were they ever put to unnecessary or fruitless marches
or labors; and during all their campaigns on both sides of the Cascade
Mountains, and expeditions of hundreds of miles, they never suffered,
nor lost a day, for lack of supplies.
The military organization is given below, not only as necessary to a
clear presentation of this part of Governor Stevens's life, but as a
tribute to those patriotic men who so gallantly and faithfully served
and saved the Territory of Washington in her hour of extreme need:--
James Tilton, adjutant-general.
James Doty, William Craig, B.F. Shaw, E.C. Fitzhugh, H. R. Crosby,
Jared S. Hurd, S.S. Ford, Edward Gibson, lieutenant-colonels and
aides.
W.W. De Lacy, captain of engineers.
Rudolph M. Walker, ordnance officer.
Dr. Gallio K. Willard, surgeon and medical purveyor.
Drs. U.G. Warbass and Albert Eggers, assistant surgeons.
W.W. Miller, quartermaster and commissary-general.
James K. Hurd, assistant quartermaster and commissary-general, in
charge on Columbia River.
Frank Matthias, assistant quartermaster and commissary, Seattle.
Warren Gove, Steilacoom.
Charles E. Weed, Olympia.
R.S. Robinson, Port Townsend.
M.R. Hathaway, succeeded by M.B. Millard, Vancouver.
A.H. Robie, Dalles and in the field.
S.W. Percival was sent as agent to San Francisco.
SECOND REGIMENT, RAISED FOR SIX MONTHS.
Lieutenant-Colonel B.F. Shaw, commanding the right wing, consisting
of Central and Southern battalions.
Major J.J.H. Van Bokkelen, commanding Northern battalion.
Major Gilmore Hays, succeeded by Major George Blankenship, Central
battalion.
Major H.J.G. Maxon, Southern battalion.
Lieutenant Eustis Huger, adjutant; Lieutenants Humphrey Hill, B.F.
Ruth, W.W. De Lacy, adjutants of Northern, Central, and Southern
battalions respectively.
Captain C.H. Armstrong, regimental quartermaster and commissary in
field with right wing.
R.M. Bigelow, Justin Millard, M.P. Burns, surgeons, Northern,
Southern, and Central battalions respectively.
MOUNTED MEN.
Company. Strength. Captain.
C 67 B.L. Henness
D 44 {Achilles
{Jephtha S. Powell
I 40 Bluford Miller
K 101 Francis M.P. Goff
M 53 Henry M. Chase
N 74 {Richards
{James Williams
Washington Mounted Rifles 95 H.J.G. Maxon
Clark County Rangers 81 William Kelly
Walla Walla Company 29 Sidney S. Ford
----
584
INFANTRY.
A 53 Edward Lander
{Gilmore Hays
B 52 {A.B. Rabbeson
{David E. Burntrager
E 21 C.W. Riley
F 40 C.W. Swindal
G 55 {J.J.H. Van Bokkelen
{Daniel Smalley
H 42 R.V. Peabody
I 35 {Samuel D. Howe
{George W. Beam
L 91 Edward D. Warbass
Train guard 47 Oliver Shead
Pioneer Company 40 {Joseph White
{Urban E. Hicks
Nisqually Ferry Guard 9 Sergeant William Packwood
----
485
Stevens Guards 25 C.P. Higgins
Spokane Invincibles 23 B.F. Yantis
INDIAN AUXILIARIES.
Nez Perces, Volunteers 70 Chief Spotted Eagle
Snohomish 82 Chiefs Pat-ka-nim and John Taylor
Squaxon 15 Lieutenant Wesley Gosnell
Chehalis 17 Sidney S. Ford
Cowlitz 9 Pierre Charles
----
Total 1310
The horses used for mounted men were furnished partly by the
government and partly by the volunteers.
Company M was composed of ten white men and forty-three Nez Perces,
Indians furnishing their own horses.
Company N was first commanded by Captain Richards, and second by
Captain Williams.
A portion of the Pioneer Company, after Colonel Shaw's march across
the Cascades, served as mounted men in the Puget Sound country.
Company B was commanded first by Captain Gilmore Hays, second by
Captain A.B. Rabbeson, and lastly by Captain David E. Burntrager.
Company E was first commanded by Captain Riley, and second by
Lieutenant Cole.
Company G was first commanded by Captain Van Bokkelen, and second by
Captain Smalley.
Company I was first commanded by Captain Howe, and second by Captain
Beam.
Volunteers called out by Acting-Governor Mason:--
FIRST REGIMENT, RAISED FOR THREE MONTHS OR LESS.
MOUNTED MEN.
Company. Strength. Captain.
A 61 William Strong
B 91 Gilmore Hays
E 40 Isaac Hays
F 63 Benjamin L. Henness
K 26 John R. Jackson
Cowlitz Rangers 39 Henry A. Peers
Lewis River Rangers 44 William Bratton
Puget Sound Rangers 36 Charles H. Eaton
----
408
INFANTRY.
Company. Strength. Captain.
C 70 George B. Goudy
D 55 William H. Wallace
G 22 W.A.L. McCorkle
M 75 C.C. Hewett
I 84 Isaac N. Ebey
J 29 Alfred A. Plummer
Nisqually Ferry Guard 10 Sergeant William Packwood
----
345
Newell's Company, mounted Captain Robert Newell
McKay's Company " Captain William C. McKay
Captain Strong's and Hays's companies were mustered into the regular
service. The mounted men furnished their own horses.
FOOTNOTES:
[10] Bancroft, vol. xxvi. p. 143.