1847-8. When the contents of Mr. Douglas' letter to the governor became
known to the citizens of the Wallamet settlement, the greatest
excitement prevailed. On the reading of that letter, and those
accompanying it, before the House, a resolution was immediately
introduced authorizing the governor to raise a company of riflemen, not
to exceed fifty in number, to occupy and hold the mission station at the
Dalles, until a larger force could be raised, and such measures adopted
as the government might think advisable. This resolution being sent to
the governor without delay, received his approval, when the House
adjourned.
A large meeting of the citizens was held that evening, which was
addressed by several gentlemen, among whom was Meek, whose taste for
Indian fighting was whetted to keenness by the aggravating circumstances
of the Waiilatpu massacre, and the fact that his little Helen Mar was
among the captives. Impatient as was Meek to avenge the murders, he was
too good a mountain-man to give any rash advice. All that could be done
under the existing circumstances was to trust to the Hudson's Bay
Company for the rescue of the prisoners, and to take such means for
defending the settlements as the people in their unarmed condition could
devise.
The legislature undertook the settlement of the question of ways and
means. To raise money for the carrying out of the most important
measures immediately, was a task which after some consideration was
entrusted to three commissioners; and by these commissioners letters
were addressed to the Hudson's Bay Company, the superintendent of the
Methodist mission, and to the "merchants and citizens of Oregon." The
latter communication is valuable as fully explaining the position of
affairs at that time in Oregon. It is dated Dec. 17th, and was as
follows:
GENTLEMEN:--You are aware that the undersigned have been charged by
the legislature of our provisional government with the difficult
duty of obtaining the necessary means to arm, equip, and support in
the field a force sufficient to obtain full satisfaction of the
Cayuse Indians, for the late massacre at Waiilatpu, and to protect
the white population of our common country from further aggression.
In furtherance of this object they have deemed it their duty to
make immediate application to the merchants and citizens of the
country for the requisite assistance.
Though clothed with the power to pledge, to the fullest extent, the
faith and means of the present government of Oregon, they do not
consider this pledge the only security to those who, in this
distressing emergency, may extend to the people of this country the
means of protection and redress.
Without claiming any special authority from the government of the
United States to contract a debt to be liquidated by that power,
yet, from all precedents of like character in the history of our
country, the undersigned feel confident that the United States
government will regard the murder of the late Dr. Whitman and his
lady, as a national wrong, and will fully justify the people of
Oregon in taking active measures to obtain redress for that
outrage, and for their protection from further aggression.
The right of self-defence is tacitly acknowledged to every body
politic in the confederacy to which we claim to belong, and in
every case similar to our own, within our knowledge, the general
government has promptly assumed the payment of all liabilities
growing out of the measures taken by the constituted authorities,
to protect the lives and property of those who reside within the
limits of their districts.
If the citizens of the States and territories, east of the Rocky
mountains, are justified in promptly acting in such emergencies,
who are under the immediate protection of the general government,
there appears no room for doubt that the lawful acts of the Oregon
government will receive a like approval.
Though the Indians of the Columbia have committed a great outrage
upon our fellow citizens passing through their country, and
residing among them, and their punishment for these murders may,
and ought to be, a prime object with every citizen of Oregon, yet,
as that duty more particularly devolves upon the government of the
United States, and admits of delay, we do not make this the
strongest ground upon which to found our earnest appeal to you for
pecuniary assistance. It is a fact well known to every person
acquainted with the Indian character, that, by passing silently
over their repeated thefts, robberies, and murders of our
fellow-citizens, they have been emboldened to the commission of the
appalling massacre at Waiilatpu. They call us women, destitute of
the hearts and courage of men, and if we allow this wholesale
murder to pass by as former aggressions, who can tell how long
either life or property will be secure in any part of this country,
or what moment the Willamette will be the scene of blood and
carnage.
The officers of our provisional government have nobly performed
their duty. None can doubt the readiness of the patriotic sons of
the west to offer their personal services in defence of a cause so
righteous. So it now rests with you, gentlemen, to say whether our
rights and our fire-sides shall be defended, or not.
Hoping that none will be found to falter in so high and so sacred a
duty, we beg leave, gentlemen, to subscribe ourselves,
Your servants and fellow-citizens,
JESSE APPLEGATE,
A.L. LOVEJOY,
GEO. L. CURRY,
_Commissioners_.
A similar letter had been addressed to the Hudson's Bay Company, and to
the Methodist mission. From each of these sources such assistance was
obtained as enabled the colony to arm and equip the first regiment of
Oregon riflemen, which in the month of January proceeded to the Cayuse
country. The amount raised, however, was very small, being less than
five thousand dollars, and it became imperatively necessary that the
government of the United States should be called upon to extend its aid
and protection to the loyal but distressed young territory.
In view of this necessity it was resolved in the legislature to send a
messenger to carry the intelligence of the massacre to Gov. Mason of
California, and through him to the commander of the United States
squadron in the Pacific, that a vessel of war might be sent into the
Columbia River, and arms and ammunition borrowed for the present
emergency, from the nearest arsenal. For this duty was chosen Jesse
Applegate, Esq., a gentleman who combined in his character and person
the ability of the statesman with the sagacity and strength of the
pioneer. Mr. Applegate, with a small party of brave men, set out in
midwinter to cross the mountains into California, but such was the depth
of snow they encountered that traveling became impossible, even after
abandoning their horses, and they were compelled to return.
The messenger elected to proceed to the United States was Joseph L.
Meek, whose Rocky Mountain experiences eminently fitted him to encounter
the dangers of such a winter journey, and whose manliness, firmness, and
ready wit stood him instead of statesmanship.
On the 17th December Meek resigned his seat in the House in order to
prepare for the discharge of his duty as messenger to the United States.
On the 4th of January, armed with his credentials from the Oregon
legislature, and bearing dispatches from that body and the Governor to
the President, he at length set out on the long and perilous expedition,
having for traveling companions Mr. John Owens, and Mr. George
Ebbarts--the latter having formerly been a Rocky Mountain man, like
himself.
At the Dalles they found the first regiment of Oregon Riflemen, under
Major Lee, of the newly created army of Oregon. From the reports which
the Dalles Indians brought in of the hostility of the Indians beyond the
Des Chutes River it was thought best not to proceed before the arrival
of the remainder of the army, when all the forces would proceed at once
to Waiilatpu. Owing to various delays, the army, consisting of about
five hundred men, under Colonel Gilliam, did not reach the Dalles until
late in January, when the troops proceeded at once to the seat of war.
The reports concerning the warlike disposition of the Indians proved to
be correct. Already, the Wascopams or Dalles Indians had begun robbing
the mission at that place, when Colonel Lee's arrival among them with
troops had compelled them to return the stolen property. As the army
advanced they found that all the tribes above the Dalles were holding
themselves prepared for hostilities. At Well Springs, beyond the Des
Chutes River, they were met by a body of about six hundred Indians to
whom they gave battle, soon dispersing them, the superior arms and
equipments of the whites tending to render timid those tribes yet
unaccustomed to so superior an enemy. From thence to Waiilatpu the
course of the army was unobstructed.
In the meantime the captives had been given up to the Hudson's Bay
Company, and full particulars of the massacre were obtained by the army,
with all the subsequent abuses and atrocities suffered by the prisoners.
The horrible details were not calculated to soften the first bitterness
of hatred which had animated the volunteers on going into the field. Nor
was the appearance of an armed force in their midst likely to allay the
hostile feelings with which other causes had inspired the Indians. Had
not the captives already been removed out of the country, no influence,
not even that of the Hudson's Bay Company, could have prevailed to get
them out of the power of their captors then. Indeed, in order to treat
with the Cayuses in the first place, Mr. Ogden had been obliged to
promise peace to the Indians, and now they found instead of peace, every
preparation for war. However, as the army took no immediate action, but
only remained in their country to await the appearance of the
commissioners appointed by the legislature of Oregon to hold a council
with the chiefs of the various tribes, the Cayuses were forced to
observe the outward semblance of amity while these councils were
pending.
Arrived at Waiilatpu, the friends and acquaintances of Dr. Whitman were
shocked to find that the remains of the victims were still unburied,
although a little earth had been thrown over them. Meek, to whom, ever
since his meeting with her in the train of the fur-trader, Mrs. Whitman
had seemed all that was noble and captivating, had the melancholy
satisfaction of bestowing, with others, the last sad rite of burial upon
such portions of her once fair person as murder and the wolves had not
destroyed. Some tresses of golden hair were severed from the brow so
terribly disfigured, to be given to her friends in the Wallamet as a
last and only memorial. Among the State documents at Salem, Oregon, may
still be seen one of these relics of the Waiilatpu tragedy.
Not only had Meek to discover and inter the remains of Dr. and Mrs.
Whitman, but also of his little girl, who was being educated at the
mission, with a daughter of his former leader, Bridger.
This sad duty performed, he immediately set out, escorted by a company
of one hundred men under Adjutant Wilcox, who accompanied him as far as
the foot of the Blue Mountains. Here the companies separated, and Meek
went on his way to Washington.