USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume I > Part 52
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The first United States soldiers in the Northwest of which there is a record were the handful of soldiers of the regular army accompanying the Lewis & Clark expedition in 1804-06. They merely acted as an escort for the explorers and as protectors of the supplies and equipment from predatory Indians and had no warlike intentions. No other United States soldiers but these appeared in what is now Idaho until the Fremont expedition during the Mexican war.
In May, 1849, the boundary question having been settled and the Oregon country conceded to the United States, a small detachment of troops was sent on the long voyage around Cape Horn and landed at Vancouver, in what is now the State of Washington, where they established a fort. Later in the same year Major Osborne Cross, quartermaster-general of the United States army, led a regiment of mounted riflemen across the plains and early in August detached two companies who established a temporary military post about two miles from the fort and remained there during the summer to protect the emigrants on their way to Oregon and California.
No other troops were in Idaho prior to'1860, the nearest military post being at Fort Walla Walla. Fort Lapwai was established in 1862 and garrisoned by a small detachment.
EARLY INDIAN TROUBLES
The early history of Idaho shows the usual Indian troubles attending the set- tlement of the western states. It was not to be expected that the Indians would give over in whole or in part the country where they had been born and bred
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and where their fathers had roamed and called it home for generations before. Nor was it to be expected that the advent of the whites, even though they were but passing through the Indian country on their way to the more inviting region on the Pacific coast, would be looked upon with indifference by the savage tribes that undoubtedly had information of the fate of their fellow aborigines of the East, who had first welcomed the incoming white men and soon had been ejected by the new comers. The earlier settlers of Northern Idaho were singularly fortunate, for the most powerful and numerous of all the tribes there, the Nez Perces, prided themselves upon their friendship for the whites, and no serious trouble was had with them, until the attempt to eject Joseph and his tribe from the Wallowa Valley in 1877.
The trappers and fur traders were generally on good terms with their savage neighbors, and their business made it necessary to cultivate their friendship. Indeed, many of the trappers soon became indistinguishable from their Indian associates, except by their color; and to a great extent adopted the customs of the Indians and intermarried with them. The squaw men were very much in evidence in the early days.
The emigrants crossing the plains were an easy mark for the Indians. In the early days of the territory a succession of headboards, with the name of the occupant of the underlying grave, dotted the roads and trails and marked the last resting place of many of the adventurous spirits who had braved the dangers of overland travel. The prospectors and miners were of different temperament from the new comer into the wilds of the West, and were generally prepared to protect themselves; still, in mountains and on plains scores of lonely graves show where victims of savage treachery in the early days lie buried.
In Southern Idaho the Indians of the various tribes soon resented the pres- ence of the whites. George Grimes, leader of the party that discovered the gold deposits of the Boise Basin, was killed from ambush while prospecting the creek that still bears his name, and numerous attacks were soon made upon the pros- pectors searching for new "diggin's" and on the pack trains bringing supplies into the Basin.
CAPTAIN STANDIFER
By March, 1863, the Indian depredations had become so annoying that the packers refused to undertake the bringing in of further supplies, notwithstand- ing they were offered unusually high prices to make the attempt. In this emer- gency the miners of Placerville and vicinity decided that something must be done to check the Indians. A volunteer company was therefore formed with J. J. Standifer (commonly called "Jeff") as captain ; James Greenwood, first lieuten- ant ; George W. Thatcher, second lieutenant. The company was composed of about eighty men, but as no complete muster roll was preserved it is impossible to give their names. From various sources it has been learned that the follow- ing were members of the company: Charles Allender, Gerry Anderson, James Aukey, David H. Belknap, John G. Bell, John Benfield, John Black, Matt Bled- soe, A. E. Calloway, James F. Cheatly, Thomas Cook, Frank Crabtree, Nat Crab- tree, J. M. Cummings, John Dobson, Robert Emery, David Fieirall, Lafe Gates, Samuel Hendy, Andrew Jenkins, Wesley Jenkins, Wallace Lawrence, "Doc"
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Leatherman, J. S. Lewis, James McCuen, Samuel McLeod, Benjamin Marma- duke, Green Martin, James Matthews, "Doc" Morey, Jesse Peters, Dr. J. N. Ratson, Thomas T. Redsull, Daniel Richards, Eli Riddle, George Riley, F. M. Scott, Buck Strickland, T. J. Sutton, W. H. Sutton, Daniel Tolbert, David C. Updyke, and Messrs Carrol, Packard, Warwick and Woole, whose given names have not been preserved, and a man known as "Mountain Jack," because he did not know his real name, having been taken captive by the Indians in early child- hood, and who in 1863 spoke the language of the Snake Indians much better than he did English. He used a rifle or a bow and arrows with equal skill and was an expert at following a dim trail, an accomplishment that proved of great benefit to the company on its two campaigns against the red skins.
Captain Standifer, a noted man in the early days of Idaho, has been described as being "six feet tall, with broad, square shoulders, fine features, black eyes, hair and moustache, and as brave as any Norseman." He was a fit leader of the daring and courageous frontiersmen who, without hope or expectation of pay, left their claims where they were washing out gold in paying quantities, to pro- tect their comrades engaged in the same occupation, and to endeavor to open the trails so that supplies might be brought into the basin. Each man furnished his own horse and arms, the merchants in the mining camps supplying the am- munition and provisions.
Prior to the formation of this company no resistance had been offered against the Indians, who had consequently grown bolder, and the indications were they were preparing for a general assault upon the mining camps. Almost imme- diately after the organization was completed, Captain Standifer led his men down Moore's Creek to the Warm Springs, where they went into camp, and the next day moved on to Indian Creek, all the time keeping a sharp lookout for the enemy. On the morning of the third day they encountered a party of Indians not far from the present Hamlet of Mayfield, Elmore County, and the chase commenced. Captain Standifer sent a detachment of sixteen men to cut off the savages from the mountainous country on the north. This party discovered an Indian camp, surprised it and killed all the men, taking the squaws prisoners and returned to the main command.
Scouts sent out brought in word that a considerable body of Indians was in the hills to the northwest in. a fortified position. By making a night march, Captain Standifer reached the camp a little before daylight. Soon afterward a small party of Indians came out, several of whom were killed, the rest hurry- ing back into the fort, which was then surrounded and kept in a state of siege for three days and nights. A parley was then held, Standifer telling the Indians that if they would surrender the ones who had killed George Grimes the year before he would allow the others to go. The Indians refused and that night a member of the company was assigned to each Indian rifle pit, with instructions to "get" the occupant. Under cover of darkness the white men crawled up close to the line of rifle pits and as soon as the first Indian looked out the next morn- ing a well aimed bullet ended his career. Curious to learn who fired the shot, other Indians exposed themselves and met the fate of their fellow guard. This plan of warfare disconcerted the red men, who undertook to evacuate the fort, but Standifer's men were ready for such a movement and picked them off as fast as they appeared. About sixty Indians were killed, only one brave escaping, and
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a number of horses were captured: Captain Standifer had one man wounded (John Dodson) who died some months later from the effects of his injuries.
Upon returning to the Warm Springs ranch, the company learned that all the live stock had been run off by the Indians. A few men were sent to convey the wounded Dobson to Idaho City, and to get recruits and supplies. As soon as these were received the whole company started in pursuit and followed the trail across the Snake River. There the company divided, one detachment being commanded by Captain Standifer and the other by his two lieutenants. Standifer moved up the Malheur River and the other party went up the Snake, but after a few days they were reunited at Sandifer's camp on the Malheur, up which stream they moved for two days, rising early and marching late. On the third night a lookout was sent to the top of a small mountain, from which they saw the camp fires of the savages some distance farther up the river and on the op- posite side. Another night march was made anl before daylight the camp was surrounded. What followed is thus told by Daniel Richards :
"Captain Standifer placed all of his men, with the exception of eighteen, on either side of the camp, leaving an opening in front. The eighteen men were placed on the upper side and at the signal given by the captain, they charged on the Indian camp with whoops and yells and shots. This caused the Indians to stampede and they were soon dispatched by the other volunteers. Fourteen Indians were killed. The squaws and children were left unharmed and allowed to go free, excepting one small boy and a little Indian girl, whom we took to Idaho City with us. It seems that another party of Indians had passed this camp before we reached it and had driven off all the horses they had."
The company then returned to the Warm Springs, where it was disbanded, having succeeded in capturing a number of horses which were returned to their owners. The chastisement inflicted upon the Indians by Captain Standifer and his men had a salutary effect, as it was some time before another raid was at- tempted. The little Indian girl was turned over to a woman in the basin and the boy was given to John Kelly, of Idaho City. Kelly was a famous violinist who had played all over California ; he taught the boy to play the violin, as well as to perform a number of acrobatic feats. He was afterward exhibited in London and Australia.
OTHER EARLY INDIAN TROUBLES
The history of Standifer's campaign has been gone into quite fully as it was a fair sample of many expeditions in various parts of Idaho during the ensuing fifteen years against Indians committing depredations.
The emigrants who came across the plains in large numbers during all of such years were annoyed in greater or less degree by Indian attacks and many lost their lives. In the outlying sections of Owyhee County much trouble was had with predatory bands of Utes and other Indians, and warfare on a small scale was constantly carried on, being finally ended by General Crook, the noted Indian fighter, in command of United States troops in 1867.
There was some trouble constantly occurring in the mountainous sections be- tween prospectors and roving bands of Indians, and many of the brave searchers for new mining camps found their final resting place in the mountains. Some few sections of Idaho, notably the Camas Prairie section in Camas County, were
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Courtesy of L. V. MeWhorter. CHIEF JOSEPH, LATE CHIEF OF THE NEZ PERCES, KNOWN AS THE NAPOLEON OF THE INDIAN TRIBES OF THE NORTHWEST
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severely let alone by the whites for many years, as the Indians in such sections were numerous and resented intrusion. There were small bands of Indians settled in various places in Southern Idaho in proximity to the gradually extend- ing settlements, who lived in amity with their white neighbors.
THE NEZ PERCE WAR
During the years the Indians were in possession of the continent it was not unusual for the larger tribes to divide into sub-tribes or clans, each under a sub- chief and occupying a certain section of country, the various bands cooperating in times of war. In the peace negotiations which sooner or later were carried on between the Government and the Indian tribes, often certain sub-tribes would oppose the cession of any portion of their lands, while others would favor such course, and naturally two parties, generally a war party and a peace party, would oppose each other.
It was this custom among the Nez Perce Indians that led to the war of 1877 -sometimes called "Chief Joseph's War." Chief Joseph's father, also named Joseph, was a Cayuse chief who married a Nez Perce squaw and became the leader of a considerable band of that tribe. He claimed for his band the Wallowa and Grand Ronde valleys in Oregon. The causes which led up to the war of 1877 date back to June 11, 1855, when the first treaty with the Nez Perce In- dians was concluded at Camp Stevens, Washington Territory. Chief Joseph, the elder, was at the council and was the recognized leader of a strong party opposed to the making of any treaty whatever, and particularly one selling or ceding any of the Nez Perce lands to the whites. But a majority of the tribal leaders entered into the treaty ceding a large tract of their domain to the United States. The cession did not include any portion of the land claimed by Joseph as his home, yet he sternly refused to sign.
After the discovery of gold in the Clearwater country, the white men became somewhat clamorous for the right to mine the yellow metal and a conference with the Indians was arranged to meet at the council grounds near Fort Lapwai on May 15, 1863, for the purpose of amending the treaty of 1855 in such a way as to give the miners the desired privileges. When the time came for the con- ference, Chiefs Joseph, Eagle-of-the-Light and Big Thunder, all opposed to another treaty, were present with about twelve hundred warriors. The peace party, numbering two thousand or more, was led by Lawyer, the shrewdest of the Nez Perce chiefs and recognized as the real tribal leader. A delay of two weeks occurred because the Indians would not accept any interpreter except Perrin B. Whitman, who was in the Willamette Valley, and all negotiations were suspended until his arrival. Joseph asserted his claim to the Wallowa Valley ; Eagle-of-the-Light laid claim to the country along the White Bird Creek, a tributary of the Salmon River ; and Big Thunder claimed the land upon which stood the agency. Each of these chiefs, as the representative of his band, de- clined to sell.
After much discussion a new treaty was concluded and signed by Lawyer and his associates, reserving about one and a half million acres-about five hun- dred acres for each member of the tribe-and granting to Lawyer and Big Thunder their old homes at Kamiah and Lapwai respectively. Joseph, however, refused his assent. About four years later the United States sent a special agent
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to Idaho to act in conjunction with Governor Ballard in an effort to give the Indians a clear understanding of the treaty provisions then in force. This at- tempt was not altogether successful and in 1868 a number of the Nez Perce chiefs went to Washington and consulted with the President, with the result that Chiefs Lawyer and Jason agreed to return home and instruct their people. In all these proceedings Joseph took no part, insisting that the Wallowa Valley had been the home of his people before the white man ever saw it, that they had never parted with their right to the land, and that they would remain in their old home. The old chief died in 1872 and his son, Joseph, succeeded to the chief- tainship. When upon his death bed, the old chief enjoined his son not to give up the land and advised him to accept no favors from the Government. How faithfully the young chief endeavored to observe these admonitions of his father is seen in what followed.
About the time old Chief Joseph died, James A. Masterson and two brothers named Tulley drove several hundred cattle into the Wallowa Valley. They were soon followed by other white men who began the work of building homes and the Indians became restive, fearing that their lands were about to be taken from them. A council was held on August 14, 1872, the Indians insisting that the white settlers withdraw from the valley and the settlers refusing to do so. Two men were chosen to consult the Indian agent at Lapwai and report to an- other council, but no record of the second council can be found.
Under date of April 30, 1873, the department of the interior issued an order to T. B. Odeneal, superintendent of Indian affairs at Salem, Ore., and J. B. Monteith, the Nez Perce Indian agent, directing :
"That the Indians be permitted to remain in said valley and occupy it during the summer and autumn, or for such time as the weather is suitable, according to a previous custom, and that assurance be given them that it is not the intention of the department to disturb them so long as they remain quiet and commit no depredations on the white settlers. The secretary therefore directs that a proper description of the said valley be obtained for the purpose of an executive order setting apart this valley for the use of the said Indians and that white settlers be advised that they are prohibited from entering or settling in said valley.
"He also authorizes an appraisement to be made of the value of the improve- ments of said settlers in the Wallowa Valley in order that Congress may be asked at its session for an appropriation sufficient to pay for said improvements at their appraised value, in order that the claims of the settlers may be extinguished.
"You will therefore proceed to carry out the instructions of the Hon. Secre- tary of the Interior as above indicated, and for this purpose you will cause an appraisement of the improvements referred to to be made by two or more dis- interested and competent persons, whose report shall be prepared in tabular form and submitted to you through this office."
This order was issued upon the instructions of Columbus Delano, then secre- tary of the interior, and was signed by "H. R. Clum, acting commissioner." It was not kindly received by the settlers in the Wallowa Valley, some of whom declared they would "defend their rights against the Indians, or any other cor- rupt power." However, President Grant issued the executive order giving the valley to the Indians and no further trouble resulted until 1875, when this order was revoked and the Wallowa Valley was made a part of the public domain.
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Courtesy of L. V. Mcwhorter. CHIEF YELLOW BULL
Courtesy of L. V. MoWnorte. HEIN-MOT HI-HI
Courtesy of L. v. Mewnuiter.
HA-WOW-NO-ILP-ILP
Courtesy of L. V. MeWhorter. CHIEF PEO-PEO-THOLEKT
Chief Peo-peo-Tholekt with war pony, warrior Nez Perce War, 1877. Ha-wow-no.ilp-ilp, First-red-feather-of-the-wing, one of Chief Joseph's boy-warriors. Hein-mot Hi-hi, "White Thunder, " also known as He-mene-Mox-mox "Yellow Wolf," a nephew of Chief Joseph and one of his most trusted warriors and scouts; elected Chief by the remnant of Chief Joseph's band of Nez Perce on the Colville Reservation, Wash .; showing the equipment as in war and the headdress of Chief Joseph. Hein-mot Hi-hi, "White Thunder," Chief Yellow Bull with Chief Joseph, March 18, 1877. (Courtesy of L. V. MeWhorter, copyrighted.)
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In the summer of 1876 A. B. Findley and Wells McNall went into the valley to look for some horses that they thought might have been stolen by the Indians. When near the Indian camp they met a party of Indians and accused them of taking the horses. This accusation incensed the savages, one of whom engaged in a hand-to-hand fight with McNall. Seeing that he was getting the worst of the combat, McNall called on Findley to shoot the Indian, which he did, and the two men then made a hurried escape. They were afterward tried and acquitted, but the Indians demanded that they be surrendered to them to be tried by Indian law. The demand was refused by the white authorities and Joseph then ordered all white persons to leave the valley within a given time. On the afternoon of the day before the time expired about forty volunteers gathered at the McNall ranch determined to defend themselves and Joseph's order was not carried out.
Upon the recommendation of Gen. O. O. Howard, a commission was sent to Lapwai in November, 1876, to effect some kind of an understanding with Joseph and his brother Ollicut, but it failed to accomplish its purpose. On April 20, 1877, Ollicut met General Howard at Walla Walla and agreed to arrange another council at Lapwai. The council met on May 3, 1877, and remained in session for two days, during which time there was "much talk," but no agree- ment was reached. An adjournment was then taken to the 7th, when a stormy session was held, the agents of the Government declaring that all Indians must go upon the reservation and the chiefs remaining obstinate in their determination not to give up their old homes. Four bands of non-treaty Indians were repre- sented in the council, viz: Joseph's, which claimed the Wallowa Valley; Look- ing Glass', living on the middle fork of the Clearwater River; White Bird's, living on the Salmon River; and Too-hul-hul-sote's, which dwelt on the Snake River during the greater part of the year. Too-hul-hul-sote was particularly vindictive in his opposition and General Howard ordered his arrest, saying he was "a dreamer." After his arrest the other chiefs became more tractable and at the last session of the council on May 14, 1877, agreed to go on the reservation within a month.
BEGINNING OF HOSTILITIES
The white settlers were elated over the promise of the Indians to go upon the reservation, though subsequent events proved their joy to be premature. During the latter part of May the Indians gathered on the Camas Prairie, their main rendezvous being in Rocky Canyon, about eight miles west of Grangeville. Small parties visited Grangeville and Mount Idaho and bought ammunition, none of them going twice to the same merchant. By thus making a number of small purchases they were fairly well supplied with ammunition at the expiration of the month in which they had promised to go upon the reservation.
On June 13, 1877, a small party of Indians, apparently friendly, went to the Manuel ranch on White Bird Creek, where they used the grindstone to sharpen their knives and then departed without awakening any suspicion. Later in the day three young Indians went to the house of a Mr. Cone, a short distance up the Salmon from the Manuel ranch, and asked for food and ammunition, saying they were going on a hunting expedition. They were fed, but Cone claimed he had no ammunition, and they went on up the Salmon. A few days later Richard Devine, a retired English sailor who lived on the Salmon River about six miles .
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above the mouth of the John Day Creek, was found murdered and a fine rifle he was known to have owned was missing. It is supposed that the three Indians killed him and took the gun. The next morning the same three Indians went to the Elfer ranch at the mouth of the John Day Creek, killed Mr. Elfer and two other men working in a field some distance from the house, after which they went to the house and took three fine horses, which they mounted and went on down the Salmon River. Near the mouth of White Bird Creek they shot and wounded Samuel Benedict at work in a field, but he managed to get to his house and the Indians, fearing he had gone after his rifle, went on to the main camp at Rocky Canyon, where they reported what they had done. Two of these Indians belonged to White Bird's band and the other to Joseph's. They were reinforced by fifteen or twenty young warriors and all returned to the White Bird Creek. Mr. Manuel, who had heard of the attack on his neighbor, Mr. Benedict, was conducting his family to a place of safety when he met the Indians. He was mounted on a horse, carrying his little seven-year-old daughter, Mrs. Manuel with her ten-months'-old baby riding another horse. Mr. Manuel was fired upon and seriously wounded, but he and the little girl, also wounded, rolled down a hill and hid among some rocks and brush. A Mr. Baker was killed and two men -Pat Brice and an old man named Popham-managed to conceal themselves and saved their lives. Mrs. Manuel was thrown from her horse, captured by the Indians and taken to the house, where she was told that if she would give them Mr. Manuel's gun and all the ammunition in the house her life would be spared. She readily consented, but a few minutes later an Indian drove a knife into her breast, killing her instantly. The baby was also killed. The little daughter was found by Pat Brice and taken to Mount Idaho, and Mr. Manuel was found nearly two weeks later by a soldier and taken to Mount Idaho, where his wounds were attended to and he recovered.
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